Scorch (Virtues & Lies 2)

He seems shocked too.

“Be careful with her.” I nod to her belly, making sure he understands she needs medical care stat.

“Got it.” Taking her from me, he cajoles her with him towards the door behind me. “I’m Oliver, what’s your name?”

I find a fuck tonne of respect for him right then. His softness with her is something I’ve never seen before from him.

“She’s not breathing, Christopher,” Freddie growls as I kneel beside him at Arabella’s side.

Searching for her pulse, I feel at her bloodstained neck and wrist. “She’s alive. She’s okay.” She’s okay, I tell us both when I find the faintest of thrums.

Handing him my weapon, I look around form something to cover her. I’m trying so hard to avoid thinking of all the possible reasons she might be like this. I can barely breathe as I scoop her up into my arms, slowly lifting to crouch before I stand and start moving.

Fuck, her hair is all wet. Her body feels so limp. I can’t make anything out because she’s bathed in blood.

I don’t bother checking around corners and down corridors. I move as quickly as I can, Leo and Freddie both at my sides.

“Take this.” Leo lays his jacket over her, taking the arm hanging limply and tucking it neatly so that you can’t tell she’s naked underneath.

I wish I hadn’t left my jacket in the car. It was so hot. I was suffocating.

Freddie leads the way through the narrow passage as I shuffle sideways, making sure not a single limb gets hurt any further.

“Fuck, I told you to fucki—” Wayne stops the minute he sees her. “Get her out there. Your dad sent the assistance.”

I keep going. Step after step. Trying not to lose my mind with fear that this is it.

Don’t leave me. Please don’t leave me, precious girl. Please.

Taking the stairs to the rear car park, I hold her as still as possible. I have no idea of the damage caused.

I don’t get a chance to hand her over—strangers take her from me, asking questions I don’t know the answer to.

I don’t know what happened to her. I wasn’t there.

This shouldn’t have happened. I shouldn’t have let her out of my sight. I should have kept her at my side like I promised her I would.

Standing outside the nondescript ambulance, I watch as the paramedics work on her. Hands pump her chest as others squeeze air into her lungs.

Her chest rises. Her chest falls.

One. Two. Three. Four. Squeeze-squeeze.

This can’t be how it ends.

One. Two. Three. Four. Squeeze-squeeze.

It can’t be how you leave me.

Puff, puff, puff, puff and one and two.

Her chest rises. Her chest falls.

And there’s nothing.

Chapter 44

Christopher