He immediately went limp.
Blaize took the opportunity to roll the man over, forcing him face down while he hoisted Silus’s hands behind his back.
Carys couldn’t go any longer. “I need to sit.”
That was all she could get out of her mouth before she plopped down, back against the vehicle, and then blacked out.
SIXTY SECONDS WASall it took for everything to change. A flood of activity happened as law enforcement and EMTs roared up to the scene. But all Blaize could focus on was Carys, leaning with her back against the car, limp. Her eyes were closed, and from his position it looked like her breathing was shallow.
Fighting exhaustion, fatigue, and a wave of nausea so huge it threatened to bend him in two, he yelled for someone to takeover so he could go to her. With every fiber of his being, he needed to see that she was alive.
The stress knot in his chest tightened as a deputy took over. Blaize rolled onto his back, needing to catch his breath and gather enough strength to stand up so he could walk to Carys.
“Sir, I need to examine you. Okay?” an EMT with the nameAndrewsewn onto his pocket asked after coming into view.
Blaize shook his head as he forced himself to sit up. He saw stars. The world spun faster.
“Hey, let me help you,” Andrew said. “I’ll get you fixed up and feeling better in no time.”
A stretcher was already being brought over by another EMT—Andrew’s partner, no doubt.
Another worked on Carys, blocking his view.
Blaize craned his neck in an unproductive attempt to get eyes on her. He attempted to stand up, landed hard on his backside, and bit back a string of curses.
“Whoa, there,” Andrew said, immediately jumping into action to keep Blaize from slamming his head on a tree trunk. “What are you trying to do?”
“Carys,” he said, again vainly attempting to get a visual on her. “I need to know her status.”
“I can check if you promise to sit tight.” The EMT looked resigned.
“Promise.”
Andrew studied Blaize for a long moment, like he was deciding if he could trust the answer. “Okay. I’ll be right back. Stay here.”
“Got it.”
He jogged over and took a knee next to the EMT working on Carys. It was all Blaize could do to stop himself from following. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Silus regainingconsciousness while being cuffed. A deputy was espousing Silus’s rights, including the one to remain silent.
Silus spit dirt out of his mouth as he was hoisted up. He glared at Sharon, who stood a few feet away with Rue in her arms. Her attention was on Carys.
“You bitch,” Silus ground out as the deputy led him away and toward the back of his SUV.
“Mind your language when you’re speaking to a lady,” the deputy said.
Silus scowled. He was going to be locked away for a very long time once all his crimes came to light.
Unfortunately, Sharon would face justice too. It was a shame the lengths she had to go to in order to feel safe from Silus. She’d protected her daughter, though, and Blaize would see to it Rue knew her mother.
Thinking clearly while he didn’t know if Carys would live or die wasn’t an option. He would figure the rest out later.
Andrew came jogging back. “I’ll give you the update if you let me check out that arm of yours.”
“That’s blackmail.”
“I know.” He shot a look of apology. “It’s also the only way I’ll convince you to let me help.”
“Fine.” Blaize rolled up his shirt sleeve.
