Page 6 of Wicked Dove
I feel like I might throw up.
“Yeah,” he admits, rubbing the back of his neck.
The acknowledgment settles in my mind, but it does nothing to calm the thunder of my heart. If anything, my body seems to burn hotter with every breath I take. The next one lodges in my throat as I gasp, causing Walker to frown and lean closer. But as he reaches down for me, a blast ripples in the air between us, sending him flying backward as I scream again.
“Walker!” I cry, I think, I hope, but I can’t see him. My eyes roll back as a tingling sensation ghosts over my skin from head to toe before a bleak pit of darkness consumes me.
TWO
ELODIE
My heart pounds methodically, luring me back from the darkness. Every part of me tingles, and my mouth is dry as hell, but even in my disoriented state, I instantly recall the moments leading up to the bleakness.
Walker.
The Vulture.
Fear.
Panic.
Dismay.
A gunshot.
Another.
And just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse, a pop crackled between Walker and me, knocking him across the room before I blacked out.
I need to check if he’s okay, and we need to get out of here. Now. I have no idea how much time has passed, but it doesn’t matter. All I care about is getting us out in one piece.
Prying my eyes open, my vision blurs, and the room spins with each attempt until I finally focus on a pair of eyes hovering above my face. They are a piercing blue, sending a shiver downmy spine, but when I manage to focus my gaze, it’s not Walker who comes into view as I expect.
No.
I have no clue who this guy is. Or the one behind him, or the one beside that.
With every breath I take, another person comes into view, and I immediately wish the darkness would claim me once again. It has to fare better than this. If I was uncomfortable in the room before with The Vultures, some random guy in a white tee whose name I’ll never know, and Walker, then I was wrong. It pales in comparison to this.
None of them are looking at me like I’m a distraction. Instead, there’s accusation, confusion, and a touch of disdain hanging in the air as they evaluate me.
As I blink, two more men come into view, making the total five, but none of them are the guy I’m looking for.
“Walker,” I rasp, and the room stills. Everyone was already staring at me, but now the mumbling is gone.
I gulp, trying to remain unfazed, but I’m not going to be able to calm my nerves if I don’t lay eyes on Walker quickly.
“Miss Blackwood?”
My eyes widen as I look up at the guy muttering my name. I should try to move from my spot on the floor, but it’s useless. I don’t think I’ll move anywhere without one of them grabbing me, which is why I need Walker now.
“Where is Walker?” I rasp, my tongue like lead in my mouth as I struggle to speak.
The asshole bent at the middle, peering down at me, shakes his head in frustration. I curl my hands into fists at my sides, ready to defend myself however necessary.
“Please confirm your name,” he grunts, pursing his lips in irritation. To my surprise, he stands tall, adding a few extra inches of distance between us, and I seize the moment to move.
I don’t get very far, but I manage to lift myself into a sitting position with my back pressed against the wall behind me. The sensation of sequins digging into my skin makes me cringe at the thought of how I must look, but I ignore it, folding my arms across my chest in a weak attempt to shield myself.
