Mercy (Somerset University #3) - Ruby Vincent Page 0,70
ass in everything we do.”
“If we don’t kick ass, will we really not get in?”
“It seems harsh right now. Suffering through the test. Running, jumping, and working out. But all of this shows me how much you want it. Proves you won’t give up and that you know what it means to be in it together. I did a lot of cursing as a pledge, but now I’m thankful Zeta Rho taught me how to stretch. It’s how I reached new heights.”
“Wow.”
“Wow indeed,” said Jade. “Well said. I agree completely.”
In unison, my sisters said, “That’s why they call you madame president.”
I groaned.
MAVERICK
“The competition is this weekend and we don’t have a bus. Can you drop the calm and collected act and freak out with me, please?” Cydney cried.
I cracked a grin. “It’s not an act. I am calm and collected. The school will charter a new bus or I will. I’ll pay for it myself if it comes to that.”
“Oh.” Cydney stepped into the elevator. “I forget how filthy stinkin’ rich you are.”
“You sound sickened.”
“I am a bit.” Though a smile played at her lips. “Guess that’s one crisis averted. Now for the other fifty.”
“Davis dropped out to focus on school and Bebop’s crane stopped working. Both are situations we can handle.”
“Need I remind you that the competition is this weekend?”
I blew out a breath. She was right. This was a disaster. We gave up our summers for this robot and as the competition closed in, things started going wrong. We didn’t have a club meeting that day, but Cydney and I were squeezing in an hour between classes to diagnose what was wrong with Bebop.
Cydney pulled ahead of me. “Maybe there’s a problem in the code.”
“There’s nothing wrong with my code.”
She stopped dead in the middle of the hall just to give me a deadpan look. “All right, Mr. Perfect. What could it be? We’ve put him through the course three times and he performed like a champ.”
“’Cause he is a champ. We’ll get him running again and Itzel will take over for Davis.”
Cydney unlocked our door, swept in, and held it open for me. “Keep up the optimism. The calm-and-collected may rub off on me,” she said as we made for our stations. “At least if we—”
Her scream jerked me to a stop but the sight of Sawyer would’ve done the same. The Sam lay spread-eagle on the floor. He looked peaceful, as if in sleep, and the reason for his slumber the needle sticking out of his arm.
“Cydney, call an ambulance!” I dropped down beside him. “Sawyer? Hey, man, wake up.” I smacked his cheeks. Lightly. Then harder. “Wake up. You can do it, Sawyer. Don’t go out like this.”
His eyelids fluttered—the barest movement. A rasping groan rattled through chapped lips, and died just as quickly.
I couldn’t rouse him again. Shouts, smacks, nor shakes. Sawyer lay still and pale, dying before my eyes.
“HOW ARE YOU HOLDING up?”
“I’m okay, Val. I’m not the one who overdosed in an empty classroom.” I handed Cydney her coffee. The cup shook in her hands.
“Want me to come to the hospital?”
“No, I want you to go home and tell our son to never do drugs.”
“I might wait until he knows what drugs are to get that promise out of him,” she said, amused.
“By the time he knows, it’s too late. While you’re at it, tell him not to drink, gamble, and if he ever meets a guy named Aiden who wants him to join a club, knock the bastard out and keep walking.”
“Yes, Daddy. I’ll get right on that.” Val sobered quickly. “Think this has something to do with the club?”
“Not sure. They haven’t let me in to see him yet. I don’t know if he’ll talk to me, but I’ll try. I got the feeling more than once over the last couple of months that Sawyer has lots of brothers, but very few friends.”
“Well, you have me. If you need me to come, I will.”
“I know.” A white-coated man wearing a stethoscope came out of Sawyer’s room. “I have to go. The doctor is here.”
“Bye. I love you.”
“Love you too.”
“Hello.” Doctor Walsh introduced himself. “You’re the two who brought him in?”
“Yes,” said Cydney. “Will Sawyer be okay?”
“He will. Mr. Burn is very lucky you two found him in time.”
“Can I talk to him?” I asked.
“For a few minutes. He needs rest.”
“I won’t be long.”
The doctor stepped aside for us. I side-hugged Cyd. “Want me to call someone to pick you up?”
“No.