Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 46751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
"Yes, you can. He's your brother. Right now, that's where you need to be. I'll call Kane and ask him to come to the studio with me. But you have to go." I press my palm to his cheek. "He needs you."
He shudders in my arms and then presses a hard kiss to my lips. "Don't leave this house without Kane," he orders me.
"I won't. I promise."
He pulls me up against his chest again, holding me tight. "I love you, Kenna."
"I love you too, Gideon."
He lingers for another moment and then he's gone, racing out the door to get to his brother. I send up a quick prayer, hoping that God is answering today. He can't lose Zion. It'll destroy him.
I retrace my steps to the kitchen, put our food in the fridge, and then call Kane.
It takes him a minute to answer.
"Unless this is an emergency, I can't talk," he says. "We're at Maya's appointment."
"Oh no!" I cry. "I forgot about her appointment." It's her first ultrasound. She's been so excited about it. I can't believe I forgot. "I'm so sorry."
"It's okay. You've got a lot going on. Can I call you afterward?"
"Can you come to Gidoen's when you're finished?"
"Why? What's wrong?"
"His brother was shot. He just had to rush to the hospital."
"Jesus Christ," he breathes. "Is he okay?"
"I don't know," I whisper, staring out into the backyard. "I don't think so. It sounds kind of bad."
"Damn. What happened?"
"I don't know."
"Why didn't you go with him?"
"I have to be at the studio to record the last track in a couple of hours," I remind him, pacing through the kitchen into the living room. I'm restless, anxious, and worried. "And I really didn't want to be a distraction. They need to be focused on Zion, not worrying about whether or not some crazy stalker is going to show up at the hospital to murder me."
"No one is going to murder you," my brother growls.
I curl up on the couch, dragging a comfy throw blanket over my legs. "Can you hang out at the studio with me until I'm finished recording?"
"Yeah. I'll be there as soon as we're done here. Until then, don't even think about leaving that house."
I roll my eyes. "Do you and Gideon practice your lines with each other or something?"
"No. Why?"
"Because you say the same exact crap," I grumble.
"Just stay in the house, Kenna. I'll be there as soon as I can. And keep me posted on Zion."
"Okay. I will. Love you." I drop the phone beside me and lean my head back, closing my eyes. I'm so freaking tired. I barely slept last night. Every time I closed my eyes, I thought I heard something. When I did finally fall asleep, it wasn't restful. I felt like something was hunting me. Perhaps because it is. Except it's not something; it's someone. And somehow, that's far worse.
People are far more dangerous and unpredictable than any monster could ever be. We have will, and motive, and malice. We don't hurt and destroy and break because it's our nature. We do it for fun. That's far, far worse than beast or monster, who are what they are by nature. We have a choice. But evil always thrives on making the wrong one.
I think I drift off because the next thing I know, the front door creaks open.
"Kane?" I sit upright, rubbing sleep from my eyes. My head is heavy, my mind sluggish. I feel like I've both been asleep for a week and no time at all. How long was I out? "Is that you?"
He comes around the side of the door, pushing it closed behind him.
Then and only then do I realize that it isn't my brother.
"Clive?" I whisper, my heart slamming against my ribcage as Clive Rucker stares down at me, a knife in his hands.
"I'm sorry, Kenna," he says, his tone apologetic. "But you have to come with me."
"I…I don't understand. You're the one behind all of this? You?"
He motions with the knife for me to get up. "On your feet, Kenna. We've got to go."
Chapter Thirteen
Gideon
By the time I make it to the hospital, they've got Zion in a room. Ma and Zayne are already there. Zayne comes out to the waiting room to meet me, looking like he's aged fifteen years.
Aside from the receptionist at the desk, we're the only ones here. I guess it's too early in the day for the mad rush.
"He's alive," he says without preamble. "He's going to be fine."
"Thank God," I breathe. For the last forty-five minutes, I've run through every worst-case scenario on repeat. It's hard not to go there. This is Zion. We damn near lost him once. They weren't sure if he'd survive the flight home. Or surgery. Or the first days or weeks. We clung to hope by the skin of our teeth. And he clung to life by his.