Alissa
Nate pulled over about fifteen minutes outside of the city and unhooked me from the IV line. Tony’s color was coming back, though he was still paler than normal. I assisted Nate while he healed Tony’s many wounds. He said he believed Tony’s condition was too serious to wait until we made it back to the maze. Nate carefully cleaned and cauterized each wound, then surgically removed Tony’s damaged finger and sealed the wound shut.
Finally, Nate glanced up at me, his face lined with strain. “He still needs more blood, but I don’t think you can give him anymore without harming yourself.”
I’d had a couple of dizzy spells over the past few minutes, so I didn’t argue. But Nate was wounded. “You’ve barely recovered from your own injuries,” I pointed out. “Not to mention you have a fresh knife wound. You can’t afford to lose any more blood right now.”
Nate’s gaze turned serious. “If Tony doesn’t get more blood, he could die. Besides, he could use an immune system boost that only another dreg’s blood can give him. So I’ll do it. I have to.”
Nate would be putting his own life in danger if he gave blood to Tony, but what choice did he have? There was no one else here. It was him or me, and he was a dreg. He was a lot stronger than me. Tony’s life might depend on it.
“Let me check your knife wound first.”
He grimaced and glanced down at his side. I urged him onto the seat. Nate stayed still while I cleaned the wound and put a bandage over it. “How’s that?” I asked.
“Much better.” Our gazes met.
Neither one of us spoke while I hooked Nate up to the IV line and he donated more blood to Tony. Gradually, after about ten minutes, Tony’s color was almost back to normal. But Nate was now getting pale, so I clamped the line.
“That’s enough. Any more and you’re going to pass out.”
Nate leaned his head back against the seat. “Let me just sit here for a moment. Will you check Tony’s vitals?” He was obviously weaker than he let on. Had the blood transfusion been too much for him? I knew Nate would give his life for Tony, but I certainly didn’t want him to. Nate closed his eyes while I checked Tony’s vitals.
“His blood pressure is still low, but not as bad as it was. And his body temperature is coming up. I don’t think we can do anything else right now.” I squeezed Nate’s hand.
Nate opened his eyes. “Thank you, Alissa.”
I nodded, my eyes filling with tears. We’d saved Tony. We’d brought him back. We’d both given him blood to help keep him alive. It was truly a miracle. Back at the warehouse, he’d had no heartbeat. No breaths. But between the two of us, we’d brought him back. We’d saved him.
“We make a great team, don’t we?” My voice wobbled with emotion. I blinked back tears.
Nate set the medical bag on the floor. Then he pulled me into his arms, hugging me tightly. And we just sat there for a long moment, holding each other. Sharing our victory. Thankful Tony was alive.
At last, Nate set me away. “Let’s get back to the maze so we can get Tony comfortable. He’s got numerous contusions all over his body, so he’s going to be sore and bruised for a while. You’ll have to drive. I’m too weak.”
“Okay. You just stay back here with Tony.”
I went back around and slid behind the wheel.
Nate’s phone rang. He directed me to go ahead and answer it.
“Did you make it out?” came Tracker’s deep voice over the car’s speakers.
“Yeah,” Nate answered. “Did you all get out?”
“We did, though not unscathed. Luke took a hit, and so did Logan. The rest of us are fine. The bullets went clean through. We wrapped them tightly. They should be okay until we get back to the maze where you can treat them. Jacob became the phantom again and took out another fifteen or twenty of them. He saved our asses. Then a couple of soldiers came and helped us get out. They said you sent them. Thanks, man. If they hadn’t arrived when they did, we might not have made it out.”
A moment of silence stretched while we all contemplated that. Then Tracker asked, “How’s Tony?”
“He’s doing better,” Nate said. “Alissa and I both gave him blood and his color is back now. I cleaned and sealed all his wounds. He lost his pinkie finger, but I think he’ll be fine in a few days.”
Tracker let out a sigh of relief. “We’ll meet you back at the maze.”
I drove the Escalade back out onto the road. The vehicle had taken a severe beating over the past few days. Bullet holes. Broken windows. Dents. Scrapes. It would need extensive body work and new glass throughout. But it was mechanically unharmed and would get us safely home.
Nate kept a close watch over Tony the entire way back to the maze. I kept looking at them in the rearview mirror, assuring myself they were both still alive.
“We’re okay,” Nate told me, many times. “You just get us home.”
Tonight had been an emotional, action-packed night, one I would never forget.
Romeo was finally dead. I’d stabbed him, then Nate had finished him off. I would never have to worry about him again. I was proud of myself.
I’d kicked ass. I had no doubt I was worthy of Nate now.
So I did exactly what he suggested.
I got us all home.