Page 76 of Reign of the Queen
“What the fuck is wrong with him?” I gasp, coming down the front steps barefoot in a rush.
“He’s had a couple of seizures.” Finn grunts with Carter’s weight.
“Seizures? Why did you bring him here, he needs to be in a hospital, you morons!” I yell, backing up as the three of them work to get Carter up my front steps and through the door.
“No can do,mi reina. He OD’d tonight, and his dad will most likely finish him off if he gets his hands on him now.” Mateo grimaces and then grabs onto both of Carter’s legs, helping to heft him in the air.
The three of them work together to bring Carter’s large passed-out frame into the house and past my front door.
“Where can we put him down to rest, Mia?” Finn strains with the bulk of Carter’s upper body weight.
I look around in panic. Carter looks so pale and like he’s covered in a sheen of sweat. The other three don’t look too great either. I look over at Theo, and the look of panic and fear on his face has me leading them into the main floor guest room a few feet away from the entryway.
Once they have him settled on the bed, they all back away, breathing heavy. Theo turns to me, fear and tension radiating from his body. “Can Mat hide my car in your garage? No one can know we’re here.”
I nod my head and race out of the room to open the garage door so Mateo can hide the vehicle. Whatever is going on here has the three of them spooked and on edge. Until I know what I’m dealing with, it’s best just to go along with it.
I rush back into the room, to find them pulling Carter’s shoes off and adjusting pillows under his head. They’ve stripped him down just to his underwear now. He’s moaning slightly, entirely out of it, and I can see his whole body is spasming and twitching.
“The blows still making its way out of his system. Do you have some cloths and cold water, Mia? We’ve got to help bring his temperature down and keep him hydrated.” Finn turns to me with worry edged across his features.
“Ah yeah, okay.” I turn to leave the room but turn back and stare at Carter. “Is he going to be okay?” Adrenaline’s running through my veins, and I’m starting to panic a little.
“I hope so, Mia. I hope we didn’t just kill him anyway by bringing him here.” Theo lets out a deep sigh and sits on the bed next to a thrashing Carter, trying to soothe his friend.
I nod and rush out, heading for the kitchen and bathroom to grab water, towels, and whatever else I can get my hands on that might help. Once I’ve run around, my heart completely in overdrive and like a damn chicken with my head cut off, I lug everything I could find back to the room.
I’ve brought towels, ice packs, water bottles, a thermometer, and a first aid kit. I stumble into the room just as Carter’s having what looks like another seizure. Finn, Mateo, and Theo hold him down to the bed, preventing him from doing more damage to himself.
“Holy fucking shit, we have to call an ambulance. He could die.” I move closer, dropping everything I was carrying onto the ground.
“We can’t, Mia. His dad is a... fucking psychopath. He’s likely to kill him anyway for OD’ing. He’s going to believe that Carter did it... did it on purpose, that he wanted to die. In that fucker’s eyes, that’s weakness.” Finn struggles to get the words out, winded from holding a thrashing Carter down.
“Did...did he mean to do it?” I question, the thought crushing me and almost bringing me to my knees.
“No, no fuck, he says he didn’t, and I...I believe him, Mia. He’s a little messed up in the head and dealing with a lot of shit, but I don’t think he’s suicidal. I think he’s just an idiot who lost control tonight.” Theo lets go of Carter, who has settled a bit and rakes his hands angrily through his hair.
“Mia... Mia.” Carter calls out in a hoarse voice, strain etched across his features.
I move closer to his side, gently running my hand down the side of his pale, sweaty face. His eyes are tightly closed, like he’s in pain. “I’m here, Carter. I’m right here.”
“Mia... Mia, please don’t let him take me. I can’t fight him like this.” Carter’s breaths are coming in soft pants, his body lets out a deep groan, and then he seems to pass out.
“Is he okay? Is he breathing? Oh my god, is he breathing?” I move closer to Carter in a panic and lay my ear down on his bare chest, listening for his heart. I can hear the thumping of his heart pumping in his chest. It’s a bit slow but steady.
“I think he just passed out again,” Mateo announces, collapsing to the floor next to the bed.
I look from one to the other. All three of them look like a hot mess. They look terrified and haggard. Mateo looks like he might have a mental breakdown any minute. His hair is all over the place, and he’s so pale. Finn seems exhausted, his clothes in disarray. His eyes are pinched in worry and strain. He keeps clenching and unclenching his hands in apparent anger.
Theo looks the worst, though. His hair’s standing in all different directions like his hands have been running through it and pulling on it all night. His clothes are disheveled, his eyes are wide and panicked, and I can see specks of blood and what looks like vomit on him. He really does think he might have brought his best friend here to die.
“Come with me. I need you to explain what the hell is going on here, Theo.” I don’t wait to see if he’ll follow me as I walk out of the guest room door and into the hallway. I lean my body against the wall facing the guest room, arms crossing against my chest, and wait for him.
He comes out the door, forlorn and moving slowly, stopping before me and closes his eyes, waiting for me to cuss him out. He looks like the weight of the world is crushing him down.
“Explain, please. I need to know exactly what is going on in order to help you. Do not leave anything out, Theo.” I grimace.
He sighs deeply and then leans against the wall next to me. It almost looks like he’s out of energy, and if the wall wasn’t currently holding him up, he might tumble down like a stack of Theo-sized bricks.
