“Teagan, man, we need to do something. He’s getting worse.”
“Be quiet, Davis.” Teagan checked over his shoulder. They weren’t close to Patrick’s hut, but sound had a way of carrying in the jungle.
“Davis is right.” Wallace sat next to Teagan. “It’s been a week since we got back and he’s getting worse by the day. Fuck, by the hour.”
“What do you suggest we do?” Tegan said. “Patrick is in charge and -”
“We’re in the middle of the goddamn jungle. Is the chain of command in our unit something we really need to uphold? Especially when our leader has lost his fucking mind?” Davis asked. “I think it’s time we faced the truth and did something. You should be in charge and we all know it. We’ll back you if -”
“You’re talking about mutiny,” Teagan said.
Davis glanced at Wallace and Teagan shook his head. “Seriously, Wallace? You want to start a fucking mutiny?”
“I don’t want to, but I don’t think we have much choice. You know as well as I do that Patrick isn’t fit to lead. Yesterday, he asked me again to tell me what happened with the locals and to tell him where Vida and Rose were staying. I refused, and he threatened to cut off my fucking ears.”
Teagan stared at him and Wallace nodded. “Duncan was sitting across from us when he said it. Ask him if you don’t believe me.”
“I believe you.” Teagan scrubbed a hand through his dark hair. “Did you tell him?”
“Of course I didn’t. He tried to play it off as a joke, but it wasn’t a fucking joke. He’s desperate to get us behind that wall and listen, man, he ain’t wrong about us needing to be there, but the way he wants to do it is gonna get us all killed. Without Vida and Rose, we don’t stand a chance at -”
“Shut up,” Davis said.
Wallace shut his mouth with a snap as Patrick, followed by Talla, strolled out of his hut. He studied the three of them before whispering something in Talla’s ear. She nodded and moved across the clearing to the table where fruit was piled. As she picked out fruit, Patrick joined them.
“What are you talking about?” He asked.
“The brinos,” Teagan replied. “They came close to the camp last night.”
“Too fucking close,” Wallace said. “I could hear them breathing outside my goddamn hut. I think we need to do something about them. Teagan, Davis and I could dig a pit, lure one toward the pit with some meat. Once it’s in there, we use our spears to -”
“Or, we could simply move behind the wall.” Patrick studied Teagan for a moment. “Both Wallace and Duncan have refused to share intel on your mission last week. What about you, Teag? You care to share?”
“It wasn’t a mission,” Teagan said. “It was a hunt gone wrong. Brian died, remember?”
“I remember. Just proves my point that we should be living behind that wall. But you fuckers refuse to do your part.”
“Patrick, it isn’t -”
“Tell me what happened.”
Teagan sighed. “We’ve told you numerous times, Patrick.”
“Tell me again. Wait – let’s get everyone out here to hear the story this time. What do you think? Talla, get the others.”
Teagan watched as Talla went to each hut. It took only a few minutes for Solomon and Marissa, Doc and Brody, and Daryl and Randy to join them. He glanced up at the tree where Duncan was on watch. The man was watching him solemnly – he knew that Duncan could hear everything that was being said – and he nodded before glancing out into the jungle again.
“Looks like that’s everyone.” Patrick’s voice was deceptively cheerful. “Other than that fat fairy fuck. Where is he anyway? Anyone seen him lately?”
He glanced around at the others. Doc shook his head. “I saw him yesterday at breakfast. Haven’t seen him since.”
Patrick rolled his eyes. “I’d assume he was dead, but that asshole has a fucking horseshoe up his ass. Teagan, you’re up. Tell the others what you told me.”
Teagan cleared his throat. “We made contact with the locals, the day that Brian and Peter died. After we saved Rose and the blowcat from the vines, the islanders surrounded us and took us behind the wall to their village. They think of the blowcat as some sort of god, so the fact that we saved one, made them a little more…open toward us.”
“You’re fucking kidding me.” Brody leaned forward. “Why didn’t you tell us this before?”
“Because they still won’t let us live with them.”
“Why not?” Randy asked.
Teagan glanced at Patrick. Fuck it. Patrick wanted them to know, he’d fucking tell them the truth. “Because when we first got to the island, Patrick and Garrett killed a blowcat for sport and the locals saw them do it.”
The others glanced at Patrick who shrugged. “How were we to know they worshipped the striped fuckers? Tell them the other part.”
Teagan stayed silent for a moment. Fuck, why had he told Patrick about the locals inviting Rose and Vida to stay with them. Wallace and Duncan had told him not to, but he’d wanted to prove something to them. Wanted to make them realize that Patrick was still a good guy.
He’d fucked up.
“Go on, Teag.” Patrick’s tone was mocking.
“Because Rose tried to save the blowcat and Vida killed the pinkie, the locals invited them to live behind the wall.”
Brody released his breath in a harsh rush. “So, Rose is safe.”
“She refused to stay without the rest of us.”
“Jesus, Rose,” Brody groaned. “But she’s safe with Vida, right?”
“Who cares?” Marissa said. “That bitch got us all stuck on this island, who cares if she -”
“That bitch is the key to our survival.” Patrick stroked Talla’s long hair. “We need her and that blue idiot, to get behind the wall. Isn’t that right, Teagan?”
“No,” Teagan said. “It isn’t right. Rose already tried to convince the locals to let all of us stay there. They refused.”
“Maybe she needs to try again.”
“They won’t change their minds,” Wallace said.
“Shut up, Wallace.” Patrick didn’t look at him. “Where in the jungle are Vida and Rose tucked away, Teagan?”
“I told you,” Teagan stared steadily at Patrick, “we don’t know. Vida wouldn’t tell us or show us.”
“Is that right?”
“Yes. Why would he? He’s not stupid, Patrick. He knows what you want to use him for.”
Patrick ran his hand over Talla’s hair again. “That blue asshole don’t know shit. But we need him to help us take the village.”
“What do you mean, ‘take the village’?” Solomon said.
“You know what I mean, mister science man. If we want to survive, if we want to,” Patrick touched Talla’s thigh, “bring new life to this godforsaken rock, we need to take their village. Our only chance against the pinkies and the other dickstick creatures, is the protection of that fucking wall. Our mission is to take it.”
“It doesn’t belong to us,” Solomon said. “We can’t just take it from them.”
“Since when did you give a shit about anyone but yourself?” Randy asked.
“Shut up, Randy,” Solomon said.
“Fuck you. You aren’t my boss anymore,” Randy replied.
“I’ve had just about enough of your fucking attitude. You think just because -”
“I don’t need to listen to any of your shit anymore, Solomon. Keep your damn opinions to yourself about -”
“Like I fucking care. You were nothing but a shit lab tech and you’re still -”
“Both of you shut the fuck up,” Patrick snarled.
His hand rested on the butt of the Glock 19 tucked into his waistband and Teagan frowned. Patrick didn’t have any bullets, just like the rest of them.
Solomon turned on him, his usual pale face bright red with fury. “You know what, Patrick? I’m a little fucking tired of you telling me what to do. We’re not your damn SEALs and if you think you can just -”
“I said, shut the fuck up.” Patrick pulled out his gun and pointed it at Solomon before pulling the trigger.
The sound of the gunfire sent birds squawking from the trees and into the air in a colourful flight of blues and greens. Teagan, his ears ringing, stared blankly at Patrick.
“What the fuck?” Wallace said.
Solomon touched the black hole in the middle of his forehead before blinking slowly.
“Solomon? Baby?” Marissa whispered.
Blood poured from the hole in his forehead and he sank to his knees before collapsing on his face.
“Solomon?” Marissa whispered again.
Doc shook free of Brody’s grip and ran toward Solomon. He flipped him over and pressed his fingers against Solomon’s throat before staring at Teagan. “He’s dead.”
“He’s what?” Marissa said. “He-he’s what?”
“He’s dead,” Doc repeated. “I’m sorry.”
“No,” Marissa fell to her knees next to Solomon, “no, he can’t be dead. Solomon, wake up, baby. Wake up right now.”
She shook him roughly, his head lolled on his neck and already there was a large pool of blood on the ground beneath his head. Marissa began to cry, loud sobs that echoed throughout the jungle.
“Patrick,” shock unfurled in Teagan’s belly, “what did you just fucking do?”
Patrick shrugged and grabbed Talla’s wrist when she started to back away. “Where you goin’, sweetheart?”
She froze, giving him an uncertain look as Teagan stepped toward them. “Patrick, you just fucking killed an unarmed civilian.”
“One less mouth to feed,” Patrick said. “Now, let’s talk about how we’re gonna convince the blue alien to -”
“Where the fuck did you get the bullets?” Davis asked as Marissa’s wails grew louder. “We ran out a week after we fucking got here.”
“No, you ran out,” Patrick had to raise his voice to be heard over Marissa’s sobbing. “I was smart enough to tuck a mag aside just in case.”
“Just in case?” Teagan said. “Just in fucking case? You got what, a full mag? That’s fifteen fucking bullets we could have used to kill the pinkies. We could have set a trap for them, we could have lured them in and ended all of this in a matter of fucking minutes. We’ve spent two fucking years being hunted by those pink bastards when you had a full fucking mag we could have used against them. Instead you’re using it to kill innocent civilians. What the fuck, Patrick? You’ve lost your fucking mind.”
Before Patrick could reply, Marissa staggered to her feet and ran toward him. “You asshole! I’ll kill you! I’ll fucking -”
There was another sharp retort of gunfire and Marissa made a startled cry and stumbled to a stop. She stared at Patrick before crumpling to the ground, blood blooming on the front of her shirt.
Patrick lowered the gun as the others stared wide-eyed at him. Talla tore free of his grip and joined Brody who put his arm around her. Doc knelt next to Marissa. She was gasping harshly and she clutched at his hand with panicky tightness before dragging in one final breath. He felt for her pulse before shaking his head.
They stared silently at Patrick who shrugged. “What?”
“What?” Davis said. “Stop killing people, you fucking psycho.”
Patrick pointed the gun at him. “You keep your fucking mouth shut, Davis.” He glanced up at the tree where Duncan was watching him. “Get your ass down here, Duncan. Leave your sword up there.”
He waited until Duncan had joined them before smiling at Teagan. “Tell me where the blue asshole and that little bitch are, Teag.”
“Patrick, put the gun down. You’re sick and you need help. We can help you, okay?” Teagan took a step toward him, stopping when Patrick pointed the gun at him.
“Shut up, and just tell me where they are.”
“And if I don’t?”
Patrick swung the gun toward Davis. “I’ll kill him.”
Davis curled his lip at him as Teagan shook his head. “No, you won’t, Patrick. Killing civilians is one thing, but you won’t kill one of your team.”
“The mission comes first, then the team,” Patrick said. “Tell me, Teagan.”
“No. Taking over the locals’ home is not the mission. You don’t -”
“This is on you, Teag, not me,” Patrick sighed before shooting Davis in the head.
His body hit the ground with a soft thump and there was a moment of shocked silence before Wallace, cursing non-stop, ran to Davis’ body. He knelt beside him as Duncan and Doc joined him.
“You cocksucking motherfucker!” Wallace snarled as he stood. “I am going to fucking kill you.”
He started toward Patrick, howling angrily when Duncan and Doc grabbed him and held him back. “Let me go, you assholes!” He shouted.
Patrick strode across the sand and pointed the gun at Wallace’s temple. Wallace stilled, and Patrick grinned at Teagan. “Tell me or Wallace is dead.”
“Don’t you fucking tell him, Teag,” Wallace growled.
“Do you want more blood on your hands, Teagan?” Patrick said. “Tell me or I blow Wallace’s brains out.”
“Go ahead and pull the trigger, you festering dick drip,” Wallace sneered. “I’m fucking tired of sweating my nutsack off on this goddamn rock anyway. Keep your mouth shut, Teag.”
“You got until the count of five.” Patrick smiled at Teagan. “One…two…three…four...fi -”
“Wait! Just fucking wait a minute,” Teagan said. “I’ll tell you.”
“Don’t,” Wallace said. “Keep your mouth -”
Teagan winced when Patrick slammed the butt of his gun across Wallace’s face. He dropped to the ground, blood flying from his mouth, as Patrick stepped back and aimed the gun at his head. “Start talking, Teag.”
“They have a cave, not far from the waterfall.”
“Good,” Patrick said. “Was that so hard? Now you’re gonna tell me exactly where this cave is, and the redheaded faggot and I are going to take a little walk while the rest of you stay here. If you’re fucking lying to me, Teag, I’ll make you watch as I cut out Wallace’s tongue. You get it?”
“I’m not lying.”
“Good. Talla, get the rope from the supply hut.”
Talla shook her head and clung to Brody’s arm. Patrick rolled his eyes and pointed the gun at her. “Go, Talla. I don’t want to hurt you, so don’t make me.”
Tears running down her cheeks, she backed toward the hut.
* * *
Yawning hugely, Rose sat up in the bed and pushed her hair back from her face. “Vida? You here?”
There was no answer and she collapsed on her back and stared at the ceiling of the cave. Her growling stomach made her think it was close to supper. Before Vida had taken her to bed, his skin was getting noticeably dry. She had drifted off after sex, no doubt he had gone to the waterfall for both a swim and to rehydrate.
For the last week, they’d gone to the waterfall only during times they were certain that the others wouldn’t be there. Even at that, Vida would often boost her up into a tree and tell her to wait while he went ahead and checked the waterfall for anything dangerous. It made her sad that she had to consider the SEALs dangerous now, but they didn’t have much choice. She stretched gingerly. Her thighs were aching a little and she moved them carefully.
Not just your thighs.
She blushed. No, not just her thighs. Her pussy ached too. She and Vida had had more sex in the last week then she thought was possible. Not that she was complaining. Despite her soreness, she wanted Vida with a deep-seated lust that was almost embarrassing. She’d never had such satisfying sex in her entire life, and she couldn’t get enough of the things Vida did to her.
Yeah, well, maybe you should consider calling an end to the non-stop sex and start learning those survival skills you talked about. You think I don’t know what you’re doing? Do you honestly believe that if you give Vida lots of sex, you’ll change his mind about staying here with you? He had loads of sex on that last world and he didn’t stay. You’re getting better in bed, thanks to him, but you’re not going to convince him to stay with sex. He’s leaving as soon as the next orb arrives.
She curled on her side and stared at the flickering candlelight. Her inner voice was right, but the temptation to just ignore it and keep pretending that Vida would always be here with her, was incredibly strong. It wasn’t just because of the sex either. She had a very bad feeling she was starting to care about Vida for more reasons than just a supernatural ability to make her come repeatedly.
Starting to? Oh, honey, that train left the station days ago. You’re in love with the guy.
She slid out of bed, this time definitely ignoring her inner voice. She wasn’t in love with Vida. She hadn’t known him for long enough to be in love with him. A person didn’t just fall in love with someone that quickly and if they did – there was something wrong with them and they needed psychological help.
Then get your ass to the nuthouse ASAP, because you’re crazier than a fucking bedbug, sweetheart. You love Vida and the thought of never seeing him again makes you sick to your stomach.
Yeah, it did. She grabbed the robe that was on the end of the bed and threw it on before marching toward the bathing chamber. Vida was leaving. She needed to get that through her thick skull. She could have sex with him eight times a day and it wouldn’t be enough.
Vida was leaving.
* * *
Rose returned to the main cave from the bathing chamber, towel-drying her hair as she crossed toward the dresser. She and Vida had done laundry yesterday and while Freida’s clothes were a bit big for her, it was better than having nothing but one shirt and one pair of pants to wear for the rest of her –
“Hello, Rose.”
Her blood turned cold and she dropped the towel, clutching her robe closed as she stared at Patrick. He was standing next to the couch, holding a gun to Brody’s head and smiling at her. “Miss me?”
“How did you find this place?”
He grinned at her. “Your friends betrayed you.”
“No, they didn’t,” Brody said. “They didn’t, Rose.”
“Shut up, faggot,” Patrick said. “Where’s the blue dickhead?”
“He’s gone,” Rose said. “He won’t be back until later tonight.”
“I don’t believe you, but unless he comes back in the next five minutes, it doesn’t really matter. Let’s go, sweetheart.”
“Where?”
“Back to the camp of course.”
“I’m not going with you.”
He pushed the gun against Brody’s temple and Brody made a low moan of fear. “I’ll kill him if you don’t.”
“You don’t have any bullets in that gun.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Rosie-girl.”
“I don’t believe you,” she said.
“Maybe you should ask your douchebag ex-fiance and his whore if there are any bullets in this gun. Oh wait, you can’t. Because I fucking shot them and they’re dead.”
“W-what?” Rose’s mouth dropped open. “Brody, they’re dead?”
He nodded. “Yeah. He killed Davis as well. He’s got bullets, Rosie.”
“I sure do,” Patrick said with a small grin. “You’ve got two minutes to get dressed or Doc’s new boyfriend’s brains will be splattered across your cozy little love nest.”
* * *
“What exactly is your plan, Patrick?” Rose asked. She held Brody’s hand in a tight grip and glanced behind her at the Navy SEAL. “I tried to convince the locals to let all of us live with them. They won’t and that’s your fault.”
Patrick shrugged. “That’s where your blue boyfriend comes in. Once he realizes that I’ll kill you if he doesn’t help me, he’ll be more than willing to help me take their village.”
“There’s too many of them. Even with Vida’s help, you won’t take their village,” Rose said.
“We’ll see.”
She chewed on her bottom lip. “Vida doesn’t care about me the way you think he does. He won’t help you even if you use me as a bargaining chip.”
Patrick snorted, and she glared at him. “It’s true. He’s planning on leaving the island the next time an orb shows up. I’m not invited to go with him. The only thing he wants me for is sex.”
“You’d better hope not,” Patrick said, “or you’re useless to me, sweetheart. And I’ve got a new policy on what I do with useless people. Just ask Solomon and Marissa.”
He laughed and the genuine amusement in it chilled her to the bone. She squeezed Brody’s hand and he gave her a sick look before squeezing back. “It’ll be okay, Rosie.”
She nodded. Vida hadn’t really been teaching her survival skills yet, but he had begun to teach her how to find her way around the damn jungle. She was pretty certain they were close to the waterfall. If they could somehow get away from Patrick, they could run to the waterfall. Vida would be there.
He’s got a gun, Rose. How are you going to get away from him?
She had no idea, but there had to be something. Some way to –
“What the fuck is that?” Brody said.
He was staring to his left and when Patrick took a step closer and peered into the jungle, Brody dropped Rose’s hand. She glanced at him, her stomach dropping at the look on his face.
She shook her head frantically, but it was too late. As Patrick made a grunt of annoyance and reached out to cuff Brody on the back of the head, the redhead turned and tackled the larger man.
“Brody!” Rose screamed as he wrestled for the gun. Patrick headbutted him and Brody howled in pain but held grimly to the gun.
Rose grabbed a baseball-sized rock and ran toward the wrestling, cursing men. The gun went off and something whistled by her ear, so close it made her hair move. Her eyes widened, and she turned to see the bullet embedded in the tree behind her. She kept moving forward, but before she could try and brain Patrick with the rock, the gun went off with another loud bang. Brody staggered back.
“Rose?” She could barely hear him over the ringing in her ears. “I – my leg.”
She stared down at his leg, the blood pouring from it made her stomach drop, and she grabbed on to him as he fell. He dragged her to the ground and she pressed her hand over the wound in his thigh.
“Hold on, Brody. You’ll be fine. We’ll get you to Doc and you’ll be just fine.”
“Yeah,” he muttered. “Fine.”
“Actually,” Patrick took a couple of steps toward them and grinned. “You’re already dead, you just don’t know it yet.”
He pointed the gun at Brody and Rose threw herself in front of him. “Patrick, don’t! Please. Just let me put on a tourniquet and get him back to Doc. Please, Patrick. He doesn’t have to die. Give me the chance to…”
Patrick’s head cocked, and he turned around just as the brino came lumbering out of the jungle behind him.
“Fuck!” He fired the gun twice at the massive beast, hitting it in the chest and abdomen. The beast didn’t slow, just roared angrily and slammed into him, knocking him into a tree.
“Brody! Get up!” Rose muttered into the redhead’s ear before standing and putting her arms around his waist. “Up. Now.”
He groaned but climbed to his feet. She ducked under his arm and threw her arm around his waist as the brino roared again. He wasn’t paying attention to them. Instead, his beady black eyes were trained on Patrick who was staggering to his feet and wiping away the blood dripping into his eyes from the cut over his forehead.
As the brino charged toward Patrick, Rose turned and half-dragged Brody toward the waterfalls. Groaning and panting, he hobbled and hopped along beside her as Patrick screamed in pain and the brino made a third roar. There were three more shots, each one ringing across the jungle. Rose dragged Brody to his feet when he stumbled and fell.
They ran, wobbled, weaved their way toward the waterfall. Rose cried out when Brody fell again and shook his head when she tried to heave him to his feet.
“No, can’t do it. Go without me, Rosie.”
“No fucking way,” Rose puffed. She pulled off her shirt, wrapped it around Brody’s leg just above the gunshot wound, and tied it in a tight knot. The blood flowing from his leg began to slow and Rose breathed a sigh of relief.
“Go, Rosie,” Brody groaned again.
“No. It’s bleeding but I don’t think it hit your femoral artery which means you’re going to be just fine as soon as I get you to Doc. But we need to get to the waterfall. Vida will be there and he’ll help us. Okay?”
“Maybe the brino killed Patrick. Think we could be that lucky?”
“Maybe,” Rose said. “But either way, we need to get to the waterfall. C’mon, you can do it. I know you -”
The hair on the back of her neck stood when they heard Patrick’s laughter.
“Fuck,” Brody groaned under his breath. “That asshole’s still alive.”
“Rooo-sieeee. Come out, come out wherever you are.”
The high-pitched madness in Patrick’s voice sent fresh adrenaline skittering through her.
“Goddammit, Brody, get the fuck up now!” She said in a harsh whisper.
“I can’t,” Brody said. “I’m sorry. I can’t fucking walk on it. It hurts too much, and I’ll just slow you down. Go.”
She looked around in desperation before standing and moving behind Brody. She hooked her hands under his armpits and ignoring his groan of pain, dragged him back toward a large bush. Ignoring the mosquitos buzzing in her ears, she pulled and heaved on him until he was half under the bush.
“Wiggle back,” she whispered as she moved around him. She pushed on his good leg, helping him to slide under the bush under he was completely hidden.
“Roooo-sieeeee. Where are you, sweetheart? You know I can follow the trail of blood from your faggot friend, right?”
Fuck, he was close.
“Stay there,” she whispered to Brody. “I’m going to draw him away.”
“Rosie, no! Don’t!”
She ignored Brody and stepped away from the bush. She put her hands around her mouth and hollered. “Fuck you, you chickenshit asshole! You’re a disgrace to the fucking SEALs, you know that? Letting a woman get the fucking best of you.”
Patrick bellowed in pure fury and she turned and darted away just as he came limping into view and covered in blood. “I’m gonna hurt you so bad for that, you fucking cunt!”
“You’ll have to catch me first, asshole!” She shouted before running full speed for the waterfall. She ran for her life, arms pumping at her sides and her head up. Patrick was in good shape, but the blood on him suggested he’d been injured, and she steadily pulled away from him.
She burst out of the jungle and scanned the waterfall frantically. Vida was nowhere in sight and her heart, already thumping like a frightened rabbit, cranked up another notch. Fuck, what did she do now?
She caught a flash of blue in the pool and her eyes widened. “Vida!” If he was underwater, he wouldn’t have heard the gunshots or her screaming. She ran into the water, searching it desperately as she waded further in.
“Vida!” She screamed. “Vida, help me!”
She was almost to the spot where she’d seen the blue. The water was chest deep now and she was close to the drop off. She surged forward, already the coldness of the water was turning her lips blue and making her body shake, and reached under the water. “Vida, are you – shit!”
Her hands pulled up some blue coloured weeds and she tossed them aside before screaming in fear and frustration.
“Rose, what’s a pretty girl like you doing on an island like this?”
She turned, her lungs freezing up and her pulse pounding, before she dragged in a lungful of oxygen.
Patrick was standing at the edge of the water and smiling at her. “Not a smart move going into the water, sweetheart. You know I’m a SEAL right?”
“Come in and get me then,” she spat at him.
He shook his head and blood flew from the cut on his forehead. “Wish I could, Rose, but that brino did a real number on me. Might have even broken some ribs, if I’m being truthful. Lucky for you, huh? You would never have made it this far, if it hadn’t.”
Rosie didn’t reply, and he raised the gun and aimed it at her. “Come out of the water. I don’t want to kill you, but I will.”
“No, you won’t,” she said, but backed up anyway. “You need me.”
He shrugged. “You’re not wrong. But if you don’t come out, I will come in, broken ribs and all.”
She shuffled back until the water was at her chin and Patrick gave her a sharp look. “Stop moving, Rose. You’re close to the drop off and I know you can’t swim. The last thing I fucking need is you drowning. Come out of the pool and I promise you won’t be hurt.”
“F-fuck you.”
He laughed. “Such spirit. I can wait here all day, sweetheart, if I have to. How much longer do you think you’ll survive in that cold of water. Hmm?”
“V-vida will rescue me.”
“Maybe. Or maybe he won’t get here in time.” Patrick waded into the pool until the water was at his knees. He continued to aim the gun at her as his other hand pressed against his ribs. “Get your ass over here now.”
She shook her head and he sighed and walked toward her. “Fine, we’ll do this the fucking hard way.”
“St-stay away from me!” She glanced behind her, panic clawing at her insides. She could tread water thanks to Vida, but even if she went past the drop off and even if she managed to not panic and keep her head above the water, Patrick would just swim out to her.
“You should know that I’m very displeased with your inability to cooperate.” Patrick moved forward relentlessly, despite his injuries. “We’ll need to have a very long talk about – Rose! Goddammit!”
He watched in dismay as Rose took another step back, her arms flailed wildly, and she made a strangled cry before she disappeared under the water.