Total pages in book: 194
Estimated words: 187754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 939(@200wpm)___ 751(@250wpm)___ 626(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 187754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 939(@200wpm)___ 751(@250wpm)___ 626(@300wpm)
“Help! Oh, God! Someone help me!”
Gasping, I turn around. My gaze frantically searches the area for the scream’s source, but the storm makes it hard to see anything. Maybe it was my imagination.
The scream comes again, followed by more pleas, and I can’t deny the voice’s similarity to Cassie’s. Wind can’t replicate the sheer terror in it.
She could have been hurt looking for me, or she could be in trouble. Either way, if she stays out there much longer, she’ll die.
Making a decision, I turn back into the warm confines of the fuselage.
KHALIL
“This is bullshit! There’s no one here!” I shout over the wind, snow, and hail. I’m two hundred and thirty pounds of pure muscle, yet the storm raging around us has my solid frame trembling like a twig in a hurricane. Snow clings to Thorin’s blond lashes and thick brows when he sends me a look to shut the fuck up, and I send him an aggravated one right back. “Seriously, I can’t feel my nuts anymore, Thor! We need to make camp!”
Reality paid us a visit this morning, and we’ve been on a knife’s edge ever since.
The trek down Big Bear, our mountain and sanctum, and across the valley to reach the crash sites took longer because of the storm. It’s been hours since we’ve found the fuselage. Our search through the wreckage—and the corpses—before investigating the surrounding area for survivors—all the while being careful not to disturb the sites and leave evidence of our being here—proved fruitless.
The barrage of storms since the plane crashed a day ago is the only thing keeping the authorities from rallying search parties, but not for much longer.
The crash had been too far away for us to see or hear, but we’d felt it. The smaller mountain had roared its anger over being disturbed, and ours answered back.
I steal a glance at the reason we’re out here.
Zeke had caught a glimpse of the small plane on fire and flying too low through our cabin’s window and lost his shit.
He’s been quiet and pensive ever since.
My cold breath billows in front of me when I release a heavy breath. I tell myself it’s better than the alternative, but…
I don’t like how close he’s standing to the cliff’s edge.
Zeke’s hands are stuffed in the pockets of his insulated pants, and his shoulders are hunched—not from fighting the biting cold and harsh wind, but the voice inside daring him to jump.
Fucking Seth.
Jumping will be painless and quicker than whatever Isaac has in store for him, but I wasn’t about to let either happen.
“Ezekiel.” The sound of Thor’s stern voice only makes Zeke shuffle closer to the edge, and I clench my teeth in irritation. Thor and I have a difference in view on how to deal with Zeke’s trauma. Thor believes charging through it like a bull in a china shop is more effective, while I believe a little patience and understanding never hurt anyone.
“No one’s found us,” Thor gently says after catching the look I give him. “It’s unlikely anyone survived that crash, and if they did, they’re dead or will be soon.”
“Yeah, and good fucking riddance,” I add. “Anyone who even knows we exist is probably thinking the same about us.”
Zeke doesn’t respond. He just keeps staring into the misty abyss. Despite the pallor in his olive skin, Zeke’s cheeks are red from the cold I doubt he feels.
I keep my steps slow and quiet as I approach him like I would a startled calf. From the corner of my eye, I see Thor doing the same. There’s a determined glint in his eyes that says he’ll follow Zeke over the damn edge just to keep him from falling alone.
We both would.
“No one’s coming. And if they did…” I ignore the pissed-off look Thor flashes me at the fumbling reminder that they could. “We’ll kill them all this time. We won’t let him take you, Ezekiel.”
“You’re safe,” Thor promises.
A tortured sound reaches my ears, and I lunge before he can move an inch. I grab Zeke’s arm and yank him to me. Wrapping my arms around him, my hold is almost crushing while his nails dig into my back. Zeke tucks his face into my neck and sobs while Thor visibly sags with relief before coming over and planting a hand on Zeke’s shoulder.
Our gazes meet, and I want nothing more than to hunt the fuckers down that did this and wipe them all out. We neutralized anyone who stood in our way of getting Zeke out, but by now, Isaac—the so-called Savior—has likely doubled his numbers and tripled his influence.
Meanwhile, Zeke’s very existence becomes more and more tenuous each day. He wasn’t always like this—fragile, anxious, and destructive. The opposite, actually. He used to be the strongest of us all—carefree, quick to smile, infectious laughter…