Page 45 of Forever a Thief

Climbing onto the platform, dripping water, I stride straight to Savannah and pull her into my arms. “We’re going to get the antidote right now. Don’t worry.”

Voss must overhear me because he lets out a laugh that echoes throughout the chamber. My skin crawls at the sound. “Antidote? What antidote?” he asks no one in particular, sounding as mad as a hatter.

Releasing Savannah, I stalk over, fueled by rage. “What the fuck are you talking about?” I hiss.

An evil mirth glows in his dark eyes. “Did I say there was an antidote? My bad.”

“You’re fucking dead!” But it’s as though my threat falls on deaf ears, because Voss merely chuckles.

“No, that would be your girlfriend.”

My world tilts at the thought of losing Savannah. No, this can’t be happening. There has to be a way to counteract the poison. A way to save her.

Turning back to her, I see her pretty face fall. She takes one stumbling step toward me and then her legs give out. I catch her and haul her up into my arms. Suddenly, I’m terrified and, for the first time in my life, I can’t rely on playing the dashing Laurent to get what I want. And what I want is so much more important than ever before.

“I’m getting you out of here,” I rasp against her ear. Ignoring everyone else, I start marching down the platform, heading for the exit, when her fingers twist in my shirt.

“Rhys, stop!”

I abruptly halt and look down into her pretty gray-green eyes. “I think I know where the sapphire is,” she reveals for my ears only.

“Fuck the sapphire,” I growl, not bothering to keep my voice low. Words I never thought I’d say, but right now, I couldn’t care less about that stupid gem. “We need the antidote.”

I can feel everyone’s eyes on us.

“There isn’t one,” she murmurs softly, and my fucking heart splits in two. “Put me down. Please. At least let me give you this one gift before…”

“Don’t,” I hiss. “We’re going to the hospital!” I call over my shoulder.

“A waste of time!” Voss returns happily. “You need the antidote.”

“You said there wasn’t one,” Addie snaps.

“I lied.”

“You can’t believe anything that comes out of that connard’s mouth.” My words drip with disgust. “I’m taking her to the hosp—”

“You do that and she’s as good as dead,” Voss coolly informs me. “But let her find the sapphire and we can do a trade.”

“I don’t believe you,” I snarl.

“So you’re going to gamble with her life?” He arches a brow as he wrings out the edge of his dripping suit jacket.

Fuck. What should I do? I look to Addie and the others for guidance, but no one wants to make the life-or-death call.

“The gem for the antidote,” Voss offers again.

I hate that he has the upper hand right now, but we don’t have time to go searching all over the city for wherever he may have hidden the antidote. And what if it’s so specific that a doctor won’t be familiar with it and then won’t be able to save her? Time is of the essence, and we’re losing precious seconds fast.

“Trust me, Rhys.” Savvy places a kiss at the corner of my lips. “I can find it.”

Gritting my teeth, I carefully lower her feet to the ground, and force a nod. “I’m right here with you,” I assure her, taking her small hand in mine.

“I know.” She sends me a brave smile and tugs. “C’mon.”

While Addie and her crew watch over Voss and his thugs, Savannah guides me past one of the large Medusa heads which lies on its side. Completely bizarre.

“On the flight over, I figured out the most important part,” she says, leading me to the strange-looking post covered in raised bumps that look a lot like eyes. The one I was hiding behind. “It’s called the Weeping Column. Listen.”