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The more she spoke, the more her distress materialized in his mind. In a weird twist, destiny had linked them, and her voice acted as a buoy, holding him up just before he was about to drown, although Sam feared she was drowning as well.
“And you?” Sam wasn’t ready to break the connection yet. Part of him was still gasping for air and wanted to keep breathing.
“I need to go to work. I’m on my way now. Although I’m so tired, I don’t know if I’ll be able to do my shift, much less finish it. I fear I won’t be able…”
That simple sentence would’ve sounded innocuous if not for how her soft voice hollowed out, a sign that it would soon fall silent, and he couldn’t let her slip away yet.
“Won’t be able to what? Talk to me.” He seemed brasher than he wished, but without knowing who or where she was, he only had his voice to keep her on the line.
“It’s like someone has chipped away at what’s left of my heart. I don’t think I can go on anymore.”
Beyond the words, it was the tears and void he sensed that made Sam shiver. This stranger echoed the exact sentiment that had been poisoning him. However, why did it enrage him to hear it from this woman when he’d accepted this fact for himself?
“Go on doing what?”
With a sigh, Sam detected a faint sob. “I lost another one. When I reached him, he was cold and dead, all alone in this freezing weather. I thought I could save him, but he was already gone.” Another whimper came through the line, clogging Sam’s throat. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have burdened you. I need to leave now.”
“Wait! Please. Are you going to be okay?”
The woman didn’t answer, and it was clear she forced a smile to her voice when she replied. “Whoever you are, I wish you a happy new year.”
“Don’t hang up!”
The woman didn’t hear his sharp order. Why had her last words sounded like the same goodbye he’d wanted to give Lazarus only moments ago?
The protector inside him, as well as unidentified emotions he’d yet to explain, sent a string of warnings through him. If he didn’t act, if he didn’t reach the woman who’d unknowingly pulled him from taking his own life, she’d vanish, and bring him down with her. One way or another, he’d found a fellow lost soul, and he needed to get to her.
It didn’t change his decision, but now, before he could find solace, he had one last mission to accomplish, one final soul to save.
Chapter One
It was strange,feeling the panic rise inside him. How long since he’d experienced that particular emotion? Sam tried to redial the woman’s number and was immediately redirected to an automated voicemail.
With no name, and only a phone number, he had to act fast. Too far away from a computer, he had no other option but to ask for help.
Now walking toward the busier side of downtown Chicago in the hope of finding a ride to his apartment, he dialed his brother’s number, probably the only one who’d answer so late at night.
“Lazarus King speaking.”
“Oz, it’s Sam.” The hesitation on the other end of the line was telling. It wasn’t like him to call.
“Happy New Year, brother. I’m happy to hear your voice.”
His brother didn’t have to explain his statement. Lazarus had that keen sense of knowing when something was wrong with someone, and to be honest, Sam had been sliding downhill for some time now.
“You too, brother. But I fear I’m not calling to offer well wishes. I need a quick favor.”
Sam could hear shuffling in the background. “I’m listening. What do you need?”
It stunned him how Lazarus never asked questions, always trusting him even though brothers had only found each other a short time ago. Could that blood bond create such a connection so easily?
“I’ll explain later, but can you track down a phone number?”
“Shoot, my skills are at your service.”
Sam relayed the phone number and waited as he continued walking. Apart from people laughing and some inebriated idiots, the streets were quite calm. The fact the police were very visible despite the cold temperature was a good reason too.
“Gimme a minute. The number you gave me is private. I’ll need to pull a few tricks. Is this a sensitive caller? Someone that might keep track of who’s after them?”
