Page 73 of Dark Love

Payne locks the rope, so they won’t drop back, and I tie off my end.

Slowly, so as not to startle her, I reach out. “I’m going to wrap my arms around you and lift you out of the harness.”

“Go slow. Her back is sore.” There’s a hard note in Payne’s soft voice.

“Noted.”

“Can’t Payne do it?” She tries to back away but doesn’t get anywhere.

“Imogene, this is my best friend, Vex. I’ve known him since we were kids. He won’t hurt you.” Payne’s voice stays low and calm. “He’s the one that threw youhis watch.”

She touches the gold band that’s too big for her wrist. It’s almost big enough to fit on her neck, as emaciated as she is.

“Please let me help you.” Sometimes manners can help get through to a person.

Imogene turns to look at Payne.

He nods with a reassuring smile.

“Okay.”

Gently, I lift her…skin and bones…there’s nothing to her but skin and bones.

Emotion tries to bubble up.

There’s no time to feel anything now. I take one deep breath and push them away. I try to set Imogene on her feet, but she wobbles and almost collapses.

Payne practically hops out of the hole and unhooks himself.

With a burst of energy that shouldn’t be possible, Imogene shoves herself away from me and stumbles over to him. She wraps her arms around him as he lifts her into his arms.

Payne hates to be touched. He’s laid total strangers on the floor for accidentally knocking into him, yet he’s holding this woman like he never wants to let go.

This doesn’t bode well. Not well at all. “She needs to drink.” I pull a bottle of water out of the bag and hand it to her.

Imogene greedily pours the water down her throat.

“Slowly. Drink slowly or you’ll—”

All the water comes back up. Thanks to Payne’s quick reflexes, it lands on the grass instead of her.

“You’re okay.” Payne stands up again. “Hand us another bottle. We’ll try again on the way to the car.”

I hand them another bottle. “She needs to go to a hospital.”

“No. No. No, hospital. I don’t want to go to the hospital.” The trembling from vomiting amplifies into the full-on shakes you see right before a person has a seizure.

We should have brought a doctor, but risking Barb’s life wasn’t an option and there aren’t any other doctors that I trust enough to bring on one of these types of excursions. “Payne?”

“Don’t worry. I’ve got her.”

That’s what I’m afraid of.

Too Smart

Dahlia

Today was a long day. Too long. I set my bag and keys down on the table by the door as I hang up the coat Vex insisted I wear before leaving his house.

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