“Easy, sweetheart.” Sully gave her hand a quick double squeeze, reassuring her without words that he was okay.
“She looks anything but sweet right now. Fucking love that for you.” Jude’s face remained impassive, although there seemed to be the briefest flicker of approval in his eyes. Maybe it was her imagination. Seeing what she wanted to see. No matter how connected she was, no matter how well-liked, she always had an unsettling sensation of being on the outside, never truly fitting in.
“How the hell does he know he’s listed on my policy?” Sully said through clenched teeth. His jaw was tight, the muscle there ticking with tension.
“No idea.” Jude stared at Sully unblinking. “Any chance your parents might have said something?”
“I don’t see why they would, but I needed Bentley’s social security number to add him onto my policy. Something stopped me from asking him directly, so I got it from my parents instead.”
“That’s your sixth sense protecting you. Knowing instinctively that Bentley might exploit the opportunity to profit off your death.” Jude crossed his arms over his broad chest.
“I’ll admit that Bentley discussing my life insurance policy doesn’t feel good, but it also doesn’t prove he tried to sabotage my recovery. I’m not naive enough to think he wouldn’t do something like that, but in a court of law, one text message isn’t going to prove anything. It does prove the Bentley has gotten himself mixed up in some bad shit and the role he was playing of caring little brother was a front.” Sully’s eyes darkened, but not before she caught the flash of pain and regret in their depths.
They were silent for several moments before Jude uncrossed his arm and came closer to the bedside. “Know that’s a lot to take in and I’m sorry to be the one to deliver it, but if it helps keep you safe, I’ll tell you straight out. Don’t trust him. I’m going to keep digging, but as far as I’m concerned Bentley did his best to put you in an early grave and you need to steer clear until I have enough evidence to put him away.”
The breath rushed from Sully’s lungs, and her heart clenched. She’d never had a sibling, but she couldn’t imagine the pain that would stem from having someone you loved want to end your life for money.
“That will kill my parents.” Defeat clung to Sully’s words, and it made her want to track down Bentley and take care of him herself.
Jude shrugged. “Maybe…but I have no doubt that Bentley succeeding in killing you before going down for murder would be far more devastating than him being arraigned for attempted murder while you’re still breathing.” Jude’s words were blunt. Was he always so direct or was he trying to give Sully tough love? “Your parents might love their youngest son because that’s what good parents do, but they also know who and what he’s become. Those choices are on him. Not you. Whatever pain is caused by this it rests on his shoulders. Understand?”
“Yeah.” Sully’s voice was rough, and she clung tightly to his hand.
“Another concern that has popped up is you.” Jude looked at her with a pointed stare and suddenly her breath felt shallow. “According to Red you confronted Bentley.”
Jane could feel her temperature rising and she straightened her shoulders. “Of course I did. He was the last person in the room. Sully was in respiratory distress, and I wanted to know what happened to put him there.”
“I’m not criticizing your decision. Fuck it. I am.”
“Jude.” The low warning came from Sully.
Heat prickled behind her eyes, but not because of Jude’s words. It had been a long time since someone stood up for her and while she refused to let the two friends fight, Sully’s concern for her felt really good. “It’s okay. I want to hear what he has to say.”
“Laying your suspicions out there put a target on your back. Could’ve provoked him to do something rash.”
She sighed. It wasn’t the first time she’d heard some variation of those exact words. Hadn’t Red said the same? “I get that, but when Bentley came out of Sully’s room, he practically insisted we all leave the hospital to go out to lunch. The more he pushed, the more frantic I was to get back here. Then finding the machine monitoring Sully’s vitals unplugged and him gasping for breath? I don’t think I could’ve held myself back if I tried. I couldn’t help but think he was trying to stop me from getting to Sully in time. I was mad at myself for staying in the waiting room for so long. I kept thinking about what might’ve happened if I did leave with them.”
Some indescribable emotion flashed over Jude’s face. Deeper than agony. Sharper than grief. Then it was gone. Whatever put that look in his eyes should’ve brought him to his knees, but he pushed it down so fast it was almost like she’d imagined it.
“Playing the what-if game never helped anyone. There’s no going back. No second chances. Lucky for Sully, you listened to your gut and that’s why one of the best men I know is glaring at me right now, pissed I’m questioning his woman. Just because your actions were reckless doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate what you did. I didn’t come here to lecture you, at least, that’s not how I planned it. With Americans involved in the mission you were on, the Department of Homeland Security would like to interview you both as soon as it can be arranged.”
“Jane mentioned my doctor was ready to move me to the recovery floor. That would make me safe for travel, right?”
She shook her head and stepped back, releasing Sully’s hand so she could get a closer look at his face. “No. It’s absolutely too early to be thinking of booking a flight out of here.”
“He wouldn’t be as isolated back on the West Coast.” Jude’s pale gaze was unflinching, and she felt exposed, like he could see all her secrets. Of course, that was ridiculous. She’d just been in the hospital for too long. “There’s safety in numbers, Jane.”
It took her a moment to register that he wasn’t just talking about Sully’s safety. “You need to get more of your strength back before you even consider leaving.”
“You should listen to your fiancée, Mr. Sullivan.” The nurse bustled in carrying Sully’s medication. “Don’t let me interrupt your visit. I’m just here to give you your pain medication and antibiotics. The nurse asked Sully his name and date of birth, comparing the verbal information with the labels on the medication.
“How long will I be on the recovery floor?” Sully’s eyes drifted from the nurse to the door. She almost let out a snort. He hadn’t been awake for more than a handful of days and he was sending wistful glances toward the hall.
“I know you’re eager to get out of here.” Metal clicked as the nurse lowered the side rail with practiced efficiency. “But unless you transfer to a hospital on the West Coast or have a full-time nurse to monitor your care at home, we wouldn’t advise you to leave. As far as your recovery, that would depend on you and how well you continue to progress.” The nurse administered both medications into Sully’s IV, then stepped back and moved the side rail back in place.
Jane wandered over to the window while Sully’s nurse continued to speak to him. Was it safer for Sully to go back to California? Technically, she was a nurse, and they had discussedthe possibility of her going with him when he traveled home. After the email she’d received from the nursing agency’s human resources department asking for documentation for her absence if she continued to turn down assignments, she wasn’t sure she’d have a job when she decided it was time to return. She couldn’t help but feel slightly bitter toward the agency—they knew she’d been abducted while on her last assignment. After working with the same organization for nearly six years, she thought a phone call to check on her well-being instead of a curt when-are-you coming-back email would be more appropriate given the circumstances.
While she knew Healing Hearts International had patients around the world and needed nurses in constant rotation, she was tired of being a faceless name in a large employment pool. One that could be easily replaced with the stroke of a pen or the click of an email. She loved being a nurse, but honestly? She’d been tired of the travel for a while now. Maybe it was time to make a change.
