Chapter 30 #3
And just as Eden goes to lunge, her body coiled with anticipation, a hiss fills the air.
Conor moves before she can, pointing his firearm at Eden while she pulls her knife on reflex.
I rip one of my guns free, aiming at him just as I spot a small, white tube on the ground.
The object he was looking at when we came in.
I open my mouth, but I don’t say a word. Instead, fire fills my lungs, and I choke. A cough sputters out of me, my body trying to reject whatever I am breathing in.
Conor’s lips twitch as my aim wavers, leaving Eden staring down the barrel of his gun. “Not so big on threats now, are you, Kieran?”
Eden stares at me in horror as my chest burns and no air seems to be going in my lungs. It’s not smoke inhalation—it’s like there’s no oxygen at all in here. But neither Conor nor Eden are reacting the same.
“What are you doing to him?” Her voice is deadly quiet as she stares at me. She can’t reach her gun without him potentially shooting her, and I’m quickly failing. I won’t risk a sloppy shot or her life.
He’s backed us into our own corner because neither of us is willing to risk the other.
“Kieran is experiencing a concentrated form of the airborne toxins in the valley.” He flicks his gaze to me. “Painful, isn’t it?”
I sway, sweat gathering on my skin. My gun clatters as it falls, and all I can think about is reaching for my holster. But I fear if I do, Conor will shoot Eden.
To hide what I’m doing, I let my body collapse to the floor. Folded in on myself, he can’t quite see my hand movements. But his gaze is still on me, and the holster is just out of my reach.
“Where is the antidote?” Eden is starting to sound panicked. “You must have one if neither of us are reacting. Where is it?”
Conor chuckles. “I’m not giving it to him .” He cocks his head, staring down at me. “But he’ll likely survive this dosage. It wasn’t intended for a room this large.”
I feel like I’m swallowing water. I doubt I’ll survive this if I don’t move faster, but I can’t jeopardize Eden.
“I’ll make you a deal. I won’t shoot Kieran after he passes out. I’ll leave him here for the toxins to work their way out of his system. As long as you come with me.”
“Come with you where? To Miles?”
Conor barks out a laugh. “Miles doesn’t know a thing.
I am Parker’s contact. I’m the one who thought to take you, to wipe your memories and use you as a symbol.
The mafia leader’s wife turned against him.
” He’s grinning now, and I swallow against the burning air in my lungs, wishing I could kill him.
“And that plan can still work as long as you cooperate. Another dose, and you’ll forget all about Kieran again. ”
My mind is swimming, but even with the lack of oxygen, pieces start to click in place.
Conor knew that Lochlan was going to be in the city when no one else did.
Conor had the guard schedules and fought me over the building sweeps.
Conor once reassigned a squad, and I believed he was just a fucking idiot.
My mind starts to piece together so many moments. His constant redirection of my focus. His surprise at Eden’s return. His more frantic and aggressive behavior over the last few months.
And he was the one insistent that we pour more resources into the clinics. Ones that would have the research to make weaponized air and antidotes, potentially whatever he dosed Eden with.
This trembling prick has been manipulating and betraying me, and I never saw it. He hid behind Miles. He used the rebels’ manpower. And in the end, he’s managed to bring me down.
Eden’s eyes meet mine, and I see the worry in them. I want to tell her to kill the bastard, that I’ll be okay, but I can’t speak. I can’t do anything as my body starts to tremble from whatever is being pumped into my system.
“Okay!” She turns to him, steeling her voice. “I’ll go with you. Just don’t let him die.”
With his eyes on Eden, I slide my hand a little higher. I’ve nearly reached the pocket. I just need her to keep him distracted a little longer.
As someone who could potentially get stabbed or shot at any moment, I don’t leave my home without a syringe tucked into a hidden pocket on either side of my shoulder holster. It’s almost invisible to everyone else, but it holds one thing that could keep me alive.
My vision is blurring, and I’m barely clinging to consciousness as Conor drags Eden from the room. I hope she fights him once they clear the house. I know my girl is smart and capable, and I just need her to wait until I make it to her.
Without fear that he’ll see me and shoot Eden, I rip the syringe from the pocket and inject it into my veins as I fight the collapse.
As the shot of adrenaline floods my body, I grab my gun and shoot the window closest to me, cool air flooding the room.
And as the medicine pushes my body to circulate oxygen faster, I feel the fresh air flushing the toxin from my system.
I push to a stand, anger replacing everything else.
Because he fucking took my wife.