Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 92941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 465(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 465(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
Straightening my shoulders, I ignored the black spots that danced in my vision as I forced myself back up the stairs. I’d barely made it to the breezeway when the sound of chopper blades sounded from somewhere behind the building. Ambrose.
Danny stood in the doorway when I reached it.
“All clear,” I mumbled, stumbling against the doorframe.
“Got you,” he said, helping me slide to the floor.
“Beau,” Reese screamed as I closed my eyes. “Oh, god.”
Fuck, it hurt.
“Hey, asshole,” she said frantically, her hands cupping my face and brushing the hair back from my forehead. “Look at me.”
“Did you just call me an asshole?” I grumbled, dropping my head back against the wall as I opened my eyes.
“I’m going to kill you,” she stuttered, her face covered in snot and tears. “What did you do? Oh, god. What were you thinking?”
“Stings a bit,” I grunted as someone pressed against my gut.
People were moving around us, but all I could see was her. Gods, she was beautiful.
Beautiful and safe and whole.
“Danny,” I called, not looking away from her. Damn, I wished that my arms didn’t feel like they had weights holding them down. I wanted to touch her.
“Right next to you, Bjorn,” Danny said calmly.
“Stay with Reese.”
“He’s helping you right now,” Reese said gently, hiccupping. “I’m okay.”
“I’ll stay with her,” Danny promised.
Someone helped me lay flat, and I grit my teeth to keep myself from yelling as pressure against my chest felt like it was going to crack my ribs. People were talking, and there was movement around the room, but the entire time, Reese’s face stayed close to mine.
“You’re okay,” she whispered as I arched, trying to get away from whoever was tearing my leg off. “It’s okay, Beau. Let them help you.”
“Reese,” I groaned.
“I’m okay,” she replied, brushing her lips over mine. “I’m right here.”
“Stay with Danny,” I muttered, repeating myself twice because my tongue didn’t seem to be working correctly.
“I’ll stay with Danny,” she agreed.
I let my heavy eyes fall closed.
Chapter 17
Reese
“Stop it,” I ordered, jerking my arm away. Fire raced under my skin as I pushed closer to Beau. “Why isn’t he waking up? He was just talking.”
A hand touched my waist, and I jerked to the side, leaning further over Beau.
“Wake up,” I whispered. “Wake up.”
“We have to go,” Danny ordered.
The hand on my shoulder burned.
“Stop touching her,” Erik snapped at his son.
Danny’s hand disappeared.
“Reese,” Erik boomed, jerking my attention away from his son. “We have to get him out of here. Stand up so we can lift him.”
“I’m not leaving him,” I argued, my hand tightening on Beau’s shoulder. They’d have to tear me away, and by the way Erik was staring at me, I didn’t think he’d do it.
“Of course you’re not,” he said gently. “We’re all going.”
“Okay,” I mumbled, getting to my feet unsteadily as Mordecai grabbed one end of the red plastic stretcher and Erik grabbed the other.
I kept my hand on Beau’s shoulder near his neck as we made our way out of the apartment. Vaguely, I noticed that there was a helicopter in the center of the parking lot with men I assumed were Vampires standing at regular intervals around it.
“I’m in the back with Reese,” Danny yelled as we got closer, jogging next to us.
“I’ll co-pilot,” Mordecai replied with a nod.
Beau’s head rolled to the side, and I caught it gently with my hand.
God, he looked so bad. There was blood everywhere. His skin was nearly blue he was so pale.
The males around me gestured for me to climb into the helicopter first, Beau’s stretcher sliding in beside me.
“How is he?” Ambrose asked from the pilot’s seat.
“Not great,” Danny spat, kneeling down beside me.
I wasn’t sure how long we were in the helicopter. Time seemed to have warped the moment I saw Kenny’s body on my couch, alternately speeding up and slowing down with no warning.
Beau’s breathing was labored. There was blood in his mouth.
Erik and Danny moved carefully around me as they worked on Beau.
I kept my mouth shut, frozen. If I opened it, I was afraid I’d start screaming, and I wouldn’t stop. What the hell had just happened? We were supposed to be on our way to Europe.
“Landing in five,” Erik yelled, meeting my eyes. “Then we’re on the move.”
I nodded, looking out the window for the first time since we’d climbed in. Trees surrounded us as we flew forward and eventually lowered, gently landing on a wide slab.
“Everything’s prepped,” Chance hollered as he threw open the door. His eyes landed on Beau and widened. “Fuck!”
“Moving now,” Erik told me.
I followed closely as we climbed out of the helicopter. Chance and Danny grabbed each end of Beau’s stretcher, and I lost my grip on him as they jogged toward a path in the trees. My heart in my throat and fire burning in my veins, I ran behind them. Somehow, they managed to move swiftly, barely jostling Beau as they went.