“Cole said they run a very tight security. He mentioned the Russians and the Irish?” Hannah asked, confused.
“Ivan’s the head of a Russian mob and Victoria runs the Irish mafia. They have men here who protect the mountain. Ivan plans surprise infiltration exercises with Leo to catch his men sleeping on the job. You won’t believe their punishments. They have to watch all those teething babies, pick flowers, or they must go to Victoria.”
“Does she lecture them?” she asked.
“No, she unmans them, one ball at a time. Trust me, they never pick her,” she said, laughing. “I’m not sure if they’re more afraid of her or Ivan.”
Hannah joined her, imagining the men picking flowers and holding babies.
“Ice and I have to go to training this morning. Have you considered Cole’s suggestion?” Scarlett asked as she reached for Ice’s harness.
“I can’t get past the door,” Hannah confessed. “I want to see all the things you, Kassie, and Dr. Meyers described.”
“Ty taught me something when I get overwhelmed. Instead of thinking about the problem, find your way around it. Sometimes, we’re our own obstacles,” she advised, rising.
Hannah stood and approached Scarlett. “Your friendship has meant a lot to me. Thank you for never giving up.”
“I’m still not,” Scarlett said as she walked to the door. “You have courage in you, Hannah. You’ve forgotten where to find it.”
Hannah sat on the bed. The unused cell phone lay on the nightstand. Her mother’s daily text buzzed.
I miss you, Hannah. I love you, my sweet girl.
She stared at it, debating what to do. She slowly picked up the phone and dialed her mom’s number. The phone rang, and her mother answered.
“Hello?”
“Mom,” she choked out. “It’s me, Hannah.”
“Oh, my sweet girl,” her mom exclaimed through her cries. “I knew you’d come back to us. How do you feel?”
“I’m all right, Mom,” she said, as tears flowed down her cheeks.
“Wait until your father hears your voice. He’ll be ecstatic,” she hiccupped.
“I have to go to therapy now,” she lied. “I’m fine. I’ll see you soon,” she said before disconnecting the call. She wanted to tell her mom about Brody, Nine, and Cole and how she made a friend on the mountain with Scarlett. The tiny voice in her head didn’t want her dad to ruin the moment, chastising her for keeping them waiting for months on end.
Hannah stood, walked to the door, and glanced into the hallway. Nurses sat at the desk, charting orders. One helped a patient across to the sunny sitting area and handed him a book. Her foot slid to the edge of the doorframe, testing the waters. She bit her lip, hedging her toe closer toward the hallway. Her heart raced and tiny beads of sweat covered her forehead. She gripped the doorknob, making her knuckles turn white as she willed herself to make the leap. Her body refused to budge. She tried again and again, until she finally slumped against the wall in defeat. Tears slid down her cheeks. She needn’t worry about her father’s opinion of her. Hannah saw herself as the failure he always considered her to be.
At the facility, Scarlett and Ice made their way to the kitchen for a much-needed cup of coffee. The guys put a piece of tape on the countertop to keep her from scalding her fingers. She reached above her head and took a mug down while her fingers felt for the edge.
Pouring herself a cup, she let Ice lead her to the kitchen table. She scratched him behind the ears and sat.
A minute later, Cole and Brody entered. “Hey, Sparky,” he greeted as he grabbed a water from the fridge.
Brody went to his bed and curled up, brooding.
“He doesn’t sound happy,” Scarlett said while sipping the beverage.
“He didn’t make a sound,” Cole said, amazed she picked up on the animal’s unhappiness.
“His gait changes when he pouts. I heard it when he left Hannah’s room the other day. What’s the matter with him?”
“He wants to see Hannah,” Cole said quietly.
“Don’t you plan on going over there after training today?” she asked, shifting to face him.
“I’m working on something. I don’t want to push her too fast. But I believe Hannah hates staying in the room as much aswe detest seeing her not talk. She’s finally speaking, and I can’t figure out how to get her out,” he said, mulling over his problem.
