Desperation didn’t make Austin any stronger than he’d ever been, and that was a few marks weaker than Connor. Connor seized Austin by the arm, yanking him toward him and tripping him. Austin fell onto the ground, and Connor hit the open button.
Austin scrambled to his feet quicker than Connor expected; he tackled him, smacking the close button as they both went down. They fell through the open doorway. Connor threw out an arm to find something to grab, but his wrist slammed into the step, jarring his fingers to numbness.
Austin cried out in surprise as they hurtled through the open air and down the steps. Connor landed heavily on his stomach and jerked in surprise as his breath left him. A sharp ache radiated through his stomach, and as he moved to get his arms underneath him, weakness cut him down. Connor gasped in pained breaths as intense panic filled him.
He knew what had happened. He could feel what had happened. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. His own damn stupidity happened.
His lungs spasmed when he moved his body enough to see the blunt end of the scalpel sticking out of his abdomen, the pointy end buried deep inside. Forced in to the hilt where Connor had landed on it.
Rain pelted down on Connor, confusing his senses as he saw the first drips of blood, and by the time he’d reached to touch it, a river flowing out of him.
“I-Idiot,” Connor’s voice trembled. Only an idiot would put a goddamn razor sharp knife in their pocket.
He looked up, heart drowning in disappointment as he saw the top of the tank shutting into place again. Adonis was at the glass, pressing his hands to it, calling out to Connor. Austin shakily got to his knees, a hand to his head. A cut on his forehead bled heavily.
“Come on,” Austin said blearily. He stumbled as he stood and a heavy wave knocking against the side of the ship took the feet from under him.
Connor turned away. His knees buckled when he tried to stand, but he could crawl toward the stairs.
“Connor,” Austin growled. He got to his feet, stomping to him, grabbing his jumper by the neck. “We’re going.”
Connor found the strength to shove Austin off him. He fell back against the stairs with a shudder as a fresh wave of weakness rose in him. Black spots danced in his vision, and his senses were dull like the world was far away. He needed to hit the button now.
Austin scrambled back to his feet. He rushed to Connor, dropping to his knees next to him. “Oh fuck, ohfuck, I didn’t mean to—shit, shit, that’s a lot of—Liam!” Austin roared over his shoulder. He bent over Connor, pressing his hands to his stomach. “You’ll be fine, okay?” Panic filled Austin’s voice. “We’ll get on the boat, get to shore, and get straight to the hospital.”
“Boat’s ready.” The taller guard, Liam, said as he came up to them. He crouched next to Austin, casting a quick look over Connor. Behind him, Connor could see Rick lying on deck, his body slack and caught on the barrier that saved him from going overboard with the rolling waves. The dogs were nowhere in sight.
“Let’s go,” Liam reached for Connor’s arm as Austin grabbed his other side.
“I’m not going.” Connor found the strength to move. He dug out the scalpel from his pocket, the one that hadn’t ended up inside him, and wielded it threateningly.
“Connor.” Austin took a step back with Liam. He was desperate, blood trailing down his face, turning his silver hair red. “Please,” he pleaded. “You need to go to the hospital. Don’t fight. Liam can just knock you out and bring you by force.”
Connor turned his attention to Liam.
Liam wasn’t watching him. He was looking at the rolling waves, and then his gaze moved to Austin. To the gash on his forehead. “It’s a small boat. Three people is pushing it in these conditions,” Liam said.
Austin cast him a confused look.
Connor saw it coming first. Liam struck out, his fist colliding with Austin’s chest. Austin didn’t have time to block it. He fell, gasping. Liam swooped in, scooping Austin onto his shoulder like he weighed nothing. He didn’t look back as he strode across the decking, heading to their boat, their escape.
Connor’s vision swayed. Adonis’s face caught his eye again, and he blinked at him. Stuck in a tank, in a ship that was clearly unmanned given the waves smashing against the side of them.
The anger that sparked inside of Connor renewed his energy.
“I’m working on it,” Connor growled. He reached for the railing and pulled himself to his feet. He made his gruelling way up the steps until he was at the door. Reaching inside, he hit theopenbutton and then slid to the ground. He hugged the railing, watching through the rain as the tank’s top started to open again. And this time, it got open.
Adonis swam up, hauling himself out through the gap that opened at the top, and fell out onto the deck.
Relief hounded Connor.
Thank god. Thank god.
Adonis dragged himself along the deck to the bottom of the stairs. Connor watched him, and he summoned up enough energy to go down to him. Because he knew Adonis wouldn’t leave without him.
“Connor,” Adonis called for him. Over and over as Connor sank his way weakly down the steps. He was in a bad way, and it wasn’t going to get any better. He needed to get Adonis away from the ship while he was conscious. Adonis staying here trying to protect his unconscious body would be the worst thing to happen—he needed to get far, far away.
“Show me your home,” Connor said as he reached Adonis, falling into his arms, meeting his desperate display of affection with a weak one, only slackly pressing his cheek against Adonis in response to his rub. “Can you bring me there?”
