Page 56 of Point Proven
“And I’ll kill them all. When they die, know it was your fault, Liam.”
His words were the last thing I heard before I slipped into the iciness that’d washed over my body, knowing damn well what would happen if Stefan didn’t seek medical attention.
I am going to die.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
SIMON
Iswiped the towel over my neck and forehead, collecting the sweat dripping from me. I needed reprieve, and I found it in the early morning at the hotel’s gym.
Working out until I was a puddle of nothing, I continued until the burn turned to a dreaded numbness. Pushing myself past the limits I knew I probably should, I continued until Thorne wandered in, his demons plastered on his face.
Even though he was my former commander, he had always been much more than that. He was my friend and closest comrade, someone I looked up to for his resilience and strength. While his walls were impenetrable, it was impossible not to notice when something was off, and he’d been different this entire trip.
He elected not to speak or acknowledge me, and I didn’t push him as we both finished our workouts. Nothing but shallow pants filled the room.
Resting my head on my forearm, I leaned over, legs still on the bike after cycling almost ten miles. I was hoping it would erase the monotonous thoughts of Liam, but nothing seemed to dull the ache in my chest or quiet the nightmare-fueled thoughts in my head.
Blowing out a shuddered breath, I twisted to glance at Thorne, who was equally sweaty, yet somehow still collected.
“Do… Do you everstruggle? Jesus, I’m dying and you… You look like a magazine cover.”
Reaching for his dumbass earbud connected to a wire that went around the back of his neck, like theancienthuman he was, he plucked it free. “What?”
Huffing, I raised a shaky hand. “You. Not struggle. Look… Look like a magazine cover,” I rasped through fits of coughing.
“You really need to work on your cardio, O’Neill.”
Laughing between bouts of stuttered inhales, I shook my head. “God, not everyone is built like you. You’re a fucking warrior?—”
“Yeah, because what choice do I have?” he practically muttered. “I worked for everything I am. My position. My physique. All of it. It’s not like it was just handed off to me on a silver platter.”
Wrapping my fingers around the bike’s handles, I leaned back. “I’m fully aware you weren’t given a choice, Thorne. Nothing was handed to you on a silver platter, and you worked, well,stillwork hard to maintain it.”
“Again, because whatchoicedo I have?” He slowed his pedaling, pushing himself off his bike.
“There may not always be a choice, but there never has to be a time thatchoiceis made alone, you know. Liam always says that sometimes we’re stuck on a never-ending cycle, like a merry-go-round, but we can always choose who joins us on the ride.”
He bit his bottom lip with a lack of amusement, his brows raising. “Mmm. Mhm.”
Sighing, I followed. “Look, I’m not the… best at these types of things, but I’m always here for you, man. You’ve always been there for me, especially now… with Liam gone, but I don’t know.I just appreciate you, and hope you know I would gladly do the same for you.”
“Thanks,” he replied with that monotonous timbre that came alongside his once-icy demeanor, which I thought we’d all successfully helped him escape from. “Appreciate it.”
“Hey, you… you okay?”
Biting my lip, I draped my towel over my shoulder. Moving to place my hand on his, a loud crack sounded, followed by more pops. I knew they belonged to one thing.
Gunfire.
Thorne’s eyes widened, immediate panic spreading over his features as his mind reared back tothatday. Shoving me back behind one of the pillars, his order came through bared teeth.
“Stay the fuck there, and hold the fuck still.”
“Yes, sir.” It flowed through me immediately, that chain of command still embedded in my system.
He moved—no, stalked through the gym, planting himself beside the door as he peered out the small, rectangular window.
