Page 128 of Haunted Prey

I bowed my head, clenching my jaw. “We all were.”

“As fucked up as it all is. I kind of get it now. Guess it's contagious.”

I studied her for a moment, noticing her hand holding the crumpled paper tremble slightly. “I’m sorry you got involved. I’m sorry you had to witness the kind of shit we get ourselves into. You…and Eve. You never deserved this.” I looked her in the eye. “I’m sorryhehurt you.”

She didn’t need me to tell her who I meant. Lez had done more damage to her now than anyone.

Her eyes hardened, and she looked away so I couldn’t catch the expression on her face. “Yeah, well, it doesn’t matter. He’sgone now. I won’t see him again. Any of them.” Her shoulders rose. “I just want Eve to be okay.”

“She will.”

She turned back to me, her gaze meeting mine. “I can’t believe I’m going to say this to you of all people but…you’re doing a good job taking care of her. I believe now that you wouldn’t harm her, not on purpose. Just promise me you’ll keep doing better, keep getting better, so you don’t have an episode ever again.”

“I promise I will.”

She sighed and turned back to the rabbits. “At least these are cute and will look good on a windowsill.”

I smirked. “I think so too.”

I opened the door to the darkened room where Eve still slept. She hadn’t been hungry when I woke her earlier, but I made the dinner anyway to save for later.

While I was in the kitchen, the burner phone vibrated. A text from Micheal said Andrea was out of the hospital and recovering at her apartment. I asked if there was any news about Severfalls, and he replied that it was all over the internet. They were still sifting through the rubble and uncovering bodies.

He added that, so far, there were no leads connecting anything to us—we were safe for now. But he warned me to leave soon or at least give Lena her phone back and take her and Eve somewhere to make calls. Survivors from Severfalls might have seen Eve during the attack, and the police would be starting their questioning. Anyone who knew she’d been at Severfalls before escaping would likely try to reach out to her.

I decided it needed to be done tonight. Hell, it should have been done sooner but had completely slipped from my radar as it must have also Micheal’s.

I slid beside her, trailing my finger across her arm. When she didn’t stir, I leaned down and kissed the side of her throat, then up to her jaw, then to her ear before whispering, “Eve, wake up, baby.”

Her eyes opened a crack but otherwise she didn’t move, didn’t so much as look at me. I drew back some of the hair out of her face. “Evee,” I called.

She didn’t respond.

Fuck, she was in so deep. I called to her again, hoping she’d resurface but nothing. Her eyes looked around but saw nothing.

I stared at her for a long moment, watching her shallow breath. Panicked, I rolled her over, pulling her onto my lap.

“Come on, Evee.” I brushed a hand along her head. It was like she was asleep with her eyes open, like she was dissociating, like she was…

Fear gripped me. No, not that. Not lost in her head, like I had done once so long ago.

I talked to her, revisiting our conversations, our better moments. Then I tried to bargain. I’d do anything she wanted, anything.

“Please, Eve, please don’t leave me like this.” My voice cracked.

Happy moments. Happy thoughts. Dinosaurs, beaches, rainfall, Eve smiling, Eve dancing, Eve loving me.

I started to say them out loud. I repeated them over and over.

I put my forehead against hers. “Please, Evee, please. Come back, sweetheart.”

She started to turn fuzzy. Then I blinked and tears dripped onto her face.

If she didn’t come back, neither would I.

I couldn’t stop it, the rush of despair. I pressed my face into her chest and started to sob like I was ten years old again strapped down on a table, begging for the pain to go away. Only this was so much worse.

We were so close. So close…

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