Page 46 of Broken By The Devil

EMILIA

Aaron’s office is utter chaos. Component parts of computers all over the floor and strewn across his desk. I don’t know how anyone works like this. Cyrus barely fits in this closet sized room. He stands in the corner, hunched over with his arms crossed. I try and hold my laughter at the sight.

“So, what can you tell me?” I ask impatiently. We’ve already been here for an hour and I feel like I’m standing in an oven. I’m so hot, I’m sweating through Cara’s sleeveless top she loaned me. I take a seat in front of the shambles he calls a desk.

“You’re right…” he says pausing at the end. I swear if I have to stay in here any longer, I’ll combust.

“Aaron,” Cyrus growls.

“Sorry, it’s just so advanced, I’ve never seen a ring like this. So far, I know it releases a shock when your heart rate goes beyond a certain level. I know it has a remote trigger to administer the shocks, and it’s able to send a notification if the ring is ever taken off…”

Shit.

“If there is a GPS tracker in it, it’s well hidden. I can’t find it.” He continues, and Cyrus cuts in.

“What if someone else were to wear it? Would it be able to tell the difference?” He asks. I’m not sure why. I’d never ask anybody else to take on the burden. I shoot him a warning look, but he just shrugs at me.

“It looks like it’s synced to your heart rate, so if it detects a heartbeat that’s different, it’ll notify whoever it’s programmed to… isn’t this your engagement ring?” He quizzes. I was hoping he would be so imbursed with the new technology he wouldn’t recognize it.

“You are not to tell anyone about this, Aaron. That’s an order.” Cyrus warns. Aaron’s expression changes immediately, like he’s come to the grim realization of what is happening to me.

“Emilia…” he says.

“Aaron, I’m fine, but I really need you to keep this to yourself. I can’t have anyone finding out, especially Kade,” I plead. Cyrus nods in Aaron’s direction confirming the order.

“Okay, I won’t say anything,” he promises. “I can’t disable it though, Emilia. If I do, it’ll get back to him.” He confirms my suspicions.

“It’s okay, I was expecting that to be the case, thank you Aaron, I really appreciate your help,” I say, standing from my chair. I stumble from the chair a step, my vision blurs slightly, and I have to sit back down.

“Are you not feeling well?” Cyrus enquires. “You’ve been saying you feel hot, I think you should go home.” He states.

“I don’t want to go back home, Cyrus. I’m fine, I just stood up too fast,” I reassure. They both stare at me for what feels like hours, heavily scrutinizing every breath I take.

“Let’s go, I want to get out and get the shift done.” I need fresh air, this office is far too stuffy. I’m not claustrophobic at all, but the walls feel like they’re closing in on me.

“Alright, let’s take an easy job though, alright. I’m not taking you to anything too strenuous, that’s the deal,” he presses.

“Ok, fine, let’s just go.” I agree. I’m willing to go to anything as long as it’s out of this building. We get allocated to an argument outside a convenience store, but when we pull up both parties have already left. Complete waste of time, but at least I’m out and walking around.

I go into the store looking for a coffee. It’s the only reason I’m still standing. I live off it. I’m at the machine waiting for the cup to fill when I see spots in my vision. My knees are shaking, and my legs give out from beneath me. Darkness overtakes my vision. I must have blacked out because I see Cyrus towering over me, lifting me into his arms.

“Jesus you’re burning, Wildcat, I knew something was off!” He growls. “You’re too stubborn for your own good.” He swears. “I’m taking you to the Doc, no exceptions.” There is no room to argue with him. I’m being carried out of a convenience store like some sort of fucking damsel in distress. This is just perfect.

KADE

“What the fuck happened?” Cass shouts. I’m out of my chair so fast, the chair topples behind me and breaks. Cyrus is holding Emilia in his arms, settling her down on top of one of the desks.

“What’s going on?” I ask, darting towards Emilia, inspecting her for injuries. Cyrus is catching his breath, like he’s just run with her for miles.

Cara places her hand on Emilia’s forehead. “Shit, she’s burning up,” she blurts out.

“I tried to take her to the Doc, Kade, but it’s not him, it’s someone new that I don’t recognize. He said he’s under strict orders not to treat her,” Cyrus growls.

“Strict orders from who?” I spit out.

“Tom,” Cyrus replies. “She just collapsed in the store, and she’s not been able to keep her eyes open for more than a few seconds.”

“I’ll call EMS,” Cass urges. I don’t respond, my body moves before my brain can catch up. I scoop Emilia into my arms, she is burning like a furnace, and sweat is dripping from her brow.