He hurries toward me, but I shuffle back, screaming when my wrist gives out.
“I’m not going to hurt you; I swear to God. But I need to get you out of here.”
He reaches for me, but I lash out, shocking us both. When he looks at me with damp eyes, I pause, unsure of what’s happening. I watch warily as he pulls his cell phone from his pocket and dials a number.
“I found her. She’s in the Peterson mausoleum. I need an ambulance and someone to contact Banner. She won’t let me anywhere near her, and she’s in a bad way, Wade.” He listens to whatever Wade says before looking at me. “Wade wants to talk to you, Sorrow. I’ll hold the phone for you, okay? I won’t touch you.”
I don’t answer him, not trusting him one little bit, but I don’t pull away when he slowly moves the phone closer and presses it to my ear.
“Sorrow?” The sound of Wade’s voice has me bursting into tears. “Hey, hey, hey, it’s alright now. I’m coming for you, honey. We’re on our way right now. I’ve texted Banner and the guys. They’ll probably even beat me there, but I’m coming, I swear it.”
“Okay.” My voice is hoarse as I answer.
“Are you hurt?”
“My head, and I think my wrist is broken.”
“Alright, I want you to let Stephenson help you. Let him check you over so we can give Banner a full picture when he gets there. He’ll be worried sick, so the more info we have to give him, the better, alright?”
I look at Stephenson, but my words are for Wade. “Are you sure? He hates me.”
“I’m sure, and he doesn’t hate you, Sorrow, I promise. Right now, I think he probably hates himself.”
I’m not so sure about that, but I don’t argue.
“You trust me, right? Have I ever lied to you or let you down before?”
“No.”
“No, exactly. I need you to be brave and let him help you for me.”
“Alright, Wade.”
Stephenson places the phone back to his ear; says a few things I miss before hanging up and tucking it back in his pocket.
“Okay, Sorrow, I don’t want to hurt you, but I’m not sure you’re in any state to walk. I’m going to pick you up nice and slowly.”
He waits for me to give him a nod before he approaches me like I’m a wild animal. I can’t say I blame him. I’m feeling more than a little feral right now.
When he scoops me up, he tugs me against his chest and hurries us out of the mausoleum. I suck in deep lungfuls of clean damp air.
“I’m going to carry you down to my truck. I’ve got a bottle of water in there I want you to drink for me.”
I nod and rest my head against his shoulder when it starts to feel too heavy for me to hold up.
When we reach the truck, he lowers the tailgate and sits me on it before shrugging out of his shirt. He places it around my shoulders before retrieving the bottle of water from the cab. He cracks the lid and I just stare at it for a moment, wondering if it’s safe to drink. He makes a noise, making me jump, my eyes hitting his.
He’s wearing an expression I’ve never seen before, but it’s almost painful to look at. He seems so distraught. Do I look that bad?
“It’s not drugged, Sorrow. It’s just water.”
I take it. Wade knows where I am and who I’m with, so it would be silly for Stephenson to try something now. I drink it down, wincing at how painful it is to swallow. The water is warm, like it’s been sitting in the truck all day, but it’s the best water I’ve ever had.
I’m just finishing when I hear the sound of multiple vehicles approaching and the squeal of tires on the damp road. It must have rained while I was inside the mausoleum. I hand the empty bottle to Stephenson, my eyes fixed on Banner’s truck as the door opens and he climbs out.
I try to hop off the tailgate, but Stephenson stops me. It’s just as well because Banner is on me before my feet even reach the ground.
His arms wrap around me as he curses. “Thank fuck.”
