Page 89 of The Second Deal

Lightningblazes.

Hisgrip eases on my arms, enough to whereIcan finagle and wrap my fingers around his hand posted above my head to squeeze with what little energyIhave left.

“Zak,”Icry weakly.Asoft sob tumbles out, almost resembling a sad chuckle. “Hey,Chiquito.”

Thesuction on my neck stops.

Zakslowly leans back, enough so he can peer up at my face.Bloodpours from between his lips.

Hegasps and trips over himself to get away.

It’sso dark, but lightning bursts overhead and highlights all the blood dribbling down his bearded chin and soaking into his shirt.

Zaklooks down and cries out sharply before looking at me. “Oh,God, babe…WhatdidIdo to you?”

Lightsflash in the branches overhead.

“Zak!Steph!”

Myvision goes black.

Footstepsrumble like machine guns in my ears until they come to a sudden stop.

“Whatthe fuck did you do?”

Handstouch my abdomen, my face.

“Oh,God, baby.”Fingersbrush hair off my forehead. “Pleasetell me you’re alive.”Ibarely hear it under his shaking breath, “Fuck.”

“Dree?”Itry to muster.Itcomes out as high-pitched as a mosquito.

Heexhales in relief.Hisbody burns like a furnace beside me. “Baby,I’mhere.I’mhere,” he repeats more softly, more like he’s trying to reassure himself.

Iblink repeatedly.Myvision comes and goes, butDreestays by my side.

Rootsor branches or something crack and rip and whoosh through the air.Watersplashes in the river below. “Fuck!”

“Shan, just get over here.”

“Itwasn’t supposed to fuckin’ be like this, man!”

Zaksobs.Theharrowing sound comes closer until he’s on the side opposite ofAdrian.Histouch is like the sun on a sunburn.

Ashrill sound pierces my ears.

It’sme.It’sme puling like a wounded animal.

Adrianmoves. “Getthe fuck away from her.”

Zakmoves, too. “I’mstaying right here.”

Morefootsteps sound behind us, tree branches cracking until they suddenly stop. “Whatthe fuck…?”

Asob tears through my chest and feels likeI’mbeing split in two. “Robbie?”

There’sa scramble and a tussle,Robbiepounding the concrete above my head and shovingZakaside.ButZakshoves back.

Someonegrabs me, making me groan as a body slips beneath my upper half.

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