Page 45 of Their Stormy Reunion

He sounded scared. I wanted to say something. Anything to make him feel better, but the words wouldn’t come. My lips felt thick, and my tongue was too big for my mouth. Michael’s hand stroked my hair. I didn’t know who he was trying to comfort, him or me.

But the fire inside was too much.

“Fallon. Baby. You have to stay with me. I’m begging you. Please.”

These were the last words I heard as the darkness swallowed me whole and the sun winked out like a dying flame.

Chapter Thirteen

Fallon’s lips were turning blue.

“Breathe, baby. Breathe.” I begged her.

Her breath was wheezing in and out.

“Zarek! Where is that goddamn⁠—”

“Here!” He slapped one of the injectors into my hand with the cap already removed. I slammed the tip into her mid outer thigh and kept it there for ten seconds, then watched her face. She wasn’t showing any reaction. I placed her legs over mine to get them elevated.

“Zarek, give me your shirt.”

He’d already been taking his off. He knew the drill. He was tucking it around her before I had a chance.

“What’s happening? Can you save her? Help her. You have to save my baby.” Isla’s voice barely penetrated.

“We need to get Fallon to Sevierville,” I clipped out. It had the closest hospital that could handle this situation. I was still looking at Fallon’s face for any kind of change. Still nothing. Her lips were still blue, and she was barely getting any air.

“Zarek—” I raised my hand, and he slapped another injector onto my palm. I injected her with a second dose of epinephrine. Her body jerked upwards as she gasped in a deep breath of air.

“We’ve got her!” I moved to a squat and picked her up. My truck was a crew cab, but⁠—

“Bruno, you driving your suburban?”

“Yep,” he answered as he started running toward the front of the house. Zarek and I were close on his heels.

“Wait. Take me with you,” Isla called out.

I heard Zarek start talking, but I didn’t pay attention; my entire focus was the open door of the back seat of Bruno’s Suburban. I slid in, still cradling Fallon. Bruno had the motor running and just as he got it in gear, the front passenger door was yanked open and Zarek jumped in.

Good. I needed him making calls.

“How’s she doing?” he asked over his shoulder.

“She’s breathing.” I didn’t add that she was whimpering in pain and tears were streaking down her face and that it was killing me. I put my fingers to her neck. “Her pulse is thready.”

I listened as Zarek relayed that information to someone. Meanwhile Bruno was driving like he was trying out for a NASCAR team.

I bent down and started to whisper in Fallon’s ear.

“Stay with me, Baby. I love you, Fallon. Stay with me.”

“Michael!”

I jerked up to look at Zarek. “What?”

“Try to get her to tell us what kind of snake bit her. They need to know what kind of antivenom to administer.”

Shit, I knew that.