Page 1 of Dark Tangled Truths
CHAPTER 1
Hawk
Annie’s hurt,and I try to take in what happened. Her wet hand is washed of blood, but blood still accumulates on the wounds. Blistering wounds. Little pinpricks of blood everywhere. My stomach twists, but I focus on figuring out the cause. The time for panic is later.
I glance around the black box theater, trying to get my thoughts under control. Annie trembles in my arms, too focused on the pain to talk to me. She needs me, and I have her.
There’s a rose lying on the desk, forgotten, along with some papers with spots of blood dried on them. The rose thorns must have cut her. It’s the only sharp thing nearby. A rose thorn shouldn’t burn unless Annie is allergic. Maybe? Or else there’s something I can’t see that cut her or something on the rose that’s affecting her.
Annie is my priority. I need to get her to either the urgent care or the hospital as soon as possible. But I also need to secure what hurt her so we can figure out what it is.
A group of actors stands nearby, watching us. Their eyes are wide and worried. Jason stands next to them. There aren’t many people here. Most are using the break. Jason seems like agood guy, and I need to trust someone to make sure nothing is disturbed until we can figure out what happened.
“Jason, stay here and don’t let anyone touch anything on this desk until Keira gets back.”
“Got it.” Jason looks worriedly at Annie, but he takes up the post.
My next problem is transportation. I only have my motorcycle. I don’t think she can ride in her current state.
We need a driver. Almost everyone is doing fuck knows what during the long break. I carry her out into the hallway. Maybe Mark or Mia can give us a ride. But I’ll take pretty much anyone at this point. I head out to find someone, anyone.
“I’ve got you, Annie.” I study her tear-streaked face.
Annie’s gone silent except for the occasional whimper. Her hand is tucked against her body protectively. She’s focused inward on the pain.
“What’s wrong with her?” Chase straightens from the wall. Just what I need to deal with, this dick. He must have a brace on his knee under his pants because he’s been walking stiffly all rehearsal.
I pull her tighter against me. She’s still whimpering in my arms, and my chest aches at seeing her hurt. She’s stopped mumbling, but I can tell she’s holding in the pain.
“I don’t know,” I grit out. He’s the last person I want to ask to drive Annie anywhere, but if he’s our only option, I’ll have to take it. I won’t let Annie be in pain just because of some pissing match between Chase and us.
It’s not ideal. But we need a ride. The sooner the better.
“Hey.” Mia hurries to my side from behind me. She’s got a bunch of paper towels. “Keira said Evan’s hurt. Fuck. That doesn’t look good. Mr. Watson will be a minute.”
I blow out a breath. Annie’s fingers are red and swollen. Her good hand shakes as she takes the napkin from Mia. She drapesit over her wounded hand with a hiss, careful not to press on it. When the blood seeps into the napkin, Mia pales.
“You got a car?” I look at Mia. I’d rather deal with her than the asshole any day.
When I glance at Chase, he watches Annie with a worried expression. Is it fake? For all I know, he’s the reason she’s hurt. Payback for what we’ve done. Fuck, what if we’re the reason she’s been hurt?
A fist squeezes around my heart, but I can’t deal with my own emotions right now.
Mia nods and pulls out her keys. “Let’s go. Where’s the closest emergency services?”
“There’s an urgent care a few blocks away. The hospital is on the other side of town.” I follow her to the parking lot, glad to be moving.
“Hawk!” Mr. Watson yells behind me.
I glance over my shoulder. Not pausing, I call back to him, “We’re going to the urgent care on Clarkson. Can you tell her mom?”
He nods and pulls out his phone.
Mia holds open the back door of her car. I get in with Annie and strap her in. Tears stream relentlessly down her face and she rocks slightly, hunched over her hand. I want to fix this for her, but there’s not much more I can do.
The fact she’s not insisting we go back into rehearsal tells me this is bad. Nothing gets in the way of her rehearsal.
“What happened?” Mia says as soon as she starts the car and puts it in gear.
