Page 120 of Unhinged Kallie

“Dad.” I reached for his hand and gripped it tight. “I’m…sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay, Angel, try to relax. I need to get the truck.” He looked down, and his eyes were reassuring. “You’re going to be okay.”

“I…can’t…breathe.” I gasped in short wheezes.

“Remember rule number one, never panic. Be Calm, Angel.” He smoothed back my hair. “Be calm. I’ll be right back.” I couldn’t help but smile as a tear trickled down my cheek.

“I. Love. You,” I said, and the world went dark.

Chapter Forty-Five

CARTER

The ropes were looser, and my thumb was out. I had to dislocate it, but it was out. Biting back the pain, I wiggled my hands until the first rope dropped. It all unraveled from there. Fuck, my arms were tingly and floppy. Shaking them out, I grunted as I reset my thumb. I quickly untied my legs, hopped out of the truck, and jumped into the driver’s seat.

I’d seen Cain and Abel reappear around the side of a building, and I knew Cain had spotted something from the way he was acting. I wasn’t sitting here. I didn’t care what he said. He wasn’t keeping me from Kallie.

Starting the truck, I backed it up before putting it in drive and flooring it. The back end fishtailed, but I got righted before slamming through the wooden fence. Racing down the short hill and across the open field, the bright headlights illuminated the barns and house, but I didn’t see any movement. That scared me more than if all hell had broken loose.

I aimed for where Cain disappeared, slamming on the brakes and cranking the wheel as the truck skidded around the corner. The headlights revealed two stories. I didn’t care that Abel carried an unconscious man on his back. Kallie, on the ground with a knife in her gut, made my blood turn to ice.

Throwing the truck in park, I jumped out and ran for Kallie. Nothing else mattered more than getting her to a hospital.

“Help me carry her,” Cain said when I got closer. My hands shook as I lifted her legs, and he picked her up under the arms, but she never moved, and panic, the likes of which I never knew, flooded my system.

I hopped in the backseat with her and laid her head on my lap. I didn’t care what Abel did with the man. I just wanted to get going.

“Let’s go!” I yelled. The truck shook as Abel tossed the guy in the truckbed and hopped in with him while Cain got in the driver’s seat. I felt for a pulse but couldn’t tell with my hands shaking so badly. Instead, I grabbed her hand, hating that it was so cold. I watched her chest and she was definitely breathing but her breaths were short and fast, and that wasn’t normal.

“Come on, Trouble, open your eyes for me. I need to see those beautiful blue eyes,” I said as I smoothed back Kallie’s hair and ran my thumb along her cheek. “This world is not worth living in without you. Please open your eyes. Please look at me.”

Her eyes fluttered and opened a crack. “Car…”

“Shh, don’t try to talk,” I said, smiling down at her. Her lip curved up, and I’d never been more relieved. “I love you. You’re not allowed to leave me.” Her eyebrows rose slightly. “Yeah, I said it. I’m ordering you not to leave me. I won’t live without you. You hear me. You stay with me.” Her hand tightened on mine before she passed back out. “No, no, no. Keep looking at me. Trouble?” Shit. “How much further?”

“Five minutes,” Cain answered as we flew down the quiet streets. I almost hoped to come across a cop so we could follow him.

I saw the glowing red emergency symbol, and as soon as Cain pulled up in front, I opened my door.

“Don’t move her. I’ll get a gurney.” Cain jumped out, ran inside, and came back a moment later with a couple of nurses, a doctor, and the gurney. My brain whirred, unable to put any cohesive thoughts together as the doctor gave instructions. Two nurses hopped in like I wasn’t in the truck and helped the doctor and Cain get Kallie out of the back seat.

I followed them through the doors, and the bright white lights felt blinding, adding to the building pressure in my head. We were stopped at a set of double doors with a security guard. The doctor said we couldn’t come any further before he disappeared down another hall. My entire body shook as panic gripped my throat, choking me.

Someone wrapped their arm around my shoulder and guided me outside. I bent over, bracing myself on my knees, and tried not to think about the worst possible scenario. Anger rose to match the terror, and I looked up to see Cain beside me.

Standing straight, I glared at the man who raised me, the only father I’d known since I was two. Whether he saw me that way or not didn’t matter. I trusted him, and he betrayed me.

My right hook caught him in the jaw, and Cain staggered back from the blow. Those piercing blue eyes found mine, and for the first time I wasn’t scared. I got nose-to-nose with the man who terrified me my entire life.

“Don’t ever do that to me again. I’ve earned the right to have your respect, and you betrayed me. I don’t give a fuck if you’re Kallie’s father or if you threaten me. If you ever try to keep me from her again, I will come for you.” My rage made me brave or stupid or both, but instead of fighting, the corner of his mouth lifted in a smile.

“You’re right. I’m sorry.”

I stepped back in shock and looked him up and down, unsure who’d replaced Cain.

“I needed to know that this man was inside of you.” He gripped my shoulder. “It won’t happen again. She will be okay. I know wounds and what the human body can suffer and still survive. Besides, she is a fighter and always has been.”

“She is.”