I imagine my dad is calling after me, but all I can hear is my racing heart and the buzz of the engine. I tap Dax’s shoulder and point to the left before the front gates. The motorcycle swerves, cutting the corner and weaving behind the tall hedges. We are down on a slope, and if anyone heard the bike, they’d easily assume we were out on the road.
I direct Dax toward the staff quarters, and when the motorcycle slows, I lean around his side and tell him where to park in the rear maintenance shed.
I jump off the bike and stay close as he does the same.
“The bike will be fine here,” I say breathlessly. “We have staff who are very loyal to me and won’t breathe a word.”
“Where are we going? Your dad…”
“It’s a big property,” I blurt. “I’ll keep you safe.”
I lead the way out of the maintenance shed. After sighting the coast is clear, I beckon him to follow.
Behind me, Dax mumbles something. When I turn and ask him to repeat it, his eyes glaze over.
“Dax!” I cry, lunging for him as his body slumps. With all my muscles working overtime, I barely prop him up. “Dax! Dax, wake up.”
He mumbles something again, slouching against my body.
I jostle him the best I can, repeating his name and willing him back to me. Crouching, I lower him to the ground. He’s too heavy to move off me, so I just hug him and plead for him to wake up.
With another mumble and a pain-stricken groan, his eyes gradually blink open.
“Dax,” I whisper in relief. “Oh, thank goodness.”
He groans again, cupping his head as he sits up.
I clutch his shoulder. “Take your time. Don’t rush.”
“What happened?”
“You fell.” My voice quivers, causing him to look at me with concern. “I tried to wake you up.”
He caresses the side of my face. “Don’t be sad. I’m okay.”
I swallow the urge to sob and shake my head. “No, you’re not.”
Doubling down on his stubbornness, he gets himself up. I slowly follow, keeping my eyes glued to his unstable legs. He holds a hand out to me, and I feel foolish taking it. He’s the one who just blacked out. He shouldn’t be tending to me.
“How’s your head?” I ask, leading him to the rear of the manor.
“It’s thumping, but I’ll live.”
My vision blurs, and I don’t say anything because it’ll only unleash a torrent of sobs.
I lead Dax towards the pool and walk him past the cabana lounges. I wipe my eyes dry as we enter the pool house.
“Oh boy, this place is huge,” Dax says.
Even though the day is drawing into evening, the pool house is light and airy. Another stark reminder of the difference between mine and Dax’s lives.But none of that matters. I lead Dax by the hand into the bedroom, because nothing and no one will stop me from looking after this boy.
I help Dax onto the bed, and he shifts against the mountain of pillows covering the headboard.
“Dax.” My voice shakes as I sit beside him. “You need a doctor.”
“I’ll be fine. It’s not the first time I’ve blacked out. I’ll just get some sleep and then get going.”
I rub my sweating palms against my thighs. “Dax, I saw your file at the hospital.”
