Page 123 of The Hero Within
"No!" Eden struggled, driving her elbow into Arik's ribs, her expression frantic. "No!"
She got free. Hit the bars again, rattling them with her tiny fists. "Mayhew!"
"Eden, stop it," he demanded, curling his hands over hers. A shiver of nerves ran through him as he cast a look over his shoulder—their window of opportunity was narrowing, and the longer they delayed, the stronger the chances of them getting caught.
Enforcers hammered down the corridor toward him. Two of them knelt at the sides, bringing their rifles to bear on him. He could almost feel the red lasers of their sights burning right between his shoulder blades. A helpless sort of anticipation stole his breath. If they pulled those triggers, there would be nothing he could do about it.
"We've got to get these fucking bars up," Eden snarled, looking for some sort of electronic fuse box.
"Eden," he snapped.
She looked at him helplessly, and he saw his fear reflected there.
"Whatever it takes," he said desperately, reaching through the bars and stroking a hand through her hair. "That's what you promised, angel. You've got your cure, you've got—"
"Not you!" she cried, her heart bleeding through the words. "I can't lose you,no."
He met Arik's eyes over her shoulder and nodded grimly. "I'm not getting out of here." And they wouldn't either, if they didn't hurry. "You have this one chance, Eden. Don't waste it. Go and save Lily. Save your people. They won't kill me if I don't force their hand. The Confederacy takes wargs alive."
"Throw your weapons on the ground," called a tinny voice behind him, as if to punctuate his words. "This is over."
Not for Eden and the others.
"Go," he insisted.
"Johnny," she begged.
He'd been holding the words close, biding his time, hesitant to say them when he wasn't sure if she returned the sentiment, but now there was no point. "I love you," he told her hoarsely as Arik dragged her back. "You made me believe I didn't have to be alone anymore. And I'll come for you, Eden. No matter how long it takes me. No matter how much it costs me, I will survive. I promise. Now go and save your people, before it’s too late."
"Love you," she mouthed, and he wasn't sure if she was simply repeating the words in shock, or trying to tell him she felt it too.
Arik muscled her away from the bars, and Johnny's ribs constricted. He had this horrible feeling he'd never see her again. Time seemed to slow down. The ringing in his ears enveloped him.
Then she was gone, Arik literally carrying her through the door Mayhew had just jacked open.
The shitty feeling in his chest felt somewhat akin to panic.
"Turn around slowly."
Arik would get her out, and she could complete her mission.
He had to believe that.
Slowly Johnny cupped his hands behind the back of his head, and forced all of the fear out in one nervous exhale. Enforcers surrounded him, their stunners held low as he slowly turned.
All he could do was try and survive.
If Arik could escape Camp Ragnarök, then so could he.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Whatever it takes....
How she hated those words.
Locking down her emotions, Eden crossed to the bed, pressing a hand to Lily's temples.
"Will it work?" Luc rasped, his beard thick and black, his hands clenched between his knees as he sat beside his daughter's bed. From the smell of him and the rumpled shirt he wore, he hadn't moved from Lily's side in days.
