Page 200 of Merciless

My words are cut off as her eyes roll back and she collapses, sending her plate and everything in front of her flying as she goes down.

“ALANA,” JD cries, but I’m faster.

I have her in my arms in seconds.

Her skin is flushed as she fights to suck in any air, her body trembling violently.

“Prawns,” I blurt, already marching toward the couch behind me.

“Call Doc. Call him right now,” I bellow.

“It’s okay, Pet. It’s going to be okay,” I say as softly as I can, all the while trying not to panic like fuck.

I’m almost to the couch when she vomits all over both of us.

“We’re going to get you help, okay? Doc’s coming. He’ll know what to do.”

“EpiPen,” she wheezes out.

JD’s panicked voice rings out behind me as he barks at Doc, trying to explain what’s happening.

“She needs an EpiPen. Tell him she need—”

“He’s got it,” JD says, rushing over and stopping right beside us.

“Get her a clean shirt,” I bark when he does nothing but stare at her, all the blood drained from his face.

“He said to lay her down on her back, keep her warm. And if… if she stops breathing—”

“She won’t,” I assure him. “It’s going to be fine.” It has to be fine.

We need her.

I need her.

And not just to help me take Victor down.

JD’s footsteps echo around the silent house as he runs for a clean shirt while Alana continues to fight for breath.

“Fuck,” I hiss, sitting her on the edge of the couch and pulling her vomit-covered tank from her body. I drop it to the floor beside me as JD emerges and tugs another over her head.

“You still with us, little dove,” he asks, dropping to his knees beside her and gently cupping her jaw.

Ripping my own sodden shirt off, I let it drop on top of hers.

She doesn’t move or say anything.

“She breathing?” I whisper.

He holds his hand over her nose and lips, and I swear to God that my heart fucking stops as he waits to feel something.

“It’s shallow. She needs Doc now.”

“He’ll be here. Why didn’t she tell us?” I ask. It’s pointless, but I need something to focus on other than what is happening right now.

“Why the fuck would she need to? Maybe you should make up medical questionnaires for future inmates,” he snaps.

Alana suddenly sucks in a loud wheezing breath that makes us both freeze.

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