My eyes drifted shut, but the words reverberated in my head. “Don’t go to sleep,” I mumbled. “Don’t go to sleep.”
I jolted at the heavy thump of metal on metal.
“Hey, Parker! Up here!”
My gaze drifted toward the window, right at Declan, who stood in his turnout gear, trying to get my attention.
“Dec…”
“Stay with us, man. We’re gonna get you out of there, okay?”
I nodded slightly, but my eyes kept drifting closed, no matter how hard I tried to keep them open. I heard his voice, urging me to stay awake, to not close my eyes. But it was so fucking hard.
“Hey, Bailey’s gonna be pissed if you die on her!”
My lips twitched in amusement, but I wasn’t sure why. Everything was misfiring in my brain. Bright lights came in waves, replaced by darkening purples and greens.
The voices drew nearer as a brilliant light flooded my vision. I barely felt a thing as I was positioned carefully and maneuvered around until I was pulled from the car.
Declan’s face appeared just inches from mine, and that’s when I felt a slight squeeze of my hand.
“I hope you appreciate the lengths I’m going to right now to keep Bailey in the dark. You owe me.”
I grunted in appreciation, but that thin thread of sheer will that kept me hanging on was beginning to snap.
12
BAILEY
I stoodon the front stoop of my building, tapping my foot in irritation. How long did it take to put some gas in the car?
I dialed his number, but like the last five times I called, he didn’t answer. “Fuck it.”
I would just have to walk to work. I couldn’t afford to be any later than I already was.
“Hey!” Cheyenne called out as I marched to the sidewalk. “Wait up!”
“Can’t. I have to get to work.”
“Yeah, but just hold on a minute!”
She hustled over in her short dress, trying not to let the wind blow up her skirt. I really didn’t have time to stop and talk, but what was another minute at this point?
“What do you need?”
“Wow. Nice to see you too.”
“Sorry, I’m just really late, and Liam was supposed to put gas in my car, but that was like twenty minutes ago. I have no idea where he is, and Wyatt is gonna kill me when I finally show up.”
“Right, but not really kill you. I’m sure he’ll forgive you.”
I snorted in amusement. “You don’t know him as well as I do.”
“Since you’re already late, why don’t you just take the day off?”
“Why would I do that? Do you want me to get fired?”
“No, I just…”
