Dizzie stopped. “What gives, Alice? Why are you calling me ‘ma’am’?”
She was still pissed at Alice and she wasn’t sure if their friendship could be repaired, but it was totally freaking her out that Alice was treating her with deference.
Alice raised her head, but still didn’t meet Dizzie’s gaze. “Because of what they’re saying, ma’am. It’s all over the news.”
That didn’t tell Dizzie a damn thing. She did her best to stifle her frustration. “What are they saying?”
“You know.”
Dizzie gritted her teeth. “No, actually, I don’t know what they’re saying. I’ve been stuck in here for hours.”
Alice finally looked directly at Dizzie, surprised. “Oh. Well, the newsies are saying that you’re a, well, a Tremaine. So, um, we’re treating you like a Tremaine.”
How had the newsies found out? “Where did they hear that?” she asked, not wanting to confirm it just yet. Acknowledging that she was a Tremaine came with a lot of baggage Dizzie wasn’t sure she wanted to deal with.
“Mr. St. John said so at the press conference.”
“Oh.” A press conference? What the…
“I’m, uh, sorry about last week, ma’am.”
Last week. Crap, so much had changed since then. Once, Alice would have been the first person Dizzie told about this crazy change in circumstance. From becoming a Tremaine to her relationship or whatever it was with Killian. Now? She still couldn’t see past Alice’s betrayal.
“Okay. Thanks.” What else could she say? “I’m free to go?” She was tempted to ask for it in writing. Proof that this wasn’t a cruel trick.
Alice looked as though she wanted to say more. Instead, she nodded. “Yes, ma’am.” She gestured at the door.
Dizzie stepped out, hesitantly at first. She was still waiting for this to be a trap.
One step out of the room.
Another.
When she exited the infirmary, Dizzie’s shoulders relaxed a fraction.
She was still in hospital scrubs. She turned back and looked at Alice, who wore a strained expression. “What’s the fastest way back to the dorms?”
She’d kill for a shower and her own clothes. A nap. If the news of her parentage was out, Dizzie had the feeling this was the calm before the storm. A big shitstorm composed of Phillip Tremaine, Portia, and Leopold.
Killian wasn’t part of the problem, but he had spilled the secret and she wanted to know why.
Footsteps echoed in the hall behind her. She tensed and spun around, afraid she would see guards.
She brightened. “Killian!”
Her fear of guards evaporated and she ran toward him, intending to launch herself into his arms.
As she neared, though, she had second thoughts. Would he be happy to see her?
She skidded to a stop in her slippered feet. He was close enough to touch. “What are you doing here?” she said, her voice wavering.
“I came to rescue you. But it looks like you rescued yourself.” He studied her. His brows furrowed and his jaw clenched. “How badly were you hurt?” Anger and an emotion she was afraid to identify colored his words.
“It was just a graze.” She lifted her top and showed him the bandage on her side. “It barely hurts anymore.”
Killian closed the distance between them and, careful of her wound, pulled her into his arms. “Thank god you’re safe.”
Safe.Yes, that was exactly it. His arms were her safe place.
