Using my bleeding left hand, I aim the car remote to the two in the driveway and almost cry out in relief when lights flare on the one parked on the street.
When I’m behind the wheel of the car, I don’t give myself time to think—I simply start it up and peel away from the curb. I’m on a cul-de-sac, not on a street I recognize, but I make the first left. When I run into a streetlight, I take aright, not sure where I am or where I’m going, but needing to put some space between me and my torture chamber.
Adrenaline is pumping through me, but it’s starting to wear off the further away I get from the house, and all of my aches and pains scream at me. The steering wheel is coated with blood, my left hand looking as if it’s dyed red. After ten minutes of reckless driving, my vision fuzzes out, but I force myself to stay conscious, at least until I can find?—
My eyes snag on a street sign, and I blow out a breath of relief. I know where I am. I just have to stay conscious long enough to get there.
Five minutes later, I see the gates for St. Clair Construction, which are thankfully open. A feeling of triumph fills me as I pull almost flush against the building. There’s only one car parked here, but it’s not Kai’s. Maybe it’s his nervous assistant.
“Fuck,” I whimper as I push open the car door. My legs give out under me as I try to get out of the car. I allow myself time to get my strength up, panting as I tuck my broken hand to my chest. It’s not the only broken bone. Even as I’m lying here, I feel like my ribs are brittle enough to puncture my internal organs and my elbow feels swollen, like it’s not where it’s supposed to be.
The sky darkens and a chill creeps into the air, so I roll to my side and push myself up on my right hand.
When I get my feet under me, I stumble up the steps to Kai’s company, cursing him for having so many damn stairs.
My bloody hand clasps the knob, and it takes two tries to turn it, but I manage. I yank the door open, the shitty fluorescent interior light bathing me in yellow.
Percy looks up at me, a shaky smile on his face. His smile drops and his normally pale face pales more and he stands shakily from behind his desk. “Oh, my god.”
“Nico?” I rasp, my knees giving out. I land heavily, thenlist to the side. I try to catch my fall with my left hand and cry out when the broken bone gives way. Tears I didn’t want to shed spill down my face, and I roll to the side, cradling my hand to my chest. “Kai? Carter? Someone?”
“God, hold on, Declan.” Percy runs out of the building and I call after him. I don’t want to be alone. I want to be safe. I want to?—
A few seconds later, Kai comes rushing in. I look into his gray eyes and reach out to him, a sob bursting forth.
He rushes over and drops to his knees, gripping my hand tightly. “Hold on, D. I’m calling Carter and Nico. They’ll be here soon. Hold on for me, okay?”
As he makes the call, I fight back unconsciousness so I can see Nico. I’ve thought about him every day since I was abducted, hoping I’d see his face again.
I look up at Kai and feel a small grin stretching across my face. “Never thought…I’d be…happy to see you.”
Kai barks a laugh. “Same here. But I’m glad you’re okay.” He looks me over, his face morphing from joy at seeing me to anger as he chronicles my injuries. “Don’t worry. We’re going to rip Austin’s fucking head off. Everyone involved in this will fucking die.”
“Got…two…myself.”
He clears his throat and squeezes my shoulder. “Of course, you did. You know, Nico said you’d probably get yourself out.”
“Nico? He…good?”
“Not at all. But he will be.”
Percy kneels beside me with a first aid kit in his hand. It won’t do much, but I know he has nothing to do with his hands and all his nervous energy. He dabs at my face with an alcohol pad and I wince, the pain only adding to the other aches in my body.
Red and blue lights reflect against the wall. One of them must have called an ambulance.
“I need…Nico…” I tell Kai, holding on to his hand as hard as I can.
“I’m here, baby,” a warm voice says from the door and my eyes snap up to my man.
“Nico…please.” I let Kai’s hand go and reach for him, needing to touch him, needing to know this is real.
He kneels in the spot Kai vacated and rests his forehead against mine. “Baby. Oh god, baby. I thought I lost you.”
“Not yet,” I whisper.
“I love you. You need to know that. I love you, I love you. God, I’m so sorry I let this happen.”
I grunt and cough, the pain nearly blinding me.
