But Shirleen, after taking an excruciating three full minutes to type Aimee’s name into the computer, was unmoved by my charm. “Sorry, honey. She’s on an NOV for anyone not already on her approved visitor list, and there’s no Jay on the list.” She tapped the screen with the end of her pen.
“An NOV?”
“No Outside Visitors.”
“How weird!” I shook my head in feigned bafflement. “I’m pretty sure it must’ve been an oversight. Could you call her and check?”
Shirleen tilted her head. “No can do, I’m afraid. Not when she’s on an NOV. Haveyoutried calling her? She’s in a stepdown unit, not in ICU anymore, so she’ll have her cell as long as she’s feeling up to it.”
Not. In. ICU. Anymore.
Words to strike terror in a person’s heart.
I set my jaw. “Right. Good idea. I’ll just… call her.” I stepped away before I could do something really inadvisable, like sprinting around Shirley and yelling Aimee’s name as I ran up and down every hall in the facility.
Meanwhile, Gage stepped up. “I’m sorry, Shirleen, but we’re both so worried. We didn’t even know Aimee was here until today,” he explained. “I’m guessing she’s trying not to worry us.”
“Yeah, if that was her plan, it’s not working,” I muttered.
Gage shot me a quelling look. “I wonder if you could tell us whoison your NOE list, ma’am?”
“NOV,” Shirleen corrected kindly.
“Ah. Of course. I’m so silly. NOV.”
Shirleen patted his hand gently, in hard-core mothering mode over “silly” Gage who seemed so out of his depth.
“Maybe we’ll just have whichever friend or family memberison the list come by and check on her.” Gage lifted a hand to his forehead and gave her a tremulous smile. “It would go a long way to relieving our anxiety.”
“Well, I supposethatwouldn’t hurt anything.” Still, Shirleen looked left and right like she wanted to make sure there was no one else around before tapping another couple of keys on her computer—which took so long an entire marching band could have filed through the lobby. I clenched my teeth hard enough to crack a molar.
“Here we go. Hmm. Just her medical team on the list, I’m afraid,” Shirleen said sadly. “And her emergency contact, of course. Someone named Rafael Goodman?”
Rafael. Goodman.
I sucked in a breath as betrayal burned sharply through me, evaporating all the purposelessness I’d been feeling for days.
My sister—the sister Rafe knew I’d do anything for—was in the hospital, inICUfor the love of fuck, and he hadn’t told me? Screw all my sappy feelings, all my silly hopes and my foolish regrets. I was going tokill him.
I pushed blindly out of the clinic and covered the ground to the parking lot in long, furious strides.
“Christ, Jayd, slow your ass down!” Gage called from behind me. “I think you should talk to Rafe—”
“Fuck yeah, I’m going to talk to him,” I said as I yanked the car door open. “In person, so he can’t lie or evade me. We’re going to Whispering Keynow.”
3
Rafe
“Tell me what’s going on with my sister.” Jay leaned into my space and spoke in a voice so low none of the other Extravaganza Committee members could hear.
“With Aimee?” I shook my head. “How the fuck would I know? Is she okay?” Was it her heart?
Jay’s nostrils flared. “I am so done with secrets and lies.”
I didn’t know what he was talking about, and I didn’t care, becauseIwas done with Jay Rollins treating me like I was dirt under his feet he couldn’t wait to shake off.
And considering I was still hunched over and wheezing slightly from the force of his punch—though I’d be damned if I showed it—I wasn’t inclined to say a word at all or do anything but stare at the man in front of me. The man staring at me with fury in his eyes.
