The homeowner shows up.

Dago sighed in relief when the sun went down. He could see it through his jacket after about the thousandth time looking in that direction. He carefully picked his jacket off the sole window and carefully put it on Marian. Dago wasn’t sure if he was conscious anymore, but he could still hear his heart beating. He started to pick him up when the door to the shack burst open.

Dago whipped around, half ready for a fight when he paled at who was in the doorway. The man was staring at him with a puzzled expression, which was far from the expression Dago remembered, but he was unmistakable. It was Tobias Archer, the man who’d killed Dago in the first place, along with Tobias’ father, Dimitri. He was also the man who Marian had a relationship with while Dago was in his probation. Marian probably didn’t know that Dago knew but that meant there was a chance Marian might live, that was very good.

“Wh—what in the…,” Tobey began, trying to effectively formulate what he was thinking, but failing.

“Look, Marian’s bleeding to ****, I need some help or he’ll die,” Dago said bluntly.

He stepped aside to show Tobey exactly what he was talking about. Tobey shook his head to dispel any confusion and decided to set aside what he didn’t know.

“I’ll take him to the hospital near here,” Tobey said, walking toward Marian’s body.

“I’m coming with,” Dago said, stepping possessively in front of the cot.

Tobey gave him a pained look. Dago frowned, “Forgive me if I’m not falling over myself to trust the man who shot me,” he said darkly.

Tobey shook his head in defeat and motioned for Dago to follow. Dago stooped to pick up Marian and quickly followed behind Tobey. He was moving fast, but Dago didn’t have much of a problem keeping up.