Chapter 40
EMERY
Cameron?” I whisper through tears. His eyes just closed as if he’s sleeping but…
But his body is still.
I pull his head into my lap and remove his helmet. Cam’s pale blond hair is covered in red. I try to wipe the stains from his forehead, but it’s already sticky.
“No. No. You’re okay, come on Cameron. I’m here. Do you need a pill to help you wake up?” My voice trembles as badly as my hands do. I take his pill bottle from his side pocket on his vest and shake three into my bloody palm.
I pinch one between my thumb and forefinger and try nudging it between his lips. They don’t open. My throat thickens as I whisper, “Cam, open up.” I push harder, but it only puts the pill between his lips and shoves his head to the side, making it fall limply.
My bones go cold.
“Cam,” I whisper. Tears dot his jacket.
My jaw trembles and I lean down, pulling him as close as I can.
“Please, no. I can’t… I can’t…” I choke on my staggered cries. “Why did you do that?” I wail, the sound getting lost in the dust of this forgotten place. Cameron’s blood. My blood.
This is the end for me.
I won’t go on without him.
“Emery.”
My eyes slowly lift at Reed’s cold tone. I tilt my head up to look at him.
Reed’s expression softens a fraction when he sees my disarray. He keeps his composure as expected.
“Reed… I’m done. I can’t go on.” I let my head fall back to Cameron’s and let another sob wrack through my shoulders.
“Emery, I need to you listen to me.” Reed walks across the room and shoves me off of Cameron.
I fall back on my ass and stare up at him in bewilderment.
He tears off a clear cap from an adrenaline syringe and keeps it locked between his teeth as his fierce eyes level me into nothing more than a mole hill.
“Take the zip line and finish what you started. I’ll be there soon.
Your stupid boyfriend is going to be okay…
okay? I promise. Now get the fuck out of here. ”
“Will t-that work?” I stammer, staring wide-eyed, half in shock.
Reed stabs the syringe into Cameron’s heart. I watch, unblinkingly as the adrenaline hits his bloodstream. Cam inhales sharply, the sound strangled and airy.
But he’s breathing.
He’s alive.
Chills break out across my skin and tears stream down my expressionless face.
“It’s going to take him a bit to wake up fully.” Reed snaps his fingers over Cameron’s face to get his attention. Seeming satisfied, Reed looks pointedly at me with an annoyed frown.
“Reed…” I say absently, trying to get back to my feet.
He sighs and walks to me, helping me up, before I wrap my arms around him tightly. I don’t care what his reasons are for helping me. Reed freezes for a beat, then embraces me all the same.
“You’re welcome,” he tuts, but it’s genuine.
“I don’t even have words.” I step back wiping my sleeve over my eyes. I study his face. He’s dressed in tactical gear like the Dark Forces soldiers, a black vest over his chest. His blond hair brushed to the side and those dark eyes are as plotting as ever.
Odd, I expected him to be in a suit like he normally is when he’s with my father, but I’m too hazy to care to look further into it. Not with everything happening.
Reed hands me a pipe to cross the zip line with. “Go.”
I take one more look at Cameron, his chest is rising and falling, and it’s all I need to sharpen my mind.
This ends tonight.