Page 3 of Fate's Crossing

“Um.” Lexie fumbled for a response, uncomfortable in every sense of the word. But she knew help was at least ten minutes away—and that’s if they were traveling upward of seventy miles per hour, which, judging by the weather, she doubted. She was all he had.

Leaning in, she swallowed audibly and finished unhooking the buckle of his belt, sliding it smoothly from its loops, then proceeded to wrap it around his thigh, above the spot where the bone was protruding.

“Like that?”

He glanced down and nodded. “Tighten it.”

She did as he asked, lips curling back in apology as he growled and hissed through his teeth. He eased his head back and closed his eyes for a few moments. Lexie watched on in silent pity until eventually, he opened them again.

“Thanks.”

She eyed the gash on his head with concern, then peeled off her saturated jacket and sweater.

When she began removing her blouse, he blinked and stiffened. “W-what are you doing?”

“My best.”

Stripped down to her fitted, white tank, shivering from the chill, she folded her blouse into a thick rectangle, leaned forward, and applied it gently to his head. When she was sure he was used to the pressure, she added more, hoping to stop the bleeding.

He closed his eyes against her touch. His breathing was steadier, but still, she worried about him passing out and decided to try to keep him talking.

“What’s your name?”

His eyes came open again to rest on her face, mere inches from his. This close, she could see how dilated his pupils were, blocking out the natural honey brown almost completely.

“Nico,” he replied, jaw clenched tight. “Yours?”

“I’m Alexis, but my friends call me Lexie.”

“Not sure if having my blood all over you makes us”—cough, grunt—“friends,” he said, the slight upward twitch of his mouth a clear sign he was joking with her, only to be replaced by another harsh grimace.

The pain he must be in; she felt so helpless.

“Me neither,” she said. “But I’m willing to take the plunge if you are.”

He sighed, closing his eyes again.

“How long have you been down here?”

“Not sure,” he slurred. “I’ve been in and out.”

Lexie’s teeth chattered as she held the makeshift gauze against Nico’s head. Her other hand pressed against his cheek to hold him steady, the stubble shadowing his jaw grazed her palm. Her fingers looked pale against his tanned skin. She hated disturbing his rest but felt desperate to keep him conscious. Plus, she badly needed to distract herself from the cold seeping into her bones.

“I buried my father today.”

At her words, his eyes popped open. “What?”

“Yeah,” she said, feeling a sad smile forming. “My dad’s dead.”

After a quiet second, Nico regarded her with a coherency she didn’t expect him capable of.

“How?” he asked.

“Heart attack.” Saying it like that felt wrong. After all, it didn’t look like any kind of attack had taken place. He was just lying there, still in his bed, when Lexie found him.

Nico’s eyes clouded again, his body going limp.

“Hey.” Lexie shook him. “Don’t do this to me, okay? I can’t see another dead body this week. Nico? Please.”

---