Page 67 of These Reckless Hearts

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” he repeats. His fingers shake as he opens the butterfly bandages. He uses three on the stab wound, pressing the skin together tightly and sealing it up. He uses two more on the deeper cut, and gauze and medical tape on the others. He even takes care of the slice on my calf, which looks superficial now compared to actual blade wounds. After wrapping my leg in more gauze, he covers everything with the tan sprain bandage, clipping the metal pieces on to keep it closed.

Afterward, he rummages through the kit and takes out a small, white package.

Tylenol. Thank fuck.

He opens it and offers the two capsules to me in his palm. “Do you want me to ask for some water?”

I shake my head. It takes some effort, but I eventually swallow the two pills and lie back to wait for them to do their thing.

Stone stretches out next to me, pushing the kit out of the way and tangling his feet with mine. He rests his hand lightly on my hip.

“Why did you come here, really?”

“You know I can’t let anything happen to you,” he murmurs, lips thinning. “From the minute Lucas got me breathing again, I’ve been worried sick. I’ve been trying to call my father ever since we got back to Clary, but he wouldn’t answer.”

“Ninja and Pete?” I ask, realizing I hadn’t asked about them yet.

“Fine,” he reassures. “Pissed as all hell. But I don’t think anyone was more pissed than Cole.”

My voice breaks. “He’s okay, too?”

“He really cares about you,” Stone admits. “The four of us trashed the house in our grief. I apologize in advance when you see it.”

A small smile tugs at my lips. “Maybe Lance won’t want it now.”

“He’ll be dead before he can make good on his threat to evict us. I’ll figure this out.”

I try to turn on my side, but the pain reliever hasn’t kicked in yet, so I stay where I am and glance over at him instead. “Ninja and Pete are really okay?”

Stone nods. “They said they didn’t have time to react. They heard the rushing of the water, and the next thing they knew they were being carried away with it. The military assholes dammed up the creek, waiting for it to gather as much water as it could. With the rain, it gathered so much that it took out everything in its path once they let it go.”

“These guys are professionals,” I whisper. “I heard them say something about Iraq.”

Stone nods. “Cole found out who they are with help from the evidence on the traps they left in our tent. They’re the type of people you hire when you have no fucks left to give. Those are his words, by the way.”

I chuckle at that.

“Ninja and Pete ended up at the bottom of the mountain. They’re bruised like the rest of us, but they’re completely fine. They started making their way back up as soon as they could, but it was dark and they don’t know the trails as well as we do. The SAT phone was ruined. It was practically a miracle that we even found them again. We helped each other down and caught a ride from someone parked at the trailhead. I think the man shit his pants when Ninja approached him.”

“I would’ve liked to see that.”

“It was pretty funny. Ninja was not in a laughing mood, and I’m sure the way we looked scared the crap right out of him.”

I hum under my breath, finding humor despite our situation. It doesn’t last long. I lick my lips, hating what I’m about to reveal. “Your dad knows about the map.”

His face falls. “I know, baby. It’s okay.”

I shake my head because he has no idea. It’s not okay. Not even a little.

Hope in the wrong hands can make that person damn near indestructible.

29

As expected, Lance doesn’t let our reunion last, and before long, Stone kisses me awake. Thanks to the Tylenol and extra sleep, my head is clearer and my injuries are muted. I groan as he pulls me to a sitting position. “Dad wants us out there.”

I shake my head, grogginess still lifting from me. “This is a bad idea. He’s going to hurt you.”

He doesn’t reply, which makes my heart do a little flip. He knows what he signed up for, and he doesn’t care.

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