There's more blood on Archer by the time Vito moves away. I lean to the side using the bottom of my shirt to wipe away red splatters from his mouth as he lies on the floor with his eyes closed, one side of his face already swollen. The skin over his eye is sagging.
A tear falls on his cheek distorting the blood before I get a chance to wipe it away.
"Archer, I'm so sorry. Open your eyes," I plead with him as he lies on the floor not answering.
He's alive, his chest raising and lowering with each shallow breath, but he hasn't spoken for the last five minutes. Vito gave up when he no longer got a reaction from the man he helplessly beat. But I'll probably never sleep again. Archer's words as he pleaded with Vito to do whatever he wanted but not touch me will haunt me for the rest of my li
