Page 83 of Unchained

Half an hour later, they entered the city limits. Fatigue clung to Cam’s limbs, but she forced her eyes to stay open. Brooks’s legs hadn’t stopped bouncing the whole trip. Lifting her gaze to take in his features, the lights from the streetlamps now catching more of his face, she assessed him. His skin had taken on a gray tone, and the whites of his eyes appeared red, even in the dim lighting. His skin burned as though a raging fever brewed inside him.

“We need to drop Cam off at the hospital,” Brooks said to Nash, his voice haggard.

She didn’t want to leave Brooks, but she had to see her mom. “I’ll have to stop at the house first. I need to get shoes so I can leave these ones with my mom. I can drive myself there after.” At least she could get Brooks settled and check him out before she left.

“I’ll come,” Brooks said. His tone indicated it was the last thing he wanted to do, but she wasn’t going to talk him out of it. Getting him close to medical professionals was the best option.

She placed her palm on his cheek. “Are you okay?”

He caught her wrist and gave a curt nod, keeping his attention on the window. Her stomach flipped over. He’d survived the drug numerous times, but if Leonetti had upped the dosage, like he said, Brooks could be in danger.

She caught Nash’s gaze in the rearview mirror. His brow was creased with concern. Brooks didn’t need to be hounded by everyone, but something wasn’t right. Weighty fear burrowed into her gut.

Nash pulled into the driveway of his safe house. “Keep us posted.” He met Cam’s gaze in the mirror again, signaling her to update him on Brooks’s health.

She wrapped her arm around her abdomen, trying to stave off the sickening sensation. Brooks hopped out, held out his hand for Cam, then once again swung her into his arms.

“I can walk.” Her cheeks warmed under Dare’s and Nash’s gazes, but at this point she’d already been toted around so much that a few more steps didn’t matter.

“It’s good for me to exert myself.” He nodded at the brothers then made his way to the front door. Setting her on her feet, he inserted the key in the lock. She preceded him inside.

Brooks kicked off his shoes and strode to the kitchen, his footsteps heavy and quick. Cam followed him, but now that she was running low on adrenaline, pain consumed her every step. She needed a hot soak, but that would have to wait until she got back from seeing her mom. Brooks paced along the island. A sheen of sweat coated his skin.

The pit of nausea in Cam’s stomach expanded. “You should have gone in the ambulance.” She searched the counters. Her heart sank. Shoot, Leonetti had taken her phone.

Brooks rubbed his fingers under his collarbone. “I’m fine.”

His skin was now green. Her breath constricted in her throat. She turned and ran upstairs, ignoring the protests of her feet. If she didn’t hurry, he’d likely go into cardiac arrest. And his stubborn ass probably wouldn’t let her help. Dropping to her knees in the bedroom, she dug into her duffel bag and pulled out her nurse’s bag. She grabbed her stethoscope, hooked it around her neck, and threaded her arm through the bag’s loops. There wasn’t much her equipment would do. He needed a hospital. But she sure as hell couldn’t blame him for resisting.

She lunged down the stairs as quickly as she could and found Brooks in the kitchen with his hands splayed on the counter. She raced forward and caught his bicep. He shook off her hold.

“No, don’t touch me. Please.” He squeezed his eyes shut.

Fear chomped through her spine. “Dammit, Brooks,” she said, summoning her sternest nurse’s voice. “Look at me now or I’m calling an ambulance.” She caught his jaw.

His eyes sparked at her, but sadness clouded his irises. “Please, babe. I’d rather my heart fucking explode than hurt you.”

Tears swarmed her eyes. She ran a hand down his bicep. “You’re not going to hurt me, okay?”

He shook his head, the action more violent than necessary. “I can’t contain it anymore—the drug. It’s too strong. My body can’t keep up.”

“That doesn’t mean you need to hurt anyone.” She inched closer and lifted his shirt, placing the stethoscope’s diaphragm to his chest. Searing heat radiated off his skin. He needed to cool down. It wasn’t hard to find his heartbeat. The organ thumped against the wall of his chest. Strong, but fast. Too darn fast. Jeez Louise. She pulled out her blood pressure cuff and wrapped it around his bicep then pushed him around the island toward a chair.

He planted his feet. “Can’t sit.” His eyes closed, as if speaking took too much effort.

“You need to tell me your symptoms. What’s happening?”

“Head hurts. It’s pounding.” He brought his hand to his throat and scratched. “Skin’s itchy and my—my vision is blurry.”

She pumped the cuff and watched it tighten on his skin. The needle jumped, and her stomach plummeted. “If I don’t get you to a hospital you’re going to die,” she said, trying to keep the terror she felt out of her voice, to employ the stoic nursing nerves she’d had for years. But she couldn’t.

“No!” He yanked the cuff off and threw it across the room. “They’ll test me and keep me isolated like a fucking animal. Once they know what I’m capable of, they’ll use me.”

She shook her head, and tears leaked out of her eyes. Calling an ambulance would be an act of betrayal, but if she didn’t, he’d have a heart attack or a stroke. Then again, if she went against his wishes, he’d kill the paramedics, or go on a full-blown murdering spree in the hospital. He wouldn’t be able to contain himself. She needed his permission. She caught his face in her hands and forced him to look at her. “I promise that won’t happen.”

He grabbed her elbows, and a streak of anger flashed in his eyes. If he wanted to, he could throw her as easily as he’d thrown the blood pressure cuff. But he didn’t.

“I don’t want to lose you,” she said, through a sharp gasp. “Please. Let me call. I won’t leave your side.”

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