Chapter 224

Cole’s POV

The current of the river is strong as I struggle to get my head above the water. Even after my back injury, I’ve had the fortune of being a good swimmer. I struggle to recall how many times I was stupid enough as a child to follow Andre and Kristoph to the river just for them to feign losing me so Kris could throw me in and walk away. My survival depended on learning quickly what I needed to know. Swimming was one such lesson.

I finally find my footing in the muddy riverbed and push myself upright, breaking the water’s surface with a gasp. I widen my stance, using a large rock beneath the water to support myself against the current. My lungs burn from the lack of oxygen and my chest is tight. The classic painful vice, slowly tightening around my lungs, alerting me to the oncoming asthma attack.

I reach into my pants pocket to find my inhaler has disappeared so I simply push the feeling away. It’s not the first time that I’ve been without