Page 166 of Coerced

“It’s only pain.” I bent my wrist so I was kinda holding out a fist.

“It doesn’t matter.” He half-smiled and bumped my knuckles with his.

Then Rome came over and crouched next to Hank. He rested his forearms on his knees and scanned the area.

“You still want to follow the original plan?” His eyes flicked to mine.

“Yeah, ’cept Chance goes with us. No Chessie for now.”

At that point, the others musta thought I was safe enough and came over, too.

Trusting fools. Even half out of it and drained, I coulda killed them all if I’d wanted to.

“Kerry, I’m going to heal you while Rome catches everyone up.” Chance knelt next to me. “Where can I touch you?”

I held out my hand and closed my eyes when he grabbed it. Golden power washed over me like a swarm of wasps as he repaired burns and cuts and a broken bone in my foot I hadn’t even felt. He even took care of the muscle in my back that I’d ripped during the succubus’ ambush. Then he let go of my hand and sank back on his heels.

My lungs were still a mess, though, and I opened my eyes, ready to ask him if that was the best he could do, but a coughing spasm hit me again. He helped me onto my side so I could choke out more black stuff. When it was over, he eased me back again.

“Backlash sickness I can’t cure.” He pulled off his coat and sweater, folded the sweater up and put it under my head like a pillow, and put his coat back on. “Far as I know, only time and rest can do that.”

Fuzzy-headed, I nodded, which took way more strength than it shoulda.

“I need to swing by my place.” Hank got to his feet. “I’m in this for the duration now, so I want my go bag and a few other things. And I need to bring in another warden.”

“No,” me and Rome said at the same time.

“It’s my wife, Gina. Ms. Weatherbee to you kids.”

“You can bet your lifeandours on her loyalty?” Rome asked.

“Unequivocally. She is not a traitor.”

I didn’t know what ‘unequivocally’ meant, but I was too tired to ask. And I didn’t really care. I only cared about one thing.

I was so close! Why didn’t I just run to her? She was yards away from me.My throat got tight all of a sudden and my eyes smarted.And she was hurt.

I would do anything to find her now.

Didn’t matter how reckless or ruthless or relentless I needed to be. Nothing and no one would keep me from her.

You are the only one I want to be with,her soft voice whispered in my mind.I want to be with you forever.

The memory of her words hit me like a boot to the gut.

Rome was right. My broken self needed her far more than she needed me. I’d been hers from the beginning and would be til the end, and I wanted her to know that. Even if I wasn’t her only one anymore, even if she decided not to be with me forever, I wanted the chance to say the words.

What if I’m too late? What if she gets killed before I find her again?

My breath stuttered in my chest, making Chance give me an alarmed look. I rolled my head away so he wouldn’t see what was in my eyes.

Then the monster I was before will be nothing compared to the one I’ll become.

“I’m positive Miss Weatherbee’s okay, Kerry,” Jax interrupted my thoughts. “I mean, Mrs. Bishop.”

“Me, too.” Gigi bobbed her head up and down. “She’s my warden. I’d trust her with my life.”

“Remember her, Rome?” Spin came closer with the new girl. “She taught Angelic languages.”

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