Chapter 44 | The Devil of Siren City

Skylar

I push the button.

Adrian lurches as electricity courses through his body. He goes still just as quickly and I feel his neck for a pulse.

Nothing.

I continue chest compressions until the machine gives me the go ahead to give him another shock.

“Come on,” I whisper.

Candy inches closer. “Is he…”

“Stay back,” I remind him as I scoot away. “Don’t touch him.”

I push the button again.

Adrian twitches from head-to-toe, then goes still again.

“Dammit, Adrian,” I say, tears stinging my eyes now. “Don’t do this.”

I perform chest compressions, my arms hurting. I push through the exhaustion, through the sadness threatening to pull me under.

Not him, please. Not this man.

Not now, when we’ve only just…

“Stay with me,” I say, whispering a tender prayer.

I push the button again.

Adrian’s eyes open. He inhales suddenly as the electric shock flows through him, squeezing his fingers and toes.

Candy lurches forward. “Adrian!”

I feel for his pulse again. “His heart is beating,” I say with relief, silently counting the beats as tears fall down my cheeks. “Adrian?” I cup his face, focusing on his eyes. “Can you hear me?”

Adrian coughs, his words slurring, but he looks at me.

“Adrian?” I whisper.

He nods. He reaches up, his hands touching mine as he takes several long, rasping breaths.

I smile. “Hey, there.” 

“Is he okay?” Candy asks.

“He will be,” I say, reaching for the epinephrine injector. “Take his hand.”

Candy moves up while I pop the cap off the injector and place it against Adrian’s thigh muscle.

“This might hurt a little,” I say.

Adrian winces, then his eyes widen. He breathes harder and deeper as the adrenaline quickly makes its way through his system.

“Adrian,” Candy says, clenching his hand. “Are you okay?”

Adrian says nothing. He just breathes and nods.

I listen to his heart through my stethoscope. “Fast and steady,” I say.

I let myself fall back on the floor. The work isn’t done yet, but I take the moment to catch my breath as Candy does the same. A few more tears fall down my cheeks. I wipe them away.

Thankful and grateful, I stay in the moment for as long as I can.

I know the second I stand, I’ll see what’s on the table again.

From the floor, I look up. All I see is the orchid, its pearl white petals spotted with jagged crimson lines.

I rest my hand on the floor behind me. My fingers bump against something hard. Something metal.

I look down.

Candy’s gun.

“Skylar.”

I glance over, drawn by Adrian’s strained voice, and catch the nervous twitch in Candy’s stare. He looks at my hand hovering over his gun and shifts ever-so-slightly, his muscles ready to move.

Grab the gun.

Dammit. She’s back. I guess pomegranate tea doesn’t last very long.

No, it doesn’t. Thankfully. Now, shoot him.

I shake my head. I don’t want to.

Kill him before he kills us.

My fingers twitch on the gun’s grip.

Candy doesn’t hesitate. He lunges at me on the floor, his arm extended long toward the gun.

“Candy!” Adrian shouts, unable to reach him. “Don’t—!”