Total pages in book: 147
Estimated words: 137176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
What he’d just done had proven me right.
“Is it your head?” I finally asked when JJ stopped halfway up the hill and leaned over like he was going to puke. He answered me by doing just that.
Puking.
He retched over and over even after his stomach was empty. I tried to put an arm around him to support him, but he held out his hand to prevent me from moving any closer to him.
I remembered what Sully had said about JJ’s injury and the memory loss it had caused. He hadn’t said anything about the pain JJ was currently experiencing, and he sure as shit hadn’t mentioned the possibility that he would freeze up in dangerous circumstances. If Sully had known that, he never would have put his brother in the field.
So why was JJ keeping it from Sully?
Several minutes passed before JJ could continue. By the time we reached the top of the hill, he’d sweated through his shirt. I’d wanted to tell him to take his suit jacket off, but I was already riding a thin line with him. Whatever weird, temporary truce we’d reached was something I wanted to hold on to for as long as I could.
The man working with JJ appeared from the lower level of the house. I could tell he recognized me the moment he saw me.
“Are you okay?” he asked JJ.
JJ nodded. “How’s Jenna?”
The two quickly exchanged details about what had happened to the assailant. I was too focused on JJ’s condition to pay any attention to what they said. He looked like he’d pass out any moment, but he was keeping it together, probably for his partner’s benefit.
More likely, it was so his partner wouldn’t tell Sully what condition JJ was in.
“Can you call this in to my brother?” I heard JJ ask. “Cass and I need to go down to the station to give our statements, so it’ll be a while before I’ll be able to call him.”
I kept my mouth shut at the bald-faced lie. Bruce had told JJ an officer would come to Sully’s office to get our statements.
JJ’s partner, Boone, agreed and told him to look after himself before he trotted back to the house, presumably to take care of the young woman who was likely in a state of shock.
JJ wasn’t much better off, though I didn’t know if it was shock or pain or something else entirely that was draining the energy from his body with every second that passed.
“Where’s your car?” he asked.
“Just outside the driveway,” I responded.
JJ kept putting one foot painfully in front of the other as we made our way around the house, but as soon as we were out of sight of the residence, he pitched forward. I managed to wrap my arm around his waist before he hit the pavement. His skin was hot to the touch and one touch to his pulse point confirmed how hard his heart was working to keep his body going. His blood pressure was likely skyrocketing either because of the pain or, like the actress he’d protected, he was in a state of shock.
I got him settled in the passenger seat of the sedan I’d rented so he wouldn’t recognize me tailing him. JJ didn’t seem to notice the change in vehicles. He was barely awake.
I got the seat belt on him and shut the door before quickly hurrying to the driver’s side. I got the car running so the air conditioning would kick in. I put my fingers against his pulse point again.
His heart was still racing.
“JJ, I need to take you to a hospital,” I said. I was in the process of putting the car in gear when his fingers closed over mine.
“No. Your place,” he grated. His eyes were still closed.
“JJ—” I began.
“Promise me, Cass,” he said softly, opening his eyes only long enough to catch mine. He didn’t wait for me to respond. Instead, he let his eyes drift closed, his long, dark lashes fanning across his pale skin. “Promise me…” he repeated in a barely there whisper.
“I promise, JJ,” I murmured, more to myself than anything else since I doubted he could hear me.
JJ’s fingers were still wrapped around mine as I got the car moving.
“Cass,” he breathed. I glanced at him and saw that he was looking at me. His skin was still pale, but he wasn’t shaking as violently as he had been when I’d gotten him into the car. I desperately wanted to pull the car over so I could take him in my arms and feel the life still running through his body.
“Yeah?” I responded quietly as I tightened my fingers around his.
“Don’t tell Sully,” JJ whispered. Then his head dipped so it was resting against the side of the seat. His fingers loosened and fell away from mine. I quickly checked his pulse again and nearly cried in relief when I felt it beating beneath my touch. It had slowed but was strong. That was the only thing that kept me from breaking my promise and taking him to a hospital.