I crossed my arms over my chest, not having anything to say in reply.
Whize let out a long sigh. “I think that’s all I have for you right now. I’ll keep you updated on everything. As you know, things are a bit…intense right now.”
I nodded vaguely. For the last few hours, Amos Anderson had not been at the forefront of my mind. Mara had nearly killed Quinn, and then herself. I’d almost been too late. It was a miracle I’d been able to get the gun away from her before she hurt anyone else.
Jake was injured and in this very hospital, recovering from the gunshots I hadn’t been able to stop. Whize had already interviewed him, and he confessed to attacking Quinn before. I still wasn’t sure what was going to become of that, but when Emersyn heard, August was going to have a hell of a time keeping her at the safe house.
Whize left me alone, standing there in the waiting room, and I shoved both my hands through my hair, letting out a heavy sigh. My chest felt like it was about to splinter and crack from the anxiety and nerves. I needed to hold Quinn in my arms, to feel her warmth and hear her heart beating before I could even think about relaxing.
My feet carried me to the nurses’ station before I thought about it. I’d been forcing myself to stay away since they told me Quinn wasn’t ready for visitors, but I couldn’t anymore.
A middle-aged woman with long, red hair glanced up at me as I approached. She gave me a smile. I didn’t recognize her, and I wondered whether they’d recently had a shift change. I had no idea what time it was.
“Can I help you?” she asked, her voice steady and sweet.
I nodded and cleared my throat. “Yes, I was just—I was wondering if Quinn Carpenter was ready to have visitors?”
Her forehead creased slightly, but she didn’t drop her smile. I didn’t have time to wonder whether I’d asked something wrong before she stood and said, “Let me go check on her.”
I wasn’t sure why my pulse spiked as she walked away, disappearing around a corner.
She’d be okay. Quinn was going to be fine.
I scratched at the underside of my jaw, waiting. Each second that passed felt like an hour.
When the nurse came back around the corner, both anticipation and dread hit me. I couldn’t read the expression on her face.
It wasn’t until she was within earshot that she looked up at me, and smiled.
“She’s ready to see you now,” the nurse said.
I almost collapsed with relief. The nurse gave me her room number, and I barely stayed long enough to hear her directions before I was hurrying toward her.
The hallway flew by in a blur as I tracked the numbers on the rooms. The closer I got to her, the more my skin felt like it was going to burn right off.
Finally, I slowed.
Her room was open slightly, as if she knew I was there.
I double-checked the number as I approached, my breaths embarrassingly heavy. I hesitated at the threshold. It was quiet inside the room. Almost too quiet. Cautiously, I knocked.
She answered immediately, her voice soft but not weak. “Come in.”
I pushed open the door the rest of the way, and there she was.
She sat on the hospital bed like she’d been expecting me. Her back was straight, almost too stiff as her hand clutched the thin blanket over her waist. Her eyes were bright when they met mine, though. They weren’t hard and icy, but they seemed cautious.
She wore a hospital gown, and the bottom of a bandage peeked out from the right sleeve. Her wrists were bandaged too. She’d been shot, but the bullet had barely grazed her upper arm. If it hadn’t been for Jake taking the first bullet, I’m not sure she would’ve made it out alive.
My eyes burned as I took her in, but I fought the tears. I didn’t want to scare her.
I hadn’t realized how much silence had passed, or that I hadn’t even moved, until she frowned.
“I’m fine, Graham,” she said.
I scanned her bandages again, but didn’t argue. I barely managed a nod. “I know.”
She tilted her head to the side. “Come here.”
