"He said I needed to figure out who B. Feather was, or he would kill my sister."
Hannah chose that moment to flutter her eyes open and groan.
"Hannah?" I gave all my attention to my sister as she slowly came around.
"Vanessa," she croaked.
"I'm right here." I gently grabbed her hand and cradled it in mine.
"Everything hurts."
Of course it did. She had gotten the shit kicked out of her, and because of her drug history, they couldn't give her narcotics.
"I know. I'm sorry."
"Do you have the information for Joel?"
Anger burned like a hot pit in my stomach. Was that all she cared about? Did she even realize the choices she was making were messing with my life just as much as they were with hers?
"Not yet."
Hannah groaned. "Vanessa, please," she begged, and just like every other time my sister asked for anything, I felt myself caving. I was a sucker for her, and Hannah knew it. I didn't know what that said about our relationship, but I was sure my therapist would have a field day with it.
"Actually your sister does have the information. She just didn't know it yet."
Hannah looked over my shoulder at Nolen through swollen eyes. "Who are you?"
"A friend of your sister’s, and someone who has the information you need."
"You do?" I looked up at him with hope in my eyes.
Nolen's gaze never left mine as he confessed, "I do."
My heart started to skip wildly at the thought of this finally being over. Weeks of agonizing over it had made me sick, but that was all about to change.
"Tell me." This time Hannah begged Nolen, but unlike me, he wasn't quick to cave.
"Actually I would like to talk to Vanessa alone for a few minutes, if that's okay."
Hannah looked like she wanted to object, but I was quick to come to Nolen's aid.
"I'll be back soon."
With some reluctance, Hannah finally agreed.
Laying her hand back down on the bed, I pushed up from the uncomfortable chair and immediately felt the discomfort of my ribs from sitting so damn long.
I did my best not to wince but knew I failed when Nolen turned his worried gaze in my direction. I waved him off before he could say anything and made my way into the hallway.
It wasn't until the door was closed that I spun around and pierced Nolen with an intense stare. "Tell me you weren't lying and you actually know who B. Feather is?”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Nolen
I couldn't believe I was about to do this. "I wasn't lying. I do know who is behind the anonymous stories and blogs." I left it at that, for now.
"Okay, so tell me. Who is it?" Vanessa begged.
