Page 32 of Sleeping with the Dark (The Righteous 3)
Pulling her close, he had to take what he could get in this moment, so he captured her lips. The kiss spoke of all the lost ‘I love you’s’, all the laughs they no longer got to share, and all the passion he wished he’d shown more often. They were both breathing hard when he stopped ravaging her lips. “I don’t want to let you go again.”
“I know, neither do I, but you must.” Wrapping her arms around his waist, Mel laid her head over his heart. He couldn’t remember how many times they’d stood like this, but this one felt different. It felt final.
He reluctantly let her step back as she broke the hug. Reaching up, she wiped the tears from his cheeks. “Don’t cry, soldier boy. I hate to see you so sad.”
He gave her a meek smile as he reined in the sadness. “It’s easier said than done.”
“Do me a favor and tell that brother of yours I’m happy for him. He got a good one. Renee will keep him in line.” Trev laughed. There was no truer statement. Mel’s face grew serious, and she gave his hand a squeeze. “Also, keep your eyes open. One of our own is going to need you soon.”
“Who?” he asked, standing a little straighter.
“Just remember what I said and trust your gut.” A breeze picked up and blew her hair around her face. She turned her head and closed her eyes, giving him the most stunning picture to remember forever. He knew before she opened her mouth again what she was going to say. It was time, and she needed to go.
“I have to go now, but I’ll be seeing you again, soldier boy.”
“You know I hate it when you call me that.”
“Oh, I know.” Mel gave his hand a final squeeze, and as she walked away, he held on, wanting their fingers to touch for as long as possible. His arm fell by his side as she pulled free, and he wanted to chase after her, tell her he didn’t care, he wanted to remain here forever, but she’d told him it wasn’t his time. Mel stopped and looked over her shoulder. “Trev, I’m always looking out for you. I’m always with you, no matter what, and so is your son.” She smiled and resumed her walk once more. This time, she did not look back.
Emotion so raw it clogged his throat as he stared at her back until she was nothing more than a tiny speck in the distance. Taking in deep, ragged breaths he stared at the pebbled path they’d traveled. Not wasting another moment, he took his first step.
The first thing Trev was aware of was that he fucking hurt everywhere. There was not a single part of his body that felt normal or didn’t scream as he tried to move. It took a number of attempts, but he managed to peel his heavy lids open. He stared at the ceiling and then flicked his eyes around the room. He was in his own bed but had no recollection of how he got here. The last thing he remembered was being electrocuted, and he thought he saw Arek and Cody, but then it was all a dark void of nothingness. He should be dead, that much he did know. The other thing he was acutely aware of was how badly he needed to use the washroom.
A soft snore reached his ears, and he lifted his head slightly to see Cody asleep on the small loveseat by the fireplace. His long body was stretched out comically, legs, arms, and head all hanging off the small space that was so not designed to be slept on unless you were a child.
Trev licked his lips. His mouth and throat felt dry, like an animal had decided to shred up his throat. Removing a comforter had never been so difficult. He struggled with the material, his arms weak, and hands not wanting to work properly. With a final yank, he managed to free himself, but had to close his eyes and catch his breath. He stared down his body at the bandages that stretched from under his armpits to almost his crotch and then a separate one on his leg. Only a pair of black boxers divided the two pieces of stark white wrapping.
He felt around the bandage, and all the points he knew should hurt most certainly did, but the pain told him he was most certainly alive. He winced as he swung one leg at a time over the side of the bed, his heart rate accelerating from the small excursion. His stomach and sides throbbed from the sharp pain. He wrapped his arm around his waist and closed his eyes to settle his stomach which was threatening to turn inside out.
How long had he been out? Every limb felt like lead as he refocused on his task and pushed himself to his feet. Trev took a couple of very unsteady steps and sucked in a sharp breath, a small groan slipping from his mouth as his shoulder hit the wall, and he grabbed the dresser to stay upright.
Cody’s eyes snapped open and he leaped off the couch in an act of amazing agility. Zero to sixty in less than a second, Cody was by his side and wrapping Trev’s arm around his shoulders. He groaned again with the stretch, but it did feel better to alleviate some of the weight. He expected the small voice in his head that always screamed to push Cody far away to start up, but this time it remained silent.
“How long have you been awake?” Cody asked.
“Not long. Can you get me to the washroom?”
“Of course.” Their steps were slow, but they made it, and he stared at the toilet like it was Mount Kilimanjaro.
“Did you want me to stay?”
“No, just can you wait outside the door?” Cody nodded and slipped outside but kept the door open a crack. He was going to argue, but that would’ve taken more energy than he had. Once finished, the door opened as he was washing his hands and Cody gripped him again to help him back out. “Thanks. I will have to assume this is what it feels like to be hit by a truck or maybe a train.”
He closed his eyes and bit back the pain as he lowered himself down onto the loveseat.
“I have to go get Arek.” Cody turned to leave, but Trev grabbed his hand. As silver met blue, they stared at one another for a number of long breaths.
“Sit for a moment, please. I can’t deal with my brother just yet—I can imagine what state he was in and need a moment to gather my wits.” Cody sat, and once more, it was obvious the couch was too small as their legs touched. “I thought I told you to move out.”
Cody’s body stiffened as he looked away from his eyes.
“I’m happy you didn’t listen.” He laid his hand on Cody’s. He didn’t know how to express what he wanted to say.
The corner of Cody’s mouth pulled up, showing off a sexy dimple, but his eyes were guarded. Trev couldn’t blame him after how he’d treated Cody. He owed him an explanation.
Changing tactics for now, he decided to ask something else. “How did Arek get to me in time?”
“That AI tech you two have is pretty fierce. It went all 911 as soon as you were shot.” Cody raised his shoulder and let it drop. “Arek said it wouldn’t normally react that early, but he’d recently made some alterations.” Cody paused. “I was with Arek at the time the alert came through. Your brother took me with him.”
