by Eve R. Hart
“The call only lasted a few minutes,” the voice said.
“He has two phones?” I asked confused. I’d only ever seen him with the one.
“I’m guessing he bought one for his sister so he could keep in touch. There’s a lot of communication between the two numbers,” Reed said with a shrug as if he didn’t even feel guilty for knowing that.
“Right,” I said. That made more sense. Why couldn’t I think right now? That should have been so easy to figure out. “But what does that mean?”
“What is the location of that second phone now?” Reed asked the car. Or rather, the guy still waiting on the other end that I’d sort of forgotten about.
“Give me a few. I’ll send it to you,” the voice said and then the phone went dead.
“I have so many questions about that, but now is not the time,” I said to Reed. We’d be talking that was for sure. There was more going on that he wasn’t telling me about. This wasn’t a simple tech guy on standby for things that might go wrong at the company. This was someone with special skills, ones that could probably do more than get a location on a phone within five minutes.
“All in due time,” Reed replied and pushed the gas pedal down even more.
A moment later, a text came through with a location.
“Plug that in on your phone and see where it’s at,” Reed said.
I did as I was told.
“Atlanta. Is that the address where Theon lived? Where his sister is?”
“No,” Reed replied.
I could no longer deny that everything wasn’t okay.
Reed ate up the road until we got a message saying that Theon’s phone had pulled off of the highway. I entered every location that came through Reed’s phone and we easily followed. With the way Reed had driven, we’d nearly caught up with him.
Eventually, we were informed that Theon’s phone had stopped moving. I immediately tried calling him again but he didn’t answer.
“We’re fifteen minutes out,” I told Reed as I looked up the location, which had been the same one that the second phone had been at.
He had us there in ten.
Reed stopped the car in the middle of the road. There was nothing around and I had a feeling no one would be using this road any time soon.
“There’s your rental,” Reed said the moment I saw it up ahead. “We need a plan.”
“That building looks seconds away from collapsing,” I noted. “I don’t know how we can get in undetected.”
Things began to get hazy for me. My eyes didn’t want to see the reality of what was in front of me and my gut burned with acid. This felt all too familiar.
The dilapidated building in the middle of nowhere. It was like seeing the one right in front of me flicked some kind of switch in my brain. The world around me began to blur and I felt like I couldn’t hold on to reality.
I blinked, but it was all around me now.
The cries.
The rapid-fire of AKs.
The screams.
They were all ringing in my ears as if they were real.
“Well you better fucking figure it out,” he growled and it snapped me into focus. I couldn’t slip now. I had no other choice but to find a way to push it down.
“The front looks open, I’m guessing that’s the way Theon entered.” My eyes scanned the dark area as best as I could while I spoke. “I say we check around the back, see if there’s a way in.”
And that was exactly what we did.
We’d ended up in some sort of office, or I would have guessed that was what it had been once. The wall to the outside was crumbling and there had been big parts that were just gone. I found one with enough room for us to slip inside. And it was the only way in that I could see that provided any kind of cover. It was hard to imagine what this place had once been. Perhaps some sort of factory.
Voices echoed off the walls of the bare room.
“Did you kill him?” I heard Theon ask.
God, he sounded so scared.
“No, I didn’t have to. Just like your momma.” I didn’t recognize that voice, but I could easily guess who the hell it was.
“His stepdad?” Reed whispered right next to my ear. I gave one quick nod of my head to let him know I was on the same page.
I held my hand up to him as a way of telling him to stay put. I hoped to God he knew what I meant. I didn’t have enough eyes to look out for him and Theon at the same time. Not to mention whoever else might be in that room.
That was when I heard it, a low crying that I knew wasn’t Theon.
I was going to kill that son of a bitch.
I saw red. And as I reached for my firearm, I turned to face Reed.
“If you don’t want to see me kill a man then you better head back out.” That was the only warning he was going to get.
He paused, eyes going to the handgun I now held ready in front of me. Then he nodded.
“Stay back. I mean it. I can’t worry about you and save them.” My words were barely audible but I knew he heard them.
“Got it,” he replied back just as softly.
Keeping to the shadows, I moved closer to the exit of the room. Reed was a few feet behind me and when we got to the doorway, I whipped my head around to see into the big room.
I could hardly make out the figures there.
But I could see enough to watch as the figure of what I assumed was his stepdad advanced on Theon. I knew Theon’s shape, even in the sliver of moonlight shining in from the gaping holes in the roof. And I didn’t miss the fact that the man’s outstretched hand held a gun that was aimed at Theon’s head.
“Get me the fucking money,” he roared angrily at Theon.
I’d had this feeling in my gut. I fucking knew I should have listened to it. I knew this was connected to Perry somehow. I’d been stupid to think that because Theon was with me that he was safe. I was angry that he hadn’t come to me, that he’d left me sleeping in bed instead of asking for help. It was something I was going to let him know later.
After I saved him.
Because I couldn’t lose him.
No way in hell.
Theon was my last hope and if that light faded away, what did I have left?
I passed the little girl tied to a chair. I felt her eyes on me and heard her whimpers stop for a second as she noticed me. But I didn’t give her any attention because I couldn’t lose focus.
This man had a gun to my love and he could pull that trigger at any second.
My foot crunched over rubble, drawing the man’s attention. His arm swung in my direction and that was the opening I needed. Theon was safe and nothing else mattered.
Knowing my shot would hit him, I fired.
But so did he.
I felt the bullet tear through my flesh, but I didn’t stop. I kept walking as he crumbled to the ground, my aim going down with him.
Another bullet left my gun and the instant it met his body, he went limp.
Motherfucker wouldn’t be getting up.
“Cade!” I heard Theon scream.
The room began to spin and I couldn’t figure out why I felt so cold all of a sudden.
Theon called my name again, this time it seemed to echo around me.
My lids closed even as I sought out his form.
Like I was floating, I went down. Then the impact of the debris-littered ground crashed hard into my body.
“Love,” I breathed out feeling like I only had enough air in my lungs to force the word out. Then I couldn’t get another breath in.
This felt too familiar.
And it also didn’t.
I saved him.
That was the only thing that mattered.
“Don’t leave me,” I heard Theon say.
I wanted to tell him not to cry. I needed to tell him it would all be okay.
Why couldn’t I get the words out?
I felt his hand against my face.
That was the last thing I held on to as everything
went black and still.
30
Theon
“Any change?” Reed asked as he came up behind me.
With my eyes glued to Cade’s face, I shook my head.
I felt Reed’s hand on my shoulder. I knew he meant it to be reassuring but he’d done it so many times over the past week that it had started to feel like a boulder pressing down on me.
Cade had taken the shot to his chest. The bullet had torn through his lung. I couldn’t even tell you what happened that night, but he had held on until the EMTs got there. I had no clue who’d even called for them. I could only guess it was Reed, but I hadn’t stopped long enough to find out.
They stabilized him and then rushed him to the hospital.
He was in surgery for hours and by some miracle, they were able to save him and repair the damage.
But Cade had slipped off into a coma and the doctors were clueless as to why he hadn’t woken up yet.
“I got Silvie off to school,” Reed informed me as he moved away and sat in the chair on the other side of Cade’s hospital bed.
“Thank you,” I replied numbly.
I was thankful but I was also currently a shell.
My poor sister. She didn’t deserve this from me. But I couldn’t seem to claw my way to the surface. And I knew I wouldn't be able to, not until I heard Cade say my name again.
If it wasn’t for Reed, Silvie wouldn’t have someone to look after her right now. I didn’t know how I could repay him but I also couldn’t think about it.
I hadn’t slept. I’d barely eaten anything. And the only reason I had was because Reed had forced it on me. I refused to leave Cade’s side. Again, if it wasn’t for Reed I wouldn’t have even showered. He had this magical way of getting me to walk away for a short period of time. Even though every single time I felt guilty. Not to mention how all I had was a sense of panic every single time I left him. What if Cade woke up and I wasn’t there? What if he gave up completely and I wasn’t at his side for his final moments? What if he faded from this world alone?
I’d prayed for him to live. I’d willed him to come back to me. I begged over and over again for him to fight.
But so far, not a single bit of it had done any good.
He needs time to recover.
His body is trying to heal.
He’ll come around when he’s ready.
Those were the excuses I’d heard from the numerous doctors and nurses time and time again.
No one had any answers and no one could tell me when this limbo would end.
“Theon,” Reed said softly.
I could hear it in his tone. He had things he wanted to talk about.
“Not now, Reed,” I told him but didn’t give him my eyes.
I couldn’t do it without Cade. I couldn’t make these decisions and choices without Cade by my side.
Tears fell from my eyes. It surprised me because I thought I’d run out of them three days ago after crying nearly every moment of the day.
“Theon, we can’t put it off any longer. Silvie needs to know what’s going on. She needs stability.”
I knew this, yes, and the fact that I couldn’t rip myself right down the middle to take care of her too killed me.
“I said not now, Reed!” I yelled as I shot up out of the chair.
I leaned over Cade, my face just inches from his.
“Come back to me!” I screamed at him. “I fucking need you!”
I did. I needed Cade. He made me feel a little less broken. And the parts of me that were still cracked, he filled with love.
“You can’t do this to me, Cade!” I raved. “Wake up! Wake the fuck up!”
I felt Reed’s arm around my stomach and a second later, he was dragging me away. It did nothing to stop me from calling out.
“You are it for me, Cade Jones! I knew it the moment I looked into your eyes.” I broke down and stopped fighting against Reed’s hold. Everything came out in a broken sob after that. “I refuse to do this life without you. Hear that, Cade? I refuse. I love you so much.”
“Theon,” Reed said and there was a hint of surprise in his tone. “Listen.”
I stopped and did as he said.
The beeps that filled the room were going crazy.
They hadn’t been that fast and loud before.
“Fight, Cade,” I willed him.
“Baby.”
“Oh, God,” I cried as I rushed to his side.
That one word had been rough and strained and barely above a whisper, but I knew he’d said it.
“I’m here,” I choked out as I took his hand in mine.
I nearly broke when I felt him give me a little squeeze.
“Not leaving you,” he whispered.
People rushed into the room but I couldn’t take my eyes off of his face. Doctors and nurses, I assumed by the way they were poking and probing and whatever else was going on. It was as if my breath was frozen in my lungs until I saw his beautiful brown eyes. I silently begged him to let me see them.
It felt like hours until I saw his eyes crack open.
His gaze was on mine like he knew exactly where I was.
“Here,” he reassured me before he let his lids fall closed again.
I was ushered out of the way.
Everything that was going on became background noise. I saw Cade’s lips moving like he was answering questions but all I could focus on was the fact that he was awake.
Reed pulled me into his side and I wrapped my arms around his waist, latching on to the comfort he had ready and waiting for me. I felt like crap the way I’d treated him. But despite that, he was still here for me.
“I told you everything would be okay,” he said and though I knew he was trying to lighten the mood, I could hear how his voice was thick with emotion. “You should always listen to your big bro.”
I couldn’t speak, so I hugged him tighter to let him know how much he meant to me.
I’d been suffering all this time, but I hadn’t taken a moment to realize that Reed had been as well. He was hurting just like me. The whole time he had been scared and in pain, he’d stayed strong for me.
How could I ever say I was sorry?
How could I ever repay him for everything he’d done for me?
The doctor went over all sorts of important things with Cade. Well, he tried to. Once Cade was able to keep his lids open, his gaze had been on me and never left. I was blubbering so hard and I didn’t give a crap that I couldn’t stop.
“Can we finish this later, Doc?” Cade croaked out.
“Yes, Mr. Jones.” The doctor gave Cade a nod and a small smile. “Rest. You’ll be here for a few more days, at least.”
The room cleared out and I took Cade’s hand.
“I’m just going to go grab some coffee,” Reed said and then he was gone, too.
“I never want to hear you give up like that again,” he said, his eyes burning into mine.
“Cade, I’m…”
“No,” he barked as much as his body would allow him to. “With or without me, you go on. You are strong. You don’t need me.”
I sucked in a sharp breath. Why did it sound like he was breaking up with me?
I tried to retract my hand but he grabbed it with super-strength and kept me close.
“I love you, Theon. Love you so much it hurts.”
I shook my head. My mouth opened and I wanted to tell him that I loved him the same. Only, that wasn’t what came out.
“No, that’s just the hole in your chest from the bullet wound.”
My eyes went wide and if I wasn’t frozen in shock, I would have covered my gaping mouth.
His intense face went soft.
“Don’t leave me,” he said as he pulled me down.
“That’s my line,” I breathed out and them my lips were on his.
The kiss was soft and nothing more than a long moment of us pressing our lips together, but it spoke volumes.
“I heard you,” he whispered against
my lips. “It broke me that I couldn’t come back to you. I was trying so hard, baby. So damn hard.”
“I know,” I told him, letting my forehead fall against his.
His eyes. God, how I’d missed looking into them. And even though I was now, there was a part of it that still didn’t seem real. How did I get so lucky to have this man in my life?
Tears ran down my face and fell away, landing onto his cheeks.
“Please don’t cry,” he begged in a broken voice. “I’m here.”
“I’m not whole without you, Cade.”
“Yes, you are, baby.”
“Then I’m better with you by my side,” I tried again.
“So am I.” I felt his lips turn up in a smile as he brushed them against mine. “Now, come lay with me. I’m tired.”
I straightened and blinked down at him.
“You do realize you’ve been sleeping for like a whole week, right?”
He tried to laugh but the pain cut it short.
“It doesn’t count if you’re not in bed with me.”
With a roll of my eyes, I carefully crawled in beside him. My head went to his shoulder and everything felt right. It felt good. It felt like I was complete.
“Oh!” I exclaimed as I felt something heavy shift against my chest. I moved to grab the chain around my neck so that I could drag it up over my head. “I held onto these so they’d be safe.”
His hand came up and halted my movements.
“Keep them. I like being that close to your heart,” he told me and though his tone was gruff, I could hear the tenderness in his words.
My eyes were leaking again and I buried my head in the crook of his neck to hide it.
My heavy lids closed and for the first time in a week, I was able to sleep with a sense of relief relaxing me.
31
Cade
“Get me the fuck out of here,” I growled at Reed.
I’d been awake for two days and while I’d been in and out of sleep for most of that, I was up now. I had energy and needed to get the hell out of this place.
