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I looked at Zeke again. My chest ached, and I rubbed my sternum. I couldn’t leave him like this.

Ash grabbed my hand when I took a step forward. “What are you doing?”

“I can’t leave him like this.”

“He can be unpredictable like this.”

I shook my head. “He won’t hurt me.”

Zeke didn’t seem like he’d hurt a fly, and something in my gut told me he’d never harm me. He’d been there for me in my grief. I couldn’t live with myself if I abandoned him now.

I pulled away from Ash and limped toward Zeke, trying to keep my steps slow and soft. When I stood behind him, I kept my voice low and called his name.

He flinched.

“Can I sit with you?”

He shifted as if to make room for me to sit beside him, but the elevator groaned and wobbled. The lights cut out, and the air stirred next to me as feet shuffled across the floor.

“Rae?”

“I’m fine,” I said as the lights came on and I caught Ash’s worried expression.

I glanced over to see Zeke standing in the other corner with his back pressed against the wall, hands white-knuckling the railing. His wild eyes darted from me to Ash.

“Zeke,” Ash whispered.

Zeke whimpered, squeezing his eyes shut.

Ash stepped forward. “We just want to help. Cyn will be here soon, but let us help for now.”

“No!” Zeke’s eyes flew open, and he looked between us, trembling. His chest rose and fell with labored breaths. “Don’t come!” His hands went to his head, and he tilted his face to the ceiling. “Don’t come. Don’t come. Don’t come.”

His low moan of agony pierced my heart.

I met Ash’s eyes. I couldn’t let this continue.

Ignoring Zeke’s repeated pleas, I rushed forward, forcing down the pain radiating from the wound on my thigh, and wrapped my arms around his torso, squeezing him.

He jolted at the contact, words cutting off as he froze, staring down at me.

I lifted my head and looked up into tortured eyes.

It broke my heart.

When it didn’t seem like he’d run away from me, I unwound my arms from his back and lifted my hands to the sides of his face. “I’m here,” I whispered, thumbs brushing his cheeks. “You’re not alone. No one is going to hurt you here.”

His wide, wild-eyed gaze darted around the elevator, landing on Ash.

“We’ll always protect you,” Ash said, voice low and measured.

Zeke looked down at me, and I watched his eyes turn glassy as he returned from wherever his trauma had dragged him. His breath hitched before he released a pitiful moan and collapsed to his knees, taking me with him.

He clutched me to his chest as he sobbed, shoulders heaving as he gripped me like I was his only lifeline.

I placed my hand on his chest and curled against him, allowing him to hold on to me for support until his heartache softened and only the sounds of sniffles remained in the quiet elevator. When I tried to lift my head, he clutched me tighter. If he needed me with him until we got out of the enclosed space, I’d stay. No one deserved to suffer the way he had.

I hated Ezra’s father for what he’d done to Zeke.