Chapter Twenty-One

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“I CAN’T TREAT HIM while he’s tethered,” Dr Campbell muttered. “Uncuff and untie him.”

I gritted my teeth, my ears burning from the chilli earbuds, my heart in pieces thanks to goddamn Eleanor.

I could feel her.

Her every breath.

Her every heartbeat.

Her very aliveness sent a shimmer of connectivity to my soul.

For a man who traded in myth and misery, I had pretty black and white views on what was possible and impossible.

Possible were fantasies coming to life because of technology, computer coding, and advancements in sensory deceptors.

Impossible was feeling so deeply for someone that evolution opened new senses.

Impossible was feeling her as if we shared an intricate spiderweb, and she kept triggering a strand twined directly around my heart.

Fuck, Eleanor.

She was here.

She’d sold herself to heal me.

She’d sacrificed everything she was...for me.

My teeth threatened to turn to ash as I tensed in my binds.

If I didn’t already love her, I’d be hers for the rest of my godforsaken life.

How had I ever doubted what I felt for her?

How could she put my health over her own safety?

She can’t.

I couldn’t let it happen.

No matter what she said or what Drake expected, I wouldn’t let him lay one goddamn finger on her. I didn’t know how I’d stop him, but I would.

For now...at least she’d bargained us some time. A full day. If she could get free, then I’d happily face the rest of my sorry existence knowing she was out of his reach.

“He stays tied,” Drake barked. “Not debatable.”

“Don’t you get it?” Campbell said. “You don’t need to tie him anymore. You have the best restraint there is.” His clothing rustled as he moved closer. “Her. As long as you have Eleanor...Sinclair isn’t going anywhere.”

“Not happening,” Drake snapped.

“His wrists and ankles are infected,” Eleanor hissed. “You promised he would be treated. That includes every injury, not just a few.”

I groaned.

Why did she have to be so stupidly brave?

Why couldn’t she have forgotten about me? Hated me? Left me?

“I agree,” Dr Campbell said. “If I’m to tend to his fever and wounds, I need access to all of them. There’s no point only treating—”

“Fine!” Drake growled. “Henry!”

Heavy footsteps fell, moving a stranger closer. “Aim your gun at Eleanor. If she so much as moves, shoot her. Hear that, brother? You fight back, you try to escape...she dies before you’re even out of the cage.”

My stomach roiled, but I kept silent.

Frankly, I hovered on the dangerous edge of passing out again. I didn’t have the energy for another battle—intellectual or physical. The stress of having Jinx beside me had amplified my fever and increased the pain in every limb.

I needed to gather my strength if I had any chance at saving her.

He took my silence as obedience.

Clearing his throat, he yawned. “Know what? If we’re having a little break before more games begin, I might go have a snooze myself.” He chuckled. “Might shoot a few of the squirrels in your palm trees, Sullivan. Have a roast rodent for lunch.”

You motherfu—

My hands balled, and once again, I resisted the urge to reply.

Eleanor sniffed, her temper a buffet of air even if I couldn’t see her cheeks pink or grey eyes turn into thunderclouds. “Don’t you dare kill any more creatures, you sick sonovabitch.”

Drake laughed. “But I’m hungry.”

“Eat a damn vegetable!”

He laughed harder. “God, you two were made for each other. Matchingly pathetic.” His footsteps faded toward the doors. “Men, stand guard. I’ll be back tonight. I expect both my brother and his little goddess to be exactly where they are when I return, got it?”

A murmur of acquiescence as fresh air entered the villa, then vanished as he opened and closed the door.

Eleanor inhaled heavily, her presence electrocuting me, granting much-needed stamina. When she’d touched me before? Christ, my heart had almost given out. I’d never been superstitious, but touching her had been like touching an angel—willingly placing my life into her divine power, ready to transcend this shitty body and shitty situation.

I’d failed my animals.

I’d failed her.

Death could delete all of that in one instance.

“Are you okay, Sully?” Her gentle question poked my temper awake.

I loved her.

I fucking adored her, but she’d disobeyed me. She’d returned, despite the difficulty of finding my islands. And now, she was trapped because of me.

Drake would hurt her...because of me.

Everything she’d endured was because of me!

I groaned, my blind eyes throbbing in agony. “You don’t get to ask me that question, Jinx.”

“What?” She twisted to face me, the rope hissing against my cage. Every sound was louder, every sense straining to compensate for lack of sight. “What the hell does that mean?”

“It means he’s blaming himself...as he should,” Dr Campbell answered on my behalf. “He’s finally earned a conscience where humans are concerned. You’ve taught him that it’s fine to have empathy for animals, but it’s hypocritical not to care for his own species.”

I bared my teeth in his general direction. “You’re saying I should let men like Drake live? Men like you? Men who betray—”

“I’m saying every animal—man or beast—has good and bad in them. It’s not up to you to play god.” A creak of the floor sounded as he stopped outside my cage. “Open the door. I need to evaluate my patient.”

“You’re going in there with him?” a mercenary asked.

“I am.” Dr Campbell aimed his next question at me. “You won’t hurt me, will you, Sinclair? After all, I’m here to keep you alive.”

My anger boiled.

He was the reason this had happened.

I owed him for the death of all the creatures who’d died on Serigala.

But...I also needed him.

I needed his help to protect Eleanor.

For now.

“I give you my word, I’ll behave.”

“Good. Release his binds,” Dr Campbell commanded. “And unlock the cage.”

The screech of the cage door opened. Two seconds later, hands touched my ankles, unthreading the rope until my legs were free.

Instinct ordered me to snatch and strangle, but I restrained. Jim was right; Eleanor was the biggest set of handcuffs I needed. Knowing that my actions increased or decreased her lifespan was enough for me to lie there perfectly still while a guard unlocked my right handcuff and then my left.

Sit up.

Sit up!

The urge to get off the wire bottom was unbearable. I jack-knifed up, groaning in misery and absolute relief.

My spine rolled. My legs bent. Pain swarmed.

I almost passed out, clinging to awareness with difficulty.

I’d never thought sitting would be so rewarding.

Vertigo found me, sloshing my insides as my head pounded. My leg passed painful and entered a realm of burning hellfire. I was hot-cold, hot-cold, jittery and shivery.

I was weak and beaten and so fucking fucked off that all my control had been stripped away.

“I’m coming inside, Sinclair.”

I nodded, backing up and creating space in the cramped prison for a visitor. Bumping into the wire behind me, Eleanor gasped right by my ear.

Fuck.

I couldn’t control it.

The need.

The paralyzing thirst to touch.

My hands fumbled against the bars, slipping through and finding her.

Holy shit.

The chemistry that’d overrode Euphoria and elixir—the spark of power that only grew stronger the deeper I fell—crackled in my bleeding fingertips.

She gasped, feeling it too. Our bodies in-sync. Our bond unbreakable despite how much I hated that she’d come back.

My head bowed as my fingers found her cheek.

Her breath caught as she kissed my thumb, her skin so soft, her hair still damp from the rain. “Goddammit, Eleanor.” Bringing her face toward me, I closed my useless eyes, focusing on the tingly proximity of her rather than my broken sight.

“I’m here,” she whispered, her breath feathering on my lips just as I found her mouth.

I kissed her.

I convulsed with sorrow and sadness as her familiar taste and comfort slipped through my bleeding body and into my heart. My skin prickled. My chest squeezed. My nose, even scrambled by bleach and stench, recognised her subtle delicious fragrance.

She smelled like my sea.

She smelled like me...an extension of my sex and soul.

A loud twang sounded, ripping us apart. “No kissing!” the mercenary snapped. “No touching.”

“Leave them be. They’re both dead tomorrow,” Dr Campbell muttered, his body brushing against my legs as he set down his medical bag, the leather creaking in my ears.

It hurt me worse than any torture Drake had done, but I released Eleanor and sat back in my cage. I fought the curse of her, the jinx she’d put on me. If I’d known this would be our ending, I would’ve denied my need for her.

I would’ve set her free the second she appeared.

“Sully...”

“Don’t.” I pinched the bridge of my nose, doing my best to shove away my debilitating pain and stay awake. Sitting up stole the rest of my energy. Nausea climbed up my gullet. I hated the blackness of my world—the unknown threats lurking right outside. “How many men are in here with us?” I asked the doctor.

His clothing rustled. “Three currently, but another two are outside.”

“Can you take the pins out of his fingers?” Eleanor’s voice wobbled. “They’re still stabbing his right hand.”

I splayed my fingers, seeing nothing. I’d gone past sensation. I’d blocked out the discomfort to focus on the worst parts.

Campbell lowered his voice, slipping to an audible I might not have heard if I still had sight. “Sinclair...I’ve brought a few of the noncompliant serums and pharmaceuticals. Do you give me permission to administer?”

My mind raced. After years in the business of drug manufacturing, we had crates of failed experiments and unapproved medicines. Some were rightfully denied—causing worse side effects than the original problem. But some...some were just too potent to be approved.

Those would decimate the industries and cause anarchy in the public sector because to them...they were miracles. Drugs that could work in a fraction of the time as others. Creams that could reverse damage in a few hours. Nanobots injected in a fluid that could knit flesh together from the inside out faster than any surgeon.

I had no idea he had a stash on my shores.

Gritting my teeth, I nodded. “Use whatever you want. I need to be able to walk. To see. To fight.”

He cleared his throat, taking my right hand and using a pair of tweezers to remove the nails holding the fingerprint sensors against my flesh. “There might be side effects that we can’t foresee.”

“I’m aware.”

Eleanor sucked in a breath. Following our conversation, she understood the risks but wisely stayed silent.

Removing the final nail, Campbell sighed and settled into his task. “In that case...let’s begin.”