We’d left things a little terribly before I joined my brothers in the fight with Crimson Road. And here I thought she’d never want to talk to me again. Now look at her, whispering my name over and over.
Her eyes are watering. Fuck. I’m a godawful friend, getting shot when I promised her I’d be fine. Now she’s about to cry over me.
Even now, I can’t help but think about how pretty she is. How nice it is to have every ounce of her attention. As fucked up as it is, bleeding feels a little more worth it.
The drive from Meadow Falls to Willowbrook Ridge wasn’t a short one. I’m definitely dying. I’ve been given enough time to think about the past each time I’ve been swallowed up by the darkness. Though that could be my life flashing before my eyes. I’ve been given the chance to think about how many opportunities I could’ve made this woman mine.
Maybe my final words can be,will you marry me?At least then, she’d know that I love her.
“He’s fine.” Next to me, I realize Hammer is scowling down at me. “He’s smiling.”
Leah doesn’t believe him. Her eyes are glistening as I realize everything around us is moving. “He’s delirious from losing too much blood.”
My two favorite people are going back and forth, and I can’t even tell them that I’m okay. I’m dying, sure. But I’m not dead.Yet, anyway.
Someone suggests taking me to a hospital, and I find the energy to shake my head.
That’s the last place I want to go. Ihatethe hospital.
“We can’t.” Leah pushes down harder when the thing I’m lying on bounces. Wait, when did we start moving? The beautiful star-filled sky turns into gross ceiling tiles. “Hospital isn’t an option.”
That’s my girl.
“I need Kansas and Smoke.” She lets out a shaky breath. “They’re the only ones with the same blood type. I need—”
Somehow, I trickle the little energy I have left to lift my hand. I can’t squeeze her hand like I want to, but I can pat her knuckles. Two taps, and I feel heat splash against my skin.
Closing my eyes, I don’t want to see the proof of her tears. I knew going in that I’d make Leah cry. This isn’t some surprise. Still fucking sucks, though.
Who wants to make the love of their life cry?
“Warden?” She’s panicked now. “You need to keep your eyes open.”
Humming in the back of my throat, I blink once and see that Hammer is looking even more pissed.
He’s going to kick my ass if I die. He’ll dig me up after I’ve been buried and pulverize my bones until they’re dust, cursing me the whole time. Probably because I let him lower his guard enough to care about me.
Besties down to the core. Man, I can’t even apologize to him, either. This sucksass.
Whatever else is said comes out muffled as my eyes shut again. Unable to open them again, not having the strength, everything comes and goes before I’m out once more.
I lose count of how many times I succumb to the darkness. Sometimes, it feels like I’m just missing a few seconds in between, but when people start appearing and disappearing, I realize I’m losing out on minutes, too. Maybe even hours.
Cracking my eyes open, I realize Leah is still hovering at my side. She’s scowling at Judge. Now that I can focus my eyes, I’m horrified to see she’s got blood covering her entire front. Is she alright?
Did Crimson Road strike back? I don’t know what’s happening. Too many blanks to fill in.
“Leah—” Trying to reach out, my arm doesn’t work like I want it to. It just rolls off the edge of the bed I’m lying on and accidentally smacks her calf. Shit. Can’t move my other arm,not when I realize my other hand is handcuffed to the bed rail.Hammer’shandcuffs. God damn it.
She jerks her chin to look down at me before cradling my hand in her hands. She’s so warm. Her frown is replaced with something so soft, it hurts almost as much as the bandaged wound on my stomach.
What in the hell happened to my shirt? Damn, even my pants are gone. At least someone was kind enough to cover up my bottom half with a blanket.
“It’s yours.” Shushing me, she squeezes my fingers as she acknowledges the worry in my eyes. “Save your energy. You’re going to need it.”
Grumbling my annoyance at my ability to do nothing, I try to move, but everything feels sluggish. I’m not in as much pain as I should be. What in the hell did they give me? She must’ve pumped me up with the good stuff.
Looking around, I grimace at the tubes connected to me. There’s an IV connected to the back of my hand. Another needle is plunged into my inner arm, the tube red. I hate it. It’s enough to send a wave of panic through my chest. Thank god she didn’t shove a tube down my throat. The handcuff keeps me stuck in place, so even if I had the strength to run, I can’t.
