Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 53529 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53529 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
“How do I know you’re not just going to use my blood for other things, like Morris is doing?” I ask.
“You’ll have to take my word for it, Huff. It’s either that or stand by and do nothing while millions die.”
Kyle is trying to back me into a corner, taking advantage of my good nature. Sadly, it’s working. Especially when I consider they already took my blood before and have my DNA along with X-rays and MRIs. Every inch of my body’s been measured and examined, for “my health.”
They probably know the size of my asshole. So what’s one more pint of blood, just on the off chance he’s telling the truth? “Fine. Sure. You can have my blood.”
“Huff?” River calls out from my bedroom.
I turn my head. She’s sitting up, rubbing her tired eyes.
“I have to go,” I say, not mentioning River’s with me. If Kyle doesn’t know yet, he will soon. “Text me the address and a photo of where you want me to go.”
“I’ll send it now, but are you sure you’re going to come? The clock is ticking.”
“I’ll be there.” I end the call and inhale deeply. It feels like the world is piling every single brick ever made on my back. The question is, can I stop Morris before I break?
CHAPTER TWELVE
River
Through a hazy lens, I stare across the room at Huff, who’s standing in the doorway with a worried frown on his handsome face.
“What took you so long?” I ask.
His angular jaw goes rigid. “I only just found out you were committed.” He pauses, his blue eyes intense. “Did you try to kill yourself?”
“No. Absolutely not. Your fucking brother told the hospital that.”
“I should’ve known.” He shakes his head in disgust.
“Why would he do this to me?” Stressed beyond words, I push my hands to my face and exhale. These last few weeks have been a nightmare. I don’t even know what drugs they were pumping into me half the time.
Huff walks over and sits on the bed. “Kyle’s up to something, Riv. He lied to my parents and said I knew you were in the hospital. He told them it was best to leave you there because you were unwell.”
I can’t believe this. “I told my parents the truth—that you were still alive—and they didn’t believe me. But only because they called Kyle and asked him point-blank if you were really dead. He convinced them you were.”
“I think he wanted to stop you from telling more people I’m still alive.” Huff shakes his head. “I’m really sorry, River. I keep making a mess of everyone’s lives.”
“Define mess,” I say.
“Kyle fucking with your life. Also, I had the chance to kill Morris in Paris and didn’t do it. I wanted to, but I just…” His shoulders drop.
Is that what he feels guilty about? “Kyle isn’t your responsibility, Huff. And you shouldn’t feel bad just because killing doesn’t come easy to you.”
“Morris poisoned LA’s drinking water. Now he claims he’s done the same to Atlanta. Millions of people are going to die.”
Oh God. “Yep. You shoulda killed him.”
“Which is why I have to make things right.”
I reach for his hand and give it a gentle squeeze. It amazes me how even his fingers look ripped. “How can I help?”
“You need to stay here and rest.”
That’s not much help. “Not going to happen, Huff. Tell me the plan.”
“Riv, I don’t want to get you sucked into this.”
I’m already sucked in. “Are you still planning on doing it?”
“Doing what?” he asks.
“Removing yourself from this planet.”
“I don’t know.”
My stomach twists into an angry knot. “You’re an idiot, Huff. Seriously.”
“Thank you.”
“No. Really. While I was at that facility, forced to do therapy and group sessions, you know what I couldn’t stop thinking about?”
“What?”
“Our last conversation and how you were determined to throw in the towel—on your life, on me, on us—”
“Well, that’s all changed.” He raises his chin proudly.
“Has it?”
“I went public. The world knows I’m alive.”
“Really?” This is big news.
“I realized exactly what you’re saying, Riv. I thought staying in hiding was the only way to keep everyone safe. But after this disaster in LA and Atlanta, I know I can’t do that. I have to stop Morris. I have to find him.”
He finally wants to fight. It’s a miracle. “And?”
“I have no leads, but Kyle does.”
“That’s great.”
Huff looks deflated.
“Isn’t it?” I add.
“He won’t tell me anything unless I give him more samples of my blood. He claims they’re going to try to find an antidote for Morris’s drug, but I know he’s lying. At least partially. My gut tells me they think they finally have a way to reverse engineer me.”
“Well, Sam says always follow your gut.”
“Who’s Sam?” Huff asks.
A guy you could learn a lot from. Samuel’s unafraid of the world, speaks his mind, and fights like hell for what he believes in. He’s originally from Spain, where my parents met, and speaks fluent Spanish.