Page 45 of Beautiful Salvation

Yet I’m the one staggering around in the desert like a madman.

And for what?

I want her to experience life the way she wants to.

Hell, maybe I need to experience more of that, too.

There must be another solution besides waiting for the animal to choose up or down.

I shift my hand a few inches to the right. Then I drop the rock next to my shoe, where it kicks up sand. The subtle vibration runs through my foot and up my calf.

The scorpion scuttles off.

But not before a sharp, searing pain scorches my leg.

“Shit, that was close!” my brother exhales.

I yank on my pant leg, then spot the red pinprick partway up my calf. Fuck.

My nostrils flare. “Let’s get the hell back to the Strip.”