“Yeah,” he whispered to himself.“Not today.”
The man lunged.Drew caught the knife mid-swing, muscles screaming.The blade nicked his palm but stopped inches from his chest.He twisted, using the sheets as leverage, and drove a knee into the man’s stomach.Fighting from a prone position wasn’t ideal, but it was a skill drilled into him long ago—how to make your body a weapon even when pinned.
They grappled, knocking over equipment.The monitor crashed to the floor.The man grinned through the struggle.“Told you.I know everything you do.You can’t win.”
“Funny,” Drew hissed, forcing the knife hand wider.“You sound like someone who’s about to lose.”
The killer’s smirk faltered just slightly—enough for Drew to notice.And then something moved in the corner of his eye.
A shadow shifted near the door.
Drew’s lips curled.“Guess you didn’t predict this part.”
The killer blinked.“What?”
“Surge,” Drew said, his tone darkly amused.“Means imminent death, right?”
The man didn’t have time to turn.A single suppressed shot cracked through the room.The killer dropped instantly, knife clattering to the tile.
“Actually it does.”Kael stood in the doorway, weapon raised, eyes blazing.“When there is a medical surge of energy, it is known as terminal lucidity, a recognized phenomenon in the dying process that often indicates that death is imminent.”He lowered the weapon.“As it was for this prick.”
Behind him, Breaker and Reef moved to drag the bodies of the two dead men over to the wall, and then to cover the entrances, tactical gear on, sweeping the room with professional precision.Torch checked the hall.
Kael holstered his gun and crossed to the bed in three long strides.“You really can’t stop finding trouble, can you?”
Drew’s head was pounding, the room tilting.“I attract it.Comes with the charm.”
Kael leaned over him, scanning for injuries.“You done going all lone crusader on me?Ready to accept some damn help?”
Drew’s laugh was weak but genuine.“Yeah.I’m ready.”
Kael’s eyes narrowed slightly.“That quick, huh?Still got that truth serum in your system?”
Reef chuckled from the doorway.“Ask him anything, boss.He’s an open book right now.”
Kael went still, then met Drew’s gaze.The air thickened between them.“Do you regret leaving me?”
Drew’s vision blurred at the edges, but he held Kael’s stare.“Yes.Every single day.”
Kael’s voice dropped lower.“Are you mine to claim?”
Drew’s throat worked.“Yes.Always have been, always will be.”The word came out rough, torn from somewhere deep.Kael’s eyes darkened, hunger and relief warring in them.
Kael straightened, jaw tight.“Then you’re coming with us.We’ll protect you.”His mouth twitched.“And I might need more of that truth serum.”
Drew tried to smile, but the darkness was creeping in fast.He needed Kael to understand, to hear him before he slipped away.
“The drug’s gone from my system,” he whispered.
Kael frowned.“So, what?Are you lying to me right now?”
Drew shook his head weakly.“No.Never again.No more lies between us.”
Kael’s face softened, then shifted—alarm flashing in his eyes as Drew’s lids grew heavy.
“Hey, hey, stay with me.”Kael’s hand came up, pressing gently to his face.The heat of it cut through the cold that was settling in his bones.
Drew managed one last breath, his gaze locking on Kael’s.“Told you I’d never quit.”
