SLOANE
I had seen a lot since moving into this mansion but Rika falling apart is getting a panic attack
That was new.
His knees buckled before any of us could even process what was happening. His whole body just stopped working, like something inside him pulled the plug. His breathing was loud, wrong, chest heaving in and out while his eyes stayed locked on Athena like she was something he had seen in a nightmare a hundred times over.
Damon got to him first.
He grabbed Rika's shoulder, steadying him, saying something low near his ear. Rika's whole body jerked. He looked at Damon's hand like it had burned him, then slapped it away so hard the sound cracked across the yard.
"Don't touch me."
His voice was barely there. Rough, shaking, nothing like the Rika I knew.
Damon stepped back
