Page 79 of Overdose

All I see is Brynn—breathing but gone, soul already evacuated.

But this?

This is Blair.

And I’ll be goddamned if I let her become another ghost in my fucking collection.

Not her. Not this time.

“Blair,” I choke out, dropping to my knees beside her. My blade’s out before I register it, sawing through the zip ties like they’re tissue. My hands are shaking so hard I almost miss. I cup her face. She’s still warm, but barely. Her chest rises but it’s shallow. Weak.

“Blair, come on, baby. Stay with me. Look at me.” My voice cracks. “Please.”

She doesn’t move.

“DAGGER!” I roar, voice raw, shredded, like it’s been clawed out of my chest.

He barrels in behind me, blade dripping, shoulders heaving like he ran through hell to get here. His eyes hit Blair, and everything in him jolts. It’s subtle, a half-second glitch in his fury, but I see it. The war drops for a breath. The man underneath breaks.

Then it’s back.

“Is she?—?”

“Not yet,” I grind out, hands flying as I cut the last zip tie. “But fuck—she’s close. Fuck, look what they did to her, man. She’s barely hanging on. If we don’t move now, we’re gonna fucking lose her.”

His jaw locks. Muscles flex like he wants to punch the wall or kill someone. Instead, he nods once—sharp, fast.

“Get her in the car,” he snaps, already backing toward the door. “Now. Go.”

We don’t run, we fucking fly. Up the stairs, past bodies, the blood and all the fucking chaos we left behind. Stone and Link are covering the exit, guns still smoking, eyes wide as we burst through the main door.

They don’t ask questions. They see her and they know we have to fucking move.

I yank open the passenger door, shove the seat forward. Dagger’s already there—blood-slick, breath ragged, eyes locked on her like the world’s ending. He climbs into the back, boots slamming the floor, hands out.

“Fucking give her to me,” he growls.

I hesitate for half a second—just one—but then I lower her into his arms, careful like she’s made of glass. His hands catch her, cradling her against his chest like she’s the last real thing left on this fucked-up planet.

Then I’m gone.

I slam the door shut, round the hood, and throw myself into the driver’s seat. Key in. Engine roars to life. I don’t look back—I can’t. I just drive. Hard. Fast. Tires scream as I rip onto the street, headed straight for the hospital like the road might crack open beneath us.

Dagger’s voice breaks. Shattered. “I swear to God, Blair—don’t. Don’t you fucking do this to me.”

From the driver’s seat, I glance back, and I know.

I know the second her body jerks.

Once.

Then again.

She’s going under.

“Shit,” Dagger growls, fumbling inside his jacket. “No, no—don’t you fucking dare?—”

“What are you doing?” I bark, hands tightening on the wheel. “What the fuck is that?”