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The guy laughs. “This was supposed to be easy, but that fucker just had to keep making it more complicated. He wanted collateral. Just in case.”

“Put Will down.” Brandon holds up his hands, showing he’s not a threat. “You’re killing him.”

The masked guy tilts his head as he stares at Will’s face. Will is struggling to breathe.

“Does it even matter?” The modulated voice rings out in the silence as we all wait for him to let go. Eerie and inhuman. “Do any of us get to go home when this is done?”

“Yes.” Tears flow down my cheeks. “We can go home. No one has to know about any of this. We can all just walk away. Just put Will down.”

I’ll give anything.

“Yeah?” The mask looks at me and tilts his head like he’s listening. “You aren’t going to run and tell daddy, princess?”

I swallow. “Not if you release Will and let him breathe.”

“I’m holding you to that.” He drops Will.

Will falls to the ground, gasping in breaths.

I hurry over to Will and stroke his back. “Are you okay?”

Will struggles to breathe, instead a wheeze comes out. “In... hal... er.”

I rifle through his jacket and check his pockets as Will continues to gasp for breath. My fingers tremble. I look up at the guy in the mask who stares down at us. For all I know, that asshole could be grinning behind that mask.

“His inhaler. Where did you put it?” I yell.

“Fuck if I know.” The guy shrugs. “He’ll come around. My cousin gets attacks like this all the time.”

I grab Will’s face and see the resignation in his eyes. “Breathe for me.”

Please. I want to beg and plead.

He leans forward and kisses me softly. His lips are so cold. “Thank... you.”

“Take him somewhere warm.” I can’t stop the tears from flowing. “He’s too cold. He can’t breathe.”

Kenz kneels beside me. “Sit him up.”

I help her move Will to sitting.

“Find his fucking inhaler, you psycho!” she yells at the masked guy who continues to just stare.

He turns on his heel and leaves the room.

“Will.” My voice is shaky. Tears pour freely from my eyes. “Slow breaths. Please. For me.”

He’s not breathing. His chest stutters with every failed inhale.

“Fuck.” Kenz takes him and lowers him back onto the hard floor. She pinches his nose and blows into his mouth deeply. She inhales and does it again. Her fingers go to his pulse. “Where the fuck is the asshole?”

My whole body is shaky as I stand and run to the door that he left open. His back is to me as he sorts through a pile of stuff on the ground. I glance at the pile and spot the inhaler.

I grab it and run back in, holding it out to Kenz, but she just shakes her head.

No! Not now.

Dropping to my knees next to him, I put my hand over his heart that had been beating so fast before. Now there was nothing. Nothing.