Shock and Awe (Enhanced Book 1)

Chapter 16

My brother and I don't get sick. I haven't asked anyone, but I'm pretty sure it has something to do with being Enhanced. We haven't ever been to a hospital for broken bones, or even caught the flu.

So when Kingsley calls to say Forrest is sick, I know something is incredibly wrong.

"I'll be right there," I promise. Hanging up the phone, I look up at my friends and I'm sure my distress is written across my face. "My brother is sick," I tell them. "Kingsley said he has a fever and he's been throwing up. I don't-I don't know what to do. We don't get sick."

Mia rips her keys from her pocket. "Let's go."

I rush over to the passenger side just as she unlocks the doors. Looking back, I see Rowan with a thoughtful expression. "Do you know what's wrong," I ask him.

Snapping out of his daze, Rowan looks up at me and shakes his head. "Uh, no. I don't. I, uh, I have to do something real quick. I'll meet you at his apartment."

I don't respond, just close the door and wait for Mia to start driving. Whatever Rowan has to do, he'll get it done and then find us later. "Go," I command Mia.

She doesn't hesitate before peeling out of the parking lot and down the road toward Forrest's apartment.

My nerves are shot and my stomach is in my throat for the entire drive, and I practically rip the car door off when we arrive. Although Mia tries her hardest, she can't keep up as I sprint into the building and up the stairs.

Once I reach the apartment door, I rip it open without knocking. Immediately, my eyes land on Forrest who looks like he collapsed on the floor somewhere between the kitchen and living room.

Kingsley is hunched over him, brushing a damp rag across his face, but sweat just reappears almost immediately.

Forrest's cheeks are flushed red and I'm pretty sure he is unconscious. One arm is twisted underneath him at an awkward angle like he was rolled over quickly without care for the limb.

"What did you do?" I demand from Kingsley.

He looks up at me, shocked by my outburst. "I didn't do anything! I walked in and he was just laying here. I rolled him over, called you, then got this rag to try and cool his face."

"Look at his arm!"

"Look at him! His arm was the least of my concern! I was just trying to make sure he was breathing first!"

When I established two years ago, part of my official city training was to spend three days with the fire and medical department. I didn't want to go alone, so Mia dressed in a basic suit that Archie whipped up and came with me. We rode around the city all day, observing how to handle different emergencies.

I'm thankful for Mia as she steps in between Kingsley and me.

Her hands are full of plastic zip bags filled to the brim with ice as well as any bag of frozen food she could get from the freezer. "Hey!" She interrupts. "Instead of fighting, how about you get him to the bath tub?" Mia looks from me to Kingsley as she speaks, but I know she is talking to me.

I step forward, reaching down to fix Forrest's arm and place him in a position to lift off the floor.

"Obviously, Mia was talking to me," Kingsley says, bumping me aside before I can lift my brother.

"I can—" I break off just as I realize that me lifting my brother, who happens to have a lot of muscle weight in addition to his overall manly frame, would be suspicious. Kingsley's words aren't harsh, but almost precautionary as he moves me away from my brother — like he doesn't want me to prove that I can do it. "Okay, you do it."