“I’m… I’m feeling sick.” Nick threw up on himself.
Bo sighed. “Wonderful. Prey, do your thing before we start smelling like puke.”
I forced myself to look at the bloody needle. My hand weighed a ton as I reached to pick it up. Bo stood too far for me to reach, likely knowing I’d try to attack.
“Who will it be?” he asked like a host in a twisted game show.
Hayden tried to keep his panic at bay, but he couldn’t control the heaving of his chest or the grayness that took over his face. His bravery could only go so far.
I would have fought harder if I had any doubt about Bo’s willingness to shoot Hayden. I glanced at the needle in my hand. In the back of my mind, an idea began to form, and with it, I could finally breathe easier.
I raised the needle and brought it close to my eye.
“Prey… what the hell are you doing?”
“An eye for an eye.”
He shook his head. “Noble of you, but that won’t cut it.”
“It will.” I brought the needle closer, enough to see the tip as a blur. “My eye instead of theirs.” I wasn’t naive enough to bargain for our freedom, but I just needed to survive this bloody battle and buy us more time.
Bo chuckled. “You know, I think I dig this little plot twist.” He tapped Hayden’s shoulder. “But only if the detective here gets to scoop up the leftovers. Let’s make it a team effort.”
Hayden jerked violently, yelling through his gag and trying to catch my gaze. I blocked him out because this wasn’t about him—it wasforhim. He never would have forgiven me if I had hurt Nick to spare him.
“You’ll need to wriggle it inside,” Bo said. “Make everything nice and mushy.”
My stomach churned, pulse drumming. My idea seemed simpler a minute ago, but I was quickly losing my shit and failing to keep my hand steady.No going back. I gripped the armchair with my other hand and drew a tight breath, the blur growing larger as I prepared myself for unfathomable pain. I feared I couldn’t hold on to the needle once it penetrated my eye, meaning I’d need to do it again until Bo was satisfied.
“Sir, you have a phone call.”
I stopped, wondering if I’d imagined Samuel’s voice.
“What?” Bo snapped.
“Mr. White would like a word.”
I dropped my hand with a weary exhale, the needle hitting the floor without making a sound. My body ached, my heart smashing against my chest.
“You fucking called him?”
“He was already on his way over, sir. I don’t think it’s wise to keep him waiting.”
Bo growled and strode past me. I rubbed my damp face, fighting to stay conscious as my blood pressure dropped.
Bo spoke on the phone, but the buzzing in my ears drowned out his words. Shortly after, he shouted, “Get them back to their fucking rooms!
*
With Bo gone, I pushed myself up from the wheelchair and limped to Hayden.
“Bastard,” Samuel said from behind, “I knew you could walk.”
I pulled the gag from his mouth and gently wiped the saliva from his chin. “Are you okay?”
The man who hated showing weakness said, “I’m not doing so great.” He managed a feeble smile. “Getting better, though.”
I pressed my forehead against his, my hands on both sides of his face.
