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Their Final Score: Untouched, Vol 6 of 6

Page 95

by C.S. Berry

“They took you, but they didn’t get a chance to do anything to you.” Eli’s voice trembles a little, making me lift my gaze to his. He blows out a breath, and I can see him mentally steeling himself to tell me something.

Maybe I don’t want to know.

“They injected you with drugs twice.” Eli’s thumb traces over a tender spot on my arm.

I turn to look at the bruise forming there and the tiniest pricks of red in the discoloration.

Luke runs a hand through his hair, but he doesn’t drop his gaze from mine once I find it. His usually cold eyes hold so much emotion right now.

“The first time was to knock you out.” It sounds like Eli is explaining what happened to someone else. Shouldn’t I remember this?

I swallow and move my gaze to his brown eyes. They’re watery. I press my hand to Eli’s chest and say softly, “And the second?”

He cups my jaw. “It was a mixture of things meant to make you pliable, but he didn’t take into account the previous sedative. Or maybe he did. Fuck knows.”

His jaw tightens.

“Eli,” I whisper.

He looks so broken. It hurts to see him like this. He’s my cool, logical guy who becomes a beast in the bedroom. What could have happened that would make him break down like this?

“You could have died.” Jack’s voice makes me spin to see him in the doorway to the bedroom. “Maybe he miscalculated the drugs in his cocktail, but they would have been toxic. You wouldn’t have made it through the night if you didn’t get to the hospital.”

The shivers are back. Eli rubs his hand up and down my back while holding me close. His chin rests on the top of my head.

Dead? They could have killed me?

“Hey.” The shower is off, and Caden stands next to me with a towel draped around his waist. “You’re here. We saved you. You saved yourself.”

A tear rolls down my cheek, and I swipe at it. I don’t know how to process this.

“Why can’t I remember?” I whisper.

“You’ve been out of it since before you got to the hospital, princess.” Luke steps in close, cupping my cheek and lifting my gaze to his. His thumb trails through the track of my tear. “Maybe the memories are gone? Maybe they’ll come back later when you’ve had some time. You need to eat.”

I nod, but I still don’t feel right in my skin. Eli dries me off and helps me into some of the comfy pajamas that Caden bought me. Each of them touches me like they want to be close to me, but it’s no more than gentle brushes or soft hugs.

Nico sits on the couch with his leg elevated, an ice pack draped over it.

“Are you okay?” I ask, trying to gather up those snatches of images that keep flitting through my memory. He danced with me without his crutches. “Did our dance hurt you?”

He smiles and takes my hand. “No new damage. Just sore after our adventure last night.”

Jack wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me back against him while Caden and Eli help Nico to stand with his crutches.

“Time for waffles,” Jack says softly. He brushes his thumb over my hip bone.

“Waffles?” My eyes widen. Caden’s house always has a spread for breakfast on Sundays. “Wait, is it Sunday?”

Luke steps in front of me and lifts my chin. “Sunday afternoon.”

I release a breath. Almost a whole day gone. My brow furrows. “Then why are we having waffles?”

“Mother’s orders.” Luke shrugs and gives me a little smile. “Breakfast with zombies?”

I grin. “Strawberries?”

“And whipped cream.” Luke takes my hand in his. Our fingers thread together like they were made for this. “Come on, let’s get you fed.”