Page 42 of Festive

Amber storms into the clubroom, her eyes blazing as she hefts her luggage, throwing a final glare in my direction. “Thanks for nothing, Six. You reap what you sow,” she spits, striding toward the door as if she’s tossing a match behind her, ready to watch the place go up in a raging inferno.

I scoff, the sound coming out rougher than I intended, and shake my head, the muscles in my neck suddenly pulling tight, sending sharp, stabbing pain shooting down my spine. I reach up, trying to rub away the tension, but it doesn’t help. “The lack of gratitude for the shit I’ve done for that woman is fucking astounding,” I grumble, my voice barely hiding the anger simmering beneath. But even as I speak, something feels off, like a pressure building inside my chest, too tight, too heavy.

Prinie, standing close, shrugs, her voice barely audible. “People did try to warn you, Six.”

I force a laugh, but it sticks in my throat, turning into a cough that rips through my lungs like I’ve swallowed fire.What the hell is happening?The coughs won’t stop, and my chest feels like it’s being crushed. Panic flares inside me. I try to pull in a breath, but it’s like the air isn’t reaching my lungs. I freeze, my wide eyes locking onto Prinie’s, attempting to tell her something’s seriously wrong without words.

She must see it because her face goes pale as she rushes toward me, her hand hitting my back, trying to help.

But it’s no use.

I can’t breathe.

My chest seizes, the muscles in my neck and shoulders knotting so tight I can barely move.

And then—boom—my legs give out.

My body spasms, jerking uncontrollably as I collapse onto the floor. It’s like my body isn’t mine anymore, every muscle locking up, my limbs twisting and tightening as if they’re being torn apart from the inside. My vision blurs, and all I can feel is pain.

Pure, relentless pain.

“Jesus! Zero, Nessie… someone call 911!” Prinie’s voice is a high-pitched blur, and she drops down beside me, her hands on my shoulder, trying to calm me, but her touch is barely noticeable through the agony flooding my system.

I’m burning up, every inch of me on fire. My skin is drenched in sweat as I try to focus on anything but the searing pain. My thoughts slip to Thayleah and the kids, my heart racing with fear.

I can’t leave them.

I can’t leave them like this.

“Koda, I’m here, I’m right here.” Prinie’s voice is trembling now, her hand gently lowering me onto my side as my bodyconvulses, muscles so taut I feel like I’m being torn apart. My jaw locks, teeth grinding so hard it feels like they’ll crack under the pressure. Every limb is rigid, locked in place, while the spasms continue to rack through me.

I can’t breathe.

I can’t fucking breathe.

My chest tightens, oxygen slipping away faster than I can drag it in. My vision tunnels, black creeping in from the edges, and I catch something—someone shouting—before it’s drowned out by the sound of my own rapid heartbeat.

It’s Nessie—someone says she’s down too.

I don’t even have time to process what that means before everything goes dark.

The pain fades, swallowed by the blackness that takes over completely.

And suddenly, I can’t feel anything anymore…

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

ZERO

If Six went down on his own, it would be regarded as a coincidence, but Nessie being taken out by whatever bullshit this is—ithasto be a targeted attack.

Pacing the hall, I need to take control of this situation.

Six is still being processed at the hospital. Chills is in with him running all the tests while we’re in the waiting room, fucking waiting. We don’t know how bad it is, so I made the executive decision not to call Rebel until we at least know what the fuck it is he was hit with.

So when I am able, I can give her some answers and not just a whole pile of damn worry.

But I need answers of my own.

---