Page 42 of Resist

“In the stairwell between level four and—”

“I’m on my way.”

He disconnected the call, and I swear he was launching himself up the stairs to where I was stranded by the time I’d even put my phone down on the step beside me.

“Shit! Are you okay?” He knelt down and placed his hands on either side of my face. “Are you hurt? Did you hit your head?”

I opened my mouth to answer him but was muted by the distress in his eyes, the kind you had for a loved one. The kind he shouldn’t have for me.

It was both calming and unsettling.

“No, my head is fine. I’m fine. I mean it hurts like hell when I put pressure on it, and I can’t walk on my own, but I’m … okay, I guess.”

He ran his hand down my leg ever so gently and lifted my foot onto his lap. “Do you want me to remove your shoe?”

“No, not here.” I moved my leg off his lap. “I think I can walk if you help me.”

Gathering up my phone, I placed it in my pocket and attempted to stand, crying out once again.

“That’s enough. Come here.” Lucas reached out and slid one hand behind my back and the other under my thighs.

“What are you doin—?”

“Carrying you.”

“No! I can walk. I just need to lean on you a little.”

He smiled, sincere and kind. “Helena, you can lean on me all you like, whenever you like. But right now, I’m not letting you walk another inch on that foot.”

Never in my life had I wanted to kiss the life right out of a man like I did in that moment. His concern, his chivalry, … the way his eyes comforted me like a strong, protective hug, it was all too much.

“Thank you,” I sighed, giving in.

“Now put your arms around my neck and hold tight.” He lifted me with ease, the sudden elevation making me a little light-headed.

“Where to?”

“Huh?”

“What’s your room number?”

“You’re not taking me there. We need to go to the banana room.”

“Don’t be silly. You need to go to your room and rest your foot.”

“Lucas, we need to work on your routine if we’re gonna have it polished enough for Darwin.”

“Fine. We’ll work on it in your room.”

“What? No!”

“Got a better idea?”

I didn’t, other than the banana room, which was already starting to piss me off with just its name.

“Fine. Room 1717.”

Lucas headed up the stairs, exited the stairwell and stopped at the elevator. The doors opened and to my complete mortification, Matthew, Brad, Noah, and Josh were inside.