“Get your fucking hands off of her!”
The rage I feel for this woman makes me feel inhuman. Incapable of feeling any sympathy for her because of her past. I try to reel some of it in so I can see how my girl is doing.
Crystal, baby, are you okay?”
She gives me a slight nod, but her eyes tell me that she’s scared and that makes me even madder.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t Jackson coming to save the day. Too bad that won’t be happening. As a matter of fact, this is even better. You get to watch what happens when I don’t get what I want. You could’ve prevented all of this if you would’ve given us a chance.”
Crystal is bleeding from several wounds, and I feel helpless just like when Mike was killed. This woman has brought so much into my life. She has changed me for the better and has been there for me in my darkest moments. I can’t let her down, I have to save her. I can’t let history repeat itself. When I had lives put in my hands, I failed. First, Mike and almost Javi. I can't let this happen again. So, I aim my gun and order Mina to drop her weapon.
Chapter 26
Jackson
“Put the knife down and back away with your hands up!”
Laughing, she says, “Do you really believe she’s walking out of here alive? You should’ve never made me think that you wanted me. Why did you have to be so nice and say you wanted to see me again? This is all of your fault. It’s your fault that I need blood on my hands again. Too bad it will be your precious Crystal’s blood. We could’ve been so good together and then you had to go and fuck everything up.”
“Let me get you the help you need Yasmina. This doesn’t haven’t to end this way.”
“No one has called me that in so long.”
She looks as though she’s reminiscing about a fond memory or something. As if she’s perfectly normal, but then her face changes and she becomes agitated.
“I fucking hate that name! Don’t you see? Every bad thing that happened to me is tainted with that name. I only ever wanted to be Mina. You made me believe that not all men are cruel, that I could finally believe that someone cared, that they didn’t want to use and abuse women. You made me think and want to do better. To stop the killing and the need to feel their blood on my hands. Then you left me, so you know what Jackson? You don’t get to choose how this will end. I will not go back to the hospital so they can shove pills down my throat! I will not go back to watch the very people who were supposed to help, hurt the young girls there. You don’t get to choose that for me!”
Time seems to stand still and speed up at the same time. She raises the knife and I know I only have seconds to make a decision. Seconds for this to end one way or the other.
“Mina, don’t do it, don’t you dare fucking do it!”
It’s too late and I fire.
Just as the knife comes down and penetrates Crystal’s stomach, my bullet hits Mina, square in the forehead. The force of it sends her crashing into the wall. Crystal drops to the floor with a harsh thud. I rush over, gather her in my arms, and check her wounds. She’s losing a lot of blood and I know time is something she doesn’t have. In a panic, I grab my phone from my back pocket and call 911. I try to sound as calm as possible, but inside I’m a mess and I’m scared as fuck of losing her. I look over to where Mina is, and even in death she has that sinister smile on her face. Her eyes stare blankly and even though I know she’s no longer a threat, I want to get Crys far away from her.
“This is Detective Jackson Barnes, I need an ambulance to 1066 Pier Ave in Sunset Park. I was just involved in a shooting and I have a stab victim in need of immediate assistance.”
“I have your location, Detective. Back up and first responders are on the way.”
“Thank you!”
She asks me questions about the victim. The victim, my Crystal, the woman that I intend to spend the rest of my life with. The woman who has brought such joy into my life that the thought of her makes me smile. The operator tells me to go get towels and apply pressure to the stab wound to try and stop the bleeding. I go to the hall and grab a handful of towels and I can hear the sirens getting closer as the emergency vehicles make their way down my street. I apply pressure to the wound in her stomach and when I look closer, I can see several bruises forming around her ribs as well as her face. The thought of what she just went through makes me want to bring Mina back to life just so I could shoot her again. The wounds on her neck don’t look too bad, but they’re bleeding as well.
“Crystal, baby, I need you to open your eyes. I need you to stay with me. Can you hear me?”
I’m relieved when I see her eyes open, even though it’s just a little.
“Jackson?”
“Yes, baby, I’m here.”
“Oh my god, it hurts so bad.”
She could barely get the words out. Her voice is so weak, and her skin is pale. This is all my fault. I should’ve just told her the truth when I had the chance.
“I know, baby, help is on the way. I’m so sorry she did this to you, but she will never hurt you again. Look at me, focus on me. The ambulance is almost here, just hold on for me. Please stay with me. I’m right here baby.”
Just as the paramedics take over, she loses consciousness and her body goes limp in my arms.
Chapter 27
Jackson
Crystal is immediately rushed into surgery and I watch once again as someone I care about is taken away from me. I have no choice but to rely on the doctors to save her life. Just then, I hear my name and I look up to see April and Chassity running towards me. They see the blood all over my clothes and start screaming. I grab them both and hold them. I comfort and reassure the girls that Crystal is injured, but she’s going to be okay. The doctors are doing everything they can, so we have to be patient. I do my best to answer their questions, but I’m just as in the dark as they are. I have to force myself to remain calm for them, because right now I feel like I’m losing my mind and only holding onto a shred of my sanity. So much has gone wrong in the last year and when something good finally happens, all hell breaks loose. I don’t know how much more I can take. Is this karma for something that I’ve done in my past? Just when I think things couldn’t get worse, life shows me again that once it rains, it pours.
A few hours later, Dr. Bowen comes through the double doors and it feels like that movie Ground Hog Day, where the same day keeps repeating itself. He’s not surprised to see me. He remembers Crystal and I were together earlier from his briefing about Javi. Shaking my hand, he says,
“Detective Barnes, I wish we didn't have to keep meeting under these circumstances.”
“Hey Doc. You and me both. What’s happening with Crystal?”
“Miss Stephens suffered a stab wound to the abdomen and it punctured her small intestine. We were able to repair it and we’ll know in a couple of days if it resumes functioning normally. She lost a lot of blood, so we had to give her a blood transfusion. She also has three fractured ribs as well as a fracture in her right jaw. Even with all of these injuries, I believe she is going to make a full recovery.”