Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 63761 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63761 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
I stop pressing on Kingsley’s chest and blow two breaths into her mouth before I resume the compressions. My words are breathless from fear, as I ask, “Is security coming?”
“Yes.”
My eyes go to Kingsley’s face and seeing her blue lips again, make horrifying shivers race over my body.
Don’t die.
Please.
Don’t die.
I press harder on her chest, and as time crawls by, I keep pushing harder, unwilling to give up.
“Come on, Hunt,” I whisper. “Hold on.”
Layla picks up Kingsley’s hand and holds it to her chest while sobs wrack her body.
I’ve forgotten about Lake’s assistant until I hear him scream “Over here! She’s over here!”
Seconds later, Layla moves out of the way, and a security guard takes her place. “Let me take over,” he instructs.
I can’t bring myself to stop, and Layla has to grab hold of me and pull me away. She doesn’t let go of me, keeping her arms wrapped around me as she cries against my back.
I feel paralyzed as I watch the security guard work on Kingsley.
How did this happen?
Why?
Why Kingsley?
Thoughts swamp my mind only adding to the torture.
She’s so fucking young.
She had so much life in her.
I can’t stand the thought that I’ll never see her smile again. I’ll never hear her laughter again.
Time warps as more people rush into the room.
I stare at Kingsley’s face until she becomes a blur as tears flood my eyes.
It feels like I’ve lost something important.
Numbly, I reach for her hand, and when I feel how cold her skin is, my heart shatters.
This girl. Oh, God.
This girl has been torn from my heart, and I didn’t even know she’d filled it with her cheerfulness.
Fuck, I’d give anything to have her open those blue eyes and to hear her sass me.
I’d give my life, because what is life when the sun has been ripped from the sky?
I can’t remember the trip to the hospital or what happened the two days after Kingsley was admitted. I can’t remember anything but Kingsley’s pale face.
She looked like death.
Sitting next to her bed in the private room her father arranged for her, I hold her hand between both of mine unable to tear my eyes away from her face.
I’m just glad Dr. Hunt allowed us to stay with Kingsley. He’s been here whenever he could get away from work. I don’t know how he’s able to function while his daughter almost drowned, and she hasn’t woken yet.
Every breath the machine forces into her.
Every beep echoing her heart.
It’s torture. It’s fucking killing me.
“Mason.” Falcon places his hand on my shoulder. “Can I get you anything?”
I blink, and it makes my eyes burn. “No,” I whisper.
He walks to the other side of the bed and hugs Layla to him. I hear her start to cry again. I wasn’t even aware she stopped.
“Shh… I’ve got you,” he whispers to her.
“How?” Layla whimpers. “How did this happen? I saw her walk into her dorm. Why would she go to the pool?”
“She’ll tell us what happened when she wakes up,” Falcon whispers.
I feel a hand on my shoulder, and I don’t have to look to know it’s Lake.
“You were right.” My voice sounds raw. “I was in denial.”
Lake wraps his arm around me from behind.
My breathing begins to speed up, and pressing my forehead to her fingers, I whisper, “I won’t survive it a second time.” My body begins to shiver uncontrollably as futile hopelessness seeps into my heart.
“She’s going to wake up,” Lake whispers right by my ear. “Kingsley’s a fighter. She will wake up.”
Fuck. Please let Lake be right.
Please.
I want the chance to see the surprise on her face when I tell her the impossible happened. I fell for a feisty girl with zero style. I fell for the smile, which used to annoy me.
I fucking fell… too late.
Chapter 16
Mason
I’m not sure where the others went, but the room is quiet with only the sounds coming from the life support.
Even though the doctors said all the tests suggested there should be no permanent damage, I can’t help but fear for the worst.
I lean my cheek against the back of her hand. “I need you to wake up.” I swallow hard on the lump that’s stuck in my throat since I pulled her out of the water. “Open your eyes.” I stare at her face, looking for any hint that she can hear me.
“Kingsley,” I whisper. “Please.”
When her fingers lightly move in my hands, my breath is knocked from my lungs.
“Did you just move?” I dart from the chair and sit on the side of the bed. Bracing my hands on either side of her head, I lean closer. My eyes search her face for a sign that she’s waking up.
Seconds become minutes, and the brief hope I felt is crushed. I want her to wake up so badly, I must’ve imagined it.