Chapter 195

#Chapter 195 – Between life and death Moments after I meet Rafe on the field, a group of us are rushing back towards the house. Rafe is shouting commands down the line of the radio on his shoulder, ordering one of the re-fueled helicopters to come to the back lawn.

I’m at the head of the group, leading the way back to the house, Rafe behind me, a collection of medics moving swiftly behind him, carrying their medical packs and a stretcher. My boys trail after the medics, holding each other’s hands.

They were quite brave before – upstairs, when they did their jobs in the interrogation of my father and Joyce. But now, I know that they’re wondering the same thing I am. Was it worth it? Was it worth the extra time it took, to discredit them – to end the war?

Or should we have just used the time to concentrate on getting Victor out?

Or, on just saying our goodbyes?

I feel my face drain of color at the idea and push myself faster through the door of the house, down the hallway, down the stairs, into the basement.

I don’t let myself think it. Don’t let it even be a possibility. That he might have…

While we were gone…

I sprint to the back of the room, gasping as I arrive at the open door to Victor’s cell –

He’s there, of course, but so pale –

I fall to my knees next to him, taking his cold face in my hands, whispering his name –

But there…yes. His eyes are closed, but I feel the faint puff of his breath against my fingers as they press against his lips.

He’s still breathing, barely – but he’s here.

I look directly at Rafe, who kneels next to me minutes later.

“He’s still alive,” I say, terrified.

“Good,” Rafe says, taking me by the arm and beginning to stand. I work to shake him off but he looks at me seriously. “Let them do their work, Evelyn,” he says, nodding to the medics.

I glance at them and understand. Then, I allow Rafe to help me to my feet and step back. I’ll only be in their way if I stay as close to Victor as I want to. As I feel myself needing to be.

The medics fall to their work, getting on their knees on either side of Victor. They check his vitals and work to see if they can move him, but any movement elicits a groan from him. They murmur softly to each other, working quickly, but I can see by the expressions on their faces that it isn’t good.

Not that I thought it was. I don’t need a medical degree to know that Victor’s situation is dire.

My boys come and stand with me then, one on each side, and I drape my arms over their shoulders.

The three of us stand perfectly still as the medics come to their decision.

“He needs to get to a hospital immediately,” the young woman leading them says, looking up at Rafe and I. The other medics work to bandage him while she speaks. “We’re going to patch him up as best we can, as quickly as we can, and then move him to the stretcher. Then we’re going to get him upstairs so we can airlift him.”

I nod, letting her know that I understand, and she turns back to her work.

The team is well-trained and they work quickly. I don’t say a word as I watch them – I don’t even think I blink, or breathe.

The worst moment is when they have to lift Victor to slip the stretcher beneath him. Victor lets out a heavy groan that makes Rafe cover his face with his hand, that makes Alvin’s hand snap up and grab mine. I just stay perfectly still, my eyes trained to his form.

But it’s done in what feels like a second. They secure the straps and then the head medic looks to me, nodding. I nod back and head out of the cell, my boys at my side. I don’t look back to check – I know that Rafe and the medics follow behind me.

Together, the group of us head back out onto the lawn. The chopper is waiting there, its blades spinning. It’s not a medical helicopter at all – just one of Victor’s small military helicopters. As we move towards it, I know there won’t be room for all of us.

I feel the eyes of Victor’s troops on us as we move. They are a silent mass, but I can almost feel their sadness, their worry, their support. Victor has done so much for them, for these members of his pack.

Given them jobs, livelihoods, purpose. He would never, ever abandon them as my father was prepared to abandon his Betas.

And they would never abandon him. Not willingly.

Their silent support is a small boost to my tired mind and heart as we cross the field and the medics start to load Victor into the helicopter.

The head medic turns to Rafe and I. “We can take one of you,” she says, looking between us. “The helicopter can’t handle more weight than that. Just me, and one of you.”

Rafe looks to me, instantly decided. “You go,” he says, and gestures around to the waiting troops. “I’ll stay here, clean up this mess.”

“Okay,” I say, agreeing – grateful that he didn’t fight me for it. Because there’s no chance in hell I’m leaving Victor’s side for even a moment until he gets into that hospital. “My mother and sister – they’re upstairs. They’ll take care of the boys, they’ll bring them to…wherever we are.”

Rafe nods and pulls a phone out of his pocket, handing it to me. “Keep in touch,” he says, and then hesitates, looking at his brother. But then he briskly shakes his head. “No goodbyes,” he says, his jaw tight. “It’s not time for that. Not today.”

Impulsively, I throw my arms around Rafe’s tall form – almost as tall as his brother’s, almost as strong.

“Thank you,” I murmur, my forehead against his chest. He hesitates a moment and then wraps his arms around me.

He lets me go after just a moment and gives me a nod.

I fall to one knee to wrap each of my boys in a hug next.

“I’m going with daddy,” I say quietly, looking each of them in their big brown eyes. “You’ll stay with Uncle Rafe, and then Aunt Emma will bring you to the hospital as soon as we know which one. Okay?”

Ian nods, his mouth pinched but his face strong. Alvin just stares at me with tears in his eyes.

“I need you both to be very brave, okay?” I say, working hard to fight against the tears that threaten to fill my own eyes. But they need to see me leave here strong, confident. So, I hold my tears inside.

They nod to me and I stand up, walking over to the helicopter, not looking back. The head medic holds out a hand, helping me climb into the helicopter and then jumping in herself. She pulls the door closed behind us.

The space is tiny – there’s barely room for us on either side of Victor, and then the two pilots up front.

She climbs over Victor’s pale, still form and nods to the pilot, who begins the take-off process.

The medic hands me a pair of headphones. I smile my thanks at her and drape them around my neck, but I don’t put them on. I don’t want any distractions.

The helicopter takes off, heading through the skies faster than I think I’ve ever moved in my life. I hold Victor’s hand as the tiny aircraft sways. The medic does good work, holding him still, making sure his vitals stay steady.

She slips a plastic mask over his face and spins the valve on a tube of oxygen, making it easier for him to breathe. Then, she looks at me and nods. She’s done all that she can. Now it’s up to him.

I lean my face down close to Victor’s, closing my eyes and staying very still, trying to…I don’t know what I’m trying to do. Trying to give him my strength, if that’s possible, to let him know that I’m close to him, to be strong for him.

I have no idea if it works, but either way. I try.

He is so still, so pale. My stomach clenches when I look at him. I can tell, even just by sight, that he’s almost gone from this world.

“Don’t give up, Victor,” I say, my voice a whisper next to his ear. “Please hold on.”

Ever so slightly, I feel his fingers tighten in my hand.