gets a leg under him. My body rises as he stands. Wind whispers over my skin as a ruddy light shines down on me. The sun’s almost set. I feel as if this is the end.
In his arms, there are no worries. No fear. And no dreams.
Griff carries me out of the cave, and I barely register the harrowing walk along the narrow ledge before the last of my strength flees.
The light from the sun disappears as my eyes close. Consciousness fades and darkness pulls me into a dreamless sleep.
Well, not entirely dreamless. A man without a face stares down at me, arm lifted as if to strike a killing blow. I glare at him with defiance and issue a challenge of my own.
That’s the man I must kill.
And I will.
I will kill again.
Twenty-Seven
Griff
Forest follows behind me on the narrow ledge. I struggle to climb the two feet up and growl when Forest tries to take Moira from my arms. He gives me a look, then jumps up and reaches down, hooking his massive hands under my shoulders to hoist me up as I take the step. I say nothing, but the message is received.
Moira is mine.
He puts the phone to his ear and walks beside me as we head back to the main buildings.
“Yes. Catatonic.” His fingers flex as I step up the pace.
All I can think about is getting Moira to safety. Not that the cave wasn’t safe. It’s the prison of her mind which worries me.
“Meet us at the Facility. We’re headed to her room now.”
“Not going to her room.” I bite out the words. It’s a bit of a hike back to the Facility. Carrying Moira in my arms is the most physically taxing way to carry another person, but there’s no way I’m slinging her over my shoulder, and I’m sure as shit not letting Forest hold her.
“Griff…” Forest tries to take charge of the situation, but I give a sharp shake of my head. He’s not in command here, not when it comes to my woman.
I march right through the Facility and across the parking lot. Forest and Zoe follow, both hovering protectively around my girl. When I gently place Moira in the backseat, Zoe jumps in and cradles Moira’s head in her lap. The glare I receive tells me she’s not going anywhere. I’m good with that. I’m going to need help once I get Moira home.
What I don’t expect is Forest. He climbs into the passenger seat and buckles in. “Skye will meet us at your house. The rest of your team is inbound.”
My voice catches, and I’m forced to clear the lump in my throat. “They don’t have to…”
“And yet, they will be there.” Forest glances over his shoulder. “How is she?”
“Breathing’s shallow.” Zoe looks at me through the rearview mirror. “Is that okay?”
“As long as she’s breathing.” It’s not okay. Moira is lost inside her mind and it’s up to me to bring her back. “Tell me everything that happened today.”
While Forest talks to his sister over the phone, I demand Zoe tell me everything she and Moira talked about.
“I can’t betray her confidence.”
“You can and you will.” My fists grip the steering wheel as I race down PCH-1. Maybe I should’ve taken Moira to Guardian HQ? Doc Summers has a full surgical suite on site. But Moira doesn’t need surgery. She’s locked in her head, reliving a life’s worth of tragedy. I know what my girl needs, and she needs me.
I need information.
“I don’t care if you pinky swore or took a goddamn blood oath. Tell me everything that happened.”
Over the next thirty minutes, Zoe spills, and I try to make sense of what happened.
Every cell in my body demands I protect Moira. If that means pulling her out of this fugue, I’ll do whatever it takes. When we pull up outside my house, my team is already there. They sit outside the gates in four different vehicles and file in behind me when the iron bars swing open.
It’s the first time any of them have seen my house. I’m not comfortable exposing this part of myself. The money my parents left, the house and all that comes with it messes with my head. Like I don’t deserve nice things.
No one says a word as I carry Moira inside. Max, Knox, Liam, and Wolfe follow in behind Zoe and Forest. They say nothing as I take Moira to my room and lay her on the bed. Only Zoe follows