“Okay.” I’m still confused but figure I’ll have Bee explain what the hell is going on. I know who Ben is—he runs the Crawan gym—but why it’s okay that he’s chosen this nurse when he runs the gym isn’t clear.
Bolt sees my confusion. “Don’t worry, brother. I was fucking confused at first, too, but you’ll get there eventually. If Ben says she’s good, then she’s good.”
“You’d best get going. Rea’s on her way up,” Ellie warns.
“Thanks, Jeanie,” Bee replies. “And tell your dad I said thanks. Give me a few days, and I’ll find out why she tried to take Noah.”
“Anytime, girl, you know that. Be safe.” Jeanie opens the door for Bolt, who pushes the wheelchair out, and the energy in the room drops by about two degrees.
Bee laughs. “I forgot how Jeanie ramps up the energy in a room.”
“I’m so fucking confused,” I admit out loud.
Bee, Ellie, and Beau laugh.
Bee pats my hand. “I’ll explain all the dynamics later. For now, let’s get Rea in here to give Beau something for his headache and get me unattached from this bed so we can go home. I’m done being in hospital. We’ll be safer at the Queens Wraiths compound. Plus, I need to touch base with Cahir and Ramzi.”
As if summoned, Rea enters and assesses the people in the room. She holds up her hand as Bee opens her mouth. “I don’t want to know what’s been going on this morning. I understand you want out of here.”
“I do, but only if Noah is free to go with me,” Bee explains.
Rea’s expression softens as she looks at the little boy, who’s fast asleep again. I’m a little worried about him. Do we need to be concerned about how much he’s sleeping?
“We’ll get him released to you,” Rea reassures her. “Ramzi has all the relevant paperwork for you. He said they’ll fill you in once you’re out of here. I need the rest of you to leave while I prep Bee for discharge. Beau, are you okay to walk?”
“I’m okay,” he replies, standing slowly.
Ellie moves under his arm and helps him out of the room.
I scoop Noah up, winking at Bee as I cradle him to me. “I’ll see you soon, Spice.”
Bee smirks and returns my wink, which looks ridiculous when the other eye is still swollen shut. She giggles and then groans, “I’ll see you soon, Sugar. Don’t go far.”
I walk out and close the door behind me, joining Beau and Ellie in the hallway while we wait.
“You match Bella,” Ellie says out of the blue.
I reply with a confused, “Okay?”
Ellie laughs and waves a hand. “Bells will explain. But Bella, Noah, and you match. And that’s a good thing.”
I’m not sure what to say. That we “match” means something to Ellie. Beau seems to know what she’s talking about, but I don’t have a clue.
I feel like I have to point out that Bella no longer goes by that name. “She goes by Bee now.”
“Bee.” Ellie mulls it over, then nods. “I like it. I’ll let the family know.”
Silence fills the hallway, but it’s not heavy.
It doesn’t take Rea long to discharge Bee and Noah. Guess it’s a perk of your family having connections. Within an hour, we’re out of the hospital and in a big black four-by-four driven by Ellie, who sometimes appears like she’s away with the fairies when it’s very clear that she’s not. Bee, Noah, and I squeeze into the back seat much like when we arrived here. Beau takes the passenger seat, leaving his bike behind as he’s in no fit state to ride it safely.
I squeeze Bee’s hand as we pass Crow Manor. “Do you want to stay there?”
She shakes her head and leans against my shoulder. “No, it’s not home anymore.”
My heart aches for her, for all that she’s given up and is still willing to sacrifice.
“I’m sorry, baby,” I whisper against her hair.
