Page 46 of Haze of Obedience

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I storm off, and we don't speak. The night becomes darker, and the trees cover almost all the light from the moon and stars.

I stumble on a tree root and go flying.

"Zoe! You all right?"

Don't cry.

Pain sears into the heel of my hands and knees.

Dirk crouches down. "Zoe?"

I lift my face, blink hard, and try to get up. The movement makes me wince.

"Let me help you." He slides his hands under my armpits and pulls me up.

I cringe from the initial pressure on my knee, and he doesn't let me go.

"You're bleeding."

"I'm fine." I try to push past him, but he steps closer.

"Zoe—"

I sniffle and wipe the back of my hand across my face. I bark, "Can you move?"

"Let's stop for the night."

"I can keep going."

"No. We're setting up camp here." He picks up my hand. "Let's clean this out in the river and then I'll spray and bandage it up."

I yank my hand back. "I can take care of myself." I attempt to push past him, but he doesn't let me.

"Zoe, let me help you."

"No."

"Don't be ridiculous. That water is running fast. Let me help you."

I push him hard. "No. I don't need your help. I can manage on my own just fine."

He takes a step back, and I limp over to the river.

"Turn around," I call over my shoulder as I strip out of my clothes.

What does it even matter anymore? It feels like every man on Earth has seen you naked.

It's dark, and I can't see anything. I move several feet into the water and drop down past my shoulders.

The water drags me so I can't touch the bottom, and at the same moment that panic fills me, Dirk grabs me and tugs me into his torso of muscle

"What are you doing?" I angrily spout but cling to him for dear life.

"Saving you."

"I didn't...are you naked?"

"Did you think I would let you come in here without me?"

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