“We’ll destroy them.” Luc’s sudden words rumble through the room.
No one responds.
I clean the bend of her elbow with an antiseptic wipe and slowly insert the needle. Only when the line is secured with medical tape and the faint, rhythmic drip begins do I feel like I can speak.
“Find them, strip them, drop them in the desert,” I suggest, remaining knelt beside her.
“Not enough.” Kaiden’s voice is low, dangerous. “They don’t get to disappear. We make them suffer. They wanted to make an example of her—we’ll do the same to them. Public crucifixion.”
“Agreed.” Sylvan’s gaze is locked on Revea. I don’t think he’s ever looked away.
“We have enough to do that, Syl?” Luc asks.
“I had enough an hour ago.” Without removing his gaze, he turns his laptop screen to us. It’s filled with lines of white code. “This is extra.”
Revea
Drip… drip…
I scrunch my eyes tighter, hoping to fall back asleep. But the dripping gets louder.
Did I leave the tap on? Is there a leak?
Ugh, I don’t want to move. My body’s too heavy. The bed’s so comfy and warm. I stretch out my arms and legs, the covers like cool silk against my hot skin...
Wait.
I do a quick snow-angel, frowning. They really do feel like silk.
I slowly open one eye. The room is dark except for a soft glow emitting from somewhere on my left. I turn to it and spot a thin, clear wire trailing up from my arm, up and up, into an IV bag.The source of the dripping.
Am I… in the hospital?
What the fuck.
I sit up in a panic, wincing at the ache in my muscles.
“Hey, you’re okay. Easy. Despacio… eso es.” Warm hands slide to my waist, guiding me back against the pile of pillows.
My vision slowly adjusts until I’m struck by deep hazel eyes.
“Val?” I croak, throat dry and scratchy.
He holds out a carton with a straw, and I drink without question. The cool liquid is heavenly.
“Not too much, cariño.” He gently takes it away and places it on the bedside table.
“You’re... You’re a doctor?”
“You shocked by that, trouble?” He smiles, voice a light tease.
Damn. I’m glad there’s no heart monitor attached to me.
“Not a doctor. Just an army medic.”
“Still a doctor in my eyes.”
His smile twitches. “How’re you feeling?”
