Dizzie pulled up her sheet, but it didn’t stop the shivers that raced through her. Portia’s words echoed over and over again in her head.
Her—sister!— had been pretty damn clear that she didn’t want Dizzie to survive this ordeal. Dizzie had her own concerns about the odds of her survival, but she wanted to live.
Not as a Tremaine. Not in Killian’s fairy-tale life.
That was a lie. She’d take Killian’s fairy tale, though she didn’t see how it could possibly work out.
If she wanted the chance to find out, she’d need to save her own life. First step? Get out of the hospital.
Dizzie hadn’t stepped out of her room yet, so she had no idea how many guards were posted outside. With any luck, they weren’t worried about her leaving her room.
But this was a Tremaine hospital. Everyone here either owned stock in the company or was owned by it. Where could she go? How could she get out?
The monitors were part of her problem. All her vital signs were tracked through a wristband. She studied the plastic band that recorded her medical details. The medical staff would notice if she took it off. She slid her fingers under the plastic, feeling for the seam.
Deciding the monitors would have to wait, she pressed the button to call the nurse. Betty, the perky nurse, responded. Dizzie sighed.
“What do you need?” Her sunny smile brightened the room.
Dizzie smiled in return. The woman’s cheer was infectious. “Do you know where my bag is? I need clothes. Real clothes, I mean. And a shower? I’m getting a little rank.”
“Of course, Miss Tremaine.”
The monitor picked up Dizzie’s flinch, and the nurse looked at her in concern. “Are you okay?”
“Just not used to the name,” she admitted. And if she had her way, she never would be. “I’ve always been just Dizzie.”
“It must be like a fairy tale.”
“Yes,” Dizzie agreed with a forced smile. “Just like one.” The old-timey kind, where people got their toes chopped off or otherwise got screwed.
The nurse opened the closet door and removed Dizzie’s bag. She set it on the visitor’s chair. “Do you want assistance with the shower?”
“I think I’m okay.” Dizzie tested her claim by swinging her legs over the side of the bed. She braced for a wave of pain, but nothing happened. “Whatever you guys did to me really worked.”
“Oh, aren’t those nanomeds the best? They’re limited to the really important patients. You’re very lucky to get them.”
Dizzie sobered at the reminder of her change in circumstances. If she hadn’t been a Tremaine, would she have survived?
“Well, I’m very grateful for your care, Betty.” It was true.
Betty beamed. “Press the call button if you need anything at all.”
The smile Dizzie gave her in return was completely genuine. Betty seemed nice—maybe too nice for her own good—and Dizzie hoped she wouldn’t get in trouble when she escaped.
“Thank you so much.”
She bobbed her head. “Do you need anything else?”
“No, you’ve been amazing.”
When the door closed behind the nurse, Dizzie dropped her head against the pillow. Her first problem—looking like a patient—was solved.
Chapter41
After a refreshing showerwith unlimited hot water, Dizzie studied her reflection. Her new clothes were out of her comfort zone and way out of her price range. The sleek black pants and collared shirt made her squirm, since she was used to T-shirts and leather. Sheer willpower kept her from tugging at the top buttons of the collar.
The woman in the mirror looked more corporate than courier.
