Chapter 114 Not Much Longer
Kelly had to know.
Was Zev alive? Or had they found His body?
They said they found him. But what did that mean? Had they found a pulse or just another corpse?
“He’s alive…”
Gary’s voice wavered, thick with emotion.
The words hit Kelly like a punch to the gut.
He was alive–but hearing it only ripped her apart more.
“Kelly?” Melody’s voice was soft, full of worry.
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It was rush hour. The highway was a mess, cars stacked up like sardines. Kelly couldn’t take it anymore. She hung up the phone, shoved open the door, and rushed out of the car.
She couldn’t wait. Not another second.
“Kelly!” Melody shouted, hurrying after her.
Oscar, having gotten the same news, stood still for a moment.
He watched Kelly, running ahead, knowing exactly why she’d snapped.
Zev had been found–but the situation was grim.
At the military hospital, the chaos was in full swing.
By the time Kelly arrived, Zev had just been transferred. His body was a bloody mess–his legs mangled, his face covered in grime and blood.
Kelly couldn’t even tell if he was alive anymore.
She froze, her legs betraying her.
The trembling hit hard.
She was a doctor–she should have known how to stay calm–but now, she could hardly breathe.
“He’s not breathing! Blood in the nose! Possible skull fracture!”
“Intubate him! Clarence, where are you? Mechanical ventilation, stat! Get the central line started!”
The doctors moved like a well–oiled machine, their commands sharp and urgent. The air in the ER was thick with the metallic scent of blood.
“Arterial line, now! Blood pressure monitoring, invasive!”
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“Get the ventilator in here! What are you waiting for?!
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The emergency team rushed to save him, but Kelly could only stand frozen in place, her eyes locked on the broken form lying on the gurney.
The tall, strong man who had always been invincible now looked fragile, too fragile.
She couldn’t stop herself.
Her gaze wavered, and tears fell. She had to turn away, but it was too late. Her tears spilled, uncontrolled.
She had always thought Zev was invincible, untouchable–he’d survived the worst.
Back in Solmaris, through all the battles, he always came out unscathed. But now? This wasn’t the Zev she knew. This wasn’t the man who could withstand anything.
The technical language the doctors spoke was lost on most, but Kelly understood all too well what it
meant.
“He’s a fighter,” Gary said, his voice thick with emotion. He held on long enough for us to find him… he’s unbelievable.”
Gary hadn’t expected this outcome.
He wasn’t sure how to face Kelly or what to say to the Lockharts.
And Wade? That remained a secret.
“His vitals are stabilizing, but we need the tests–now!”
“Zev…” Kelly ran to the side of the bed, her voice breaking. She stared at him, his face barely recognizable. “Please, Zev… you can’t leave me. You have to live.”
They rushed him to the CT room, and Kelly sank to the floor, tears streaming down her face as she whispered desperate prayers.
He couldn’t die. Not like this. Not now.
“Wha t… what happened to him?” After the tests, they wheeled Zev into surgery.
Kelly’s voice was barely a whisper now, hoarse from the hours of crying. Her eyes were swollen, her body drained. She needed answers.
“You don’t… you don’t want to know,” Gary said, shaking his head.
“No,” Kelly insisted, locking eyes with him. “I have to know. Tell me.”
“They were protesting, tormenting him,” Gary began, his voice faltering.
“Lucas didn’t know Zev was undercover, but he knew he was a traitor. They broke his legs, cut his skin bit by bit; beat him over and over, poured salt into his wounds… used a wrench to snap his fingers. They made him suffer–no one should have to endure that. And they didn’t want him to die quickly. They wanted him to suffer, to linger, until he couldn’t take any more.”
Kelly’s heart twisted in her chest.
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Chapter 114 Not Much Longer
She knew Lucas‘ methods–she had seen them before.
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She had once been forced to inject adrenaline into a victim during one of Lucas‘ tortures, haunted by the nightmares that followed for months.
But to hear that Zev had been subjected to this?
It made her stomach churn.
“When we found him, he was still aware. Barely,” Gary’s voice cracked. “He was calling your name … Kelly … he kept calling your name.”
Kelly’s legs gave way, and she slid down the wall, tears falling like rain. Her chest tightened.
“If Zev dies… if he dies, I swear I’ll kill him,” she whispered through gritted teeth, her heart burning with fury.
The rage, the hatred–it all swirled inside her, a storm she was losing control of.
She felt as if her very soul were breaking apart.
She pulled at her hair, her body trembling with the sobs that wracked her.
She wanted to make Beau pay.
“Zev… he said… you almost killed Lucas once, Kelly. You’ve been so brave,” Gary murmured softly, trying to comfort her.
“He’ll die in my hands,” Kelly said, her voice trembling.
“He’ll die in my hands, and I won’t be able to stop it.”
When Oscar and Melody arrived, they found Kelly kneeling on the ground.
Her eyes were bloodshot, her face pale, and her body seemed to be barely holding on.
“They tortured him for at least a week. His bones are healing, but five ribs are broken… all his fingers crushed. He has internal bleeding. His mind is clouded, and his kidneys are failing. You need to prepare yourselves…”
The doctor’s voice cracked as he spoke, holding up the CT scans. “The chances aren’t good. He might not make it.”
The weight of his words hung in the air. It was clear–the fight to save him was slipping away.
“But… he’s still fighting. There’s a chance, Maybe…”
The doctor’s voice faltered, but his hope was small, faint.
Maybe there was hope. But Kelly knew better. Miracles didn’t happen that easily.
Zev had endured too much. Even someone as strong as him couldn’t go on forever.
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“Zev…” Kelly whispered, her voice weak. “If it hurts too much… just let go. Don’t fight it. Please…”
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If life was too painful to live, then it was better to stop struggling.
She begged him–please, just let go.
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