Memorizing Mace (Twist Brothers #2) - Bex Dane Page 0,1

"Anyone else inside?" I ask as I hand my brother his gun.

"I don't know. It's a crime scene. Don't go in there," Cutter replies.

"I won't touch anything." I draw my weapon and jog to the front door of the structure. Cutter attempts to call me back, but he knows I can't be stopped once I'm in motion.

Inside, the living room is lit up but empty. All the bedroom doors in the east corridor are open. No one inside.

On the west side, I wince when I find Morganna's slashed up body on the floor in one of the rooms. Cutter did a number on him. He's motionless in a halo of blood. Must've been fun to watch.

Next room over is locked. I kick it open. A lifeless woman lies on the carpet, needles on the bed. She's barefoot, her jaw hanging slack, dark hair covering her face. "Oh shit." My heart, which was already racing, takes off at a million miles a second. I stand over her for a beat, not sure if I should touch her. It is a crime scene like Cutter said, but if she's not dead, she needs help right away. She has a slow pulse when I check her neck. Her chest rises and falls ever so slightly. She's alive.

I scoop up her limp body and start running. Her head flails, but I have to hurry to get her safe.

Lots of shocked eyes stare back at me when I run up to the helicopter. "There were needles on the bed," I say to my mom. I'm out of breath and not sure what to do. She could die in my arms if we don't act fast.

My mom pats her cheek. "Hello. Can you wake up for me?"

No response.

This is not good. My mom and Remy share a serious look and burst into action. "Put her on the seats."

It doesn't feel right to let her go, so I sit down with her in my lap. She could be someone's daughter, sister, wife. If she were mine, I wouldn't want her dying alone, I'd want someone to hold her, so I'm doing that.

I press her cheek against my chest and move her hair out of the way. My stomach pitches to my toes when I see her face. Instantly, I know her. I know this girl.

I've known her for a long time.

How could she be here? Why? She was fine last time I saw her. More than fine, she was radiant. I even followed her around for a while and didn't see any signs of trouble.

My mom gives her a nasal shot of some anti-overdose drug Remy had stored in the first aid kit. She heaves and coughs. Her eyes open briefly then close again. She's breathing, and she can open her eyes. That's a good sign.

"I know her." My voice is hoarse as everyone else looks on.

"You know her?" my mom asks. "What's her name?"

I can't believe it's true. It's impossible. I check her face again to make sure.

"Loralei. Her name is Loralei Valentine."

They all freeze when I say it. They know her name. She's caused us a lot of grief over the years as she attempted to exact revenge against me by hurting my family. Cutter and Remy hate her. Technically, I'm supposed to hate her too for what she did, but the past is so completely irrelevant now as she clings to life. This can't be happening to her.

"What the hell was she doing in there?" I yell at Cutter.

He shakes his head. "I didn't even know she was here."

"Let's get her to a hospital," my mom says.

They start talking about something, but my head spins. I can't concentrate on their words. It's a jumble of noise, and we haven't left the ground yet.

"Hurry!" My urgent yell stops everyone short. "We need to get her some help. No more talking."

Cutter and Cass rush to climb out of the helicopter. "Where're you going?"

"We're staying here to talk to the authorities." Cutter takes Cass's hand. "We'll check in with you later."

"Fine." I nod, but I don't care what anyone else does right now. I need her at the hospital, getting help, making sure she keeps breathing. I rub my thumb over pallid skin on Loralei's inanimate cheeks. She's ice cold. "Let's go."

Finally, my dad closes the door, the rotors ramp up with a thumping buzz, and we hover above the ground for a second.

Remy lifts the helicopter from the pad, and we pivot across the Pacific toward