“It hurts. Please.”
His breaths came fast as he panted, thrashing again.
A bloodcurdling scream launched from his lips as I rushed to his side, pulling him close.
“Rev,” I called out softly, hoping not to scare him with my presence.
His answering howl of pain shredded my heart. Butt cheeks clenched, and he held his hands in place, blinking as his chest rose and fell. Awareness slowly crept in, but he didn’t pull his hands away. “Can’t breathe.”
Shit!
Rev shook, his body caught in a fierce jolt, and then stilled. Eyes wide in panic, he didn’t take a breath. His muscles locked up, preventing his chest from moving.
“Diablo,” he barely managed to whisper, fingers bent at odd angles as he stared into my face.
“Breathe, my man. I’m here. You’re safe,” I promised.
“Can’t,” he choked.
“In through your nose and out of your mouth. Do it. Watch me.”
Inhale . . . Exhale . . .
Rev shook his head.
“With me. Inhale.” I pulled air into my lungs as Rev watched, his chest rattling with the effort. “Exhale.” I pushed the air out.
“I’ve got you, Rev. I swear it.”
His chest rattled with a cough, panicked eyes finding my face, desperate to drag air into his frightened lungs.
“Breathe for me, my man.”
A strangled moan left his mouth.
“Copy me. Do the same as my lungs.”
Inhale . . . Exhale . . .
Rev tried . . . andfailed. His lips turned blue.
“Feel my chest rise and fall? Air in. Air out. You can do it, Rev. You’re panicking. Focus on me.”
His chest finally let in air with a tiny rasp.
“Breathe.”
Inhale . . . Exhale . . .
On a night like this one, over a decade earlier, I held a trembling child in my arms. My boy. Thunder.
Our connection pulsed, and my Reaper sensed his melancholy.
Come back to me,I pleaded in my head.Don’t stay away too long, son.
Thunder had his reasons for remaining in the den of vipers.
Right now, I could only focus on where fate led me, or the Reaper, I should say. He always knew where I could make a difference, first with my Thunder. Now, with Rev.