Fallon’s head jerked when she slapped himagain. She needed him awake. There was just no way she could carryhim out of here.
He lifted his head and shot a glare her way.It wasn’t very impressive as his eyes were unfocused and slightlyglazed, but she shrugged in feigned sympathy just in case he didremember this later.
“Stay awake,” she ordered. “I can’t carry youso you’ll have to walk out yourself.”
He mumbled something indistinctly. Seeingthat he was struggling to stay awake, she moved on to the othertwo. The first one’s form was small and misshapen. Even with thepoor light she could tell pieces of him were missing, and therewere black stains on the ground near his body. He was dead orlikely wished he was if he was still conscious. Still, she reachedout and felt his neck, flinching at the waxy feel of cold fleshunder her fingers.
Dead. Poor guy. At least he wouldn’t havefelt it.
The next man seemed to have all his bodyparts, but it was difficult to tell with the coating of white thatshone with a star like beauty in the moonlight. The skin on hisneck was warm, and she let out a gratified sigh when she found thepulse pumping strong against her fingers.
He groaned and struggled to move hisarms.
“Sir, you need to wake up.”
When he didn’t respond, she felt her spiritssink. Eamon had been clear what he wanted her to do if anyone wasunconscious when things got started. Biting her lip, she lookedbetween him and Fallon and shrugged. If it worked for one maybe itwould work for the other.
A crack filled the air and her hand stungfrom the slap, but besides a slight stirring and another groan hewas silent. She slapped him again. He roused a little only to sinkback into his bonds. What she wouldn’t give for some water rightnow.
Third time was the charm. She let her handfly and then held her breath.
“Will you please stop hitting me?” a groggyvoice asked.
“He did that to me too,” Fallon saidtiredly.
“Guess he’s got balls then,” the strangersaid as his eyes drifted shut.
Shea stepped forward, drawing her hand back.“Oh, no you don’t. Stay awake. There’s no way I’m carrying yourass.”
“Do not hit me again,” the man warned.
Shane snorted. His warning lacked oomph.
“Don’t fall asleep, and I won’t have to.”
“Balls.”
Not really. Just desperation.
“What happened?” Fallon asked, his voicesounding fatigued.
“You wandered into a spinner’s nest.”
“That’s not good,” the stranger said.
No, it wasn’t.
“What about Jason?”
“Who?” Shea asked, looking over at the deadman. She didn’t want to be the one to tell them their friend wasdead. Nor did she want to have to cut him out of his web if theyinsisted on bringing his body with them.
“There was a third man,” Fallon told her.
She held her silence, wondering if she shouldjust say she hadn’t seen him or if that would necessitate a search.Should she tell them he was dead or wait until they were safe?
Fallon shut his eyes as he said, “He’s dead,isn’t he?”
“Yes.”
