Strung Out (Needles and Pins #1) by Lyrica Creed Page A

pocketknife, loose change and other items likely pulled from his pockets before he’d undressed. A whiskey bottle and empty glass were near.
    I was truly falling down a rabbit hole. I’d known he had his vices but had never dreamed there were so many of such a degree.

Chapter 16

    “W hat do I do? What do I do in the meantime?”
Scaarleette…
    “Are you right there with him?”
Coollttt…
    “Yeah. I just got back in here. In the bathroom.”
Scaarleette…
    “Okay. Hold tight. Keep me on the line. And keep checking his pulse. I’m dialing the doc right now. And I’m on my way.”
Coollttt
…
    “How long will it take his doctor? I don’t? I don’t call nine-one-one?”
Scaarleette…
    “Don’t! You were right not to. Just tell me if his pulse changes and if it does—Hi, Mac! It’s Colt Powers. I’m calling about Gage. I think he OD’d. At his house.”
    Diid I? Fucking serriouslly?
    “I’ll be right there. Who else have you called?”
Dr. McKennly, thank God…
    “No one. He has a pulse, but barely. I’ll have someone at the gate and the door. Please hurry—”
Coollttt…
    Put Rascal uuup. He hates Mac. Acts all vicious with himmmm
…
    “Twenty minutes max. I’ll be there. Is he breathing?”
Dr. Mac…
    Am I? Breathing? Or am I dead, hovering in spirit form…
    “Scarla?”
Coollttt…
    “Um, I can’t feel or see him breathe. But he has a pulse. It’s slow. So slow…”
Scaarleette…
    “When did you last check his pulse?”
Dr. Mac…
    “Now. I’m checking it now.”
Scaarleette…
    “And he has one?”
Dr. Mac…
    “Yes. Still a pulse, but I can barely feel it.”
Scaarleette…
    “Count the beats until I tell you to stop.”
Dr. Mac…
“Stop.”
    “Four…”
Scaarleette…
    “You got his emergency kit?”
Dr. Mac…
    “What? What kit?”
Scaarleette…
    “It’s there, Scarla. Somewhere. Find it, okay? It may have a red zipper. Or it may be just a brand new unopened box, thin enough for a pen type injector.”
Coollttt…
    “I saw that box. I know where it is!”
Scaarleette…
    “What does it say?”
Dr. Mac…
    “I’m getting it. Wait. It says Naloxone Hydro—”
    “That’s it!”
Coollttt.
    “Open it up. Is your name Scarla?”
Dr. Mac…
    “Yes.”
Scaarleette…
    “Open the box and open the plastic, but don’t remove the syringe. Just keep it by you. Take his pulse again until I say stop. Ready?”
Dr. Mac…
    “Yes.”
Scaarleette…
    “Now… and stop.”
Dr. Mac…
    “I couldn’t feel anything! His lips are really blue! Oh there! I felt a beat—kind of.”
Scaarleette, my beautiful Scar
.
    “I’m less than five minutes away.”
Coollttt…
    “Gage! Fuck this shit! Fuck you!”
Scaarleette
    Her slap felt like he was safe inside a punching bag, taking the hit but not feeling it
    “Scarla. I need you to calm down. Tear open the plastic the syringe pen is in and tell me when you’re done.”
Dr. Mac…
    “Done.”
Scaarleette …
    “Remove the red cap.”
Dr. Mac…
    “Done.”
Scaarleette …
    “You’re going to inject into muscle. Either his upper outer arm or upper outer leg—whichever has more bulk. Iit caann gooo throouugh clooothiiing. Dooon’t wooorry. Juuussst… “
    I know I never said it, but I love you, Scarlette
…

Chapter 17

    M ac, as Colt addressed the physician, stayed long enough to set up an IV and monitor Gage’s vitals for almost two hours.
    “You did good, kid. You’re a smart young woman to have learned CPR.”
    I might have shivered at the referral to my lips pressed against Gage’s cold discolored ones, but I was still in shock.
    Colt had burst into the bathroom first, and it had taken me a moment to register his surprise on finding me sopping wet, straddling Gage’s comatose body, fingers pinching his nose, and lips on his. Of course, he knew what was going on, but I was sure it was a sight.
    Gage had regained consciousness with a jerk that jolted his whole body, seconds after Colt arrived. The doctor was