Rachael mentioned a hit television show. Or maybe they were talking about a movie.
Hadley blinked, trying to refocus so she could pay more attention to what people were saying. Voices droned on, making her feel like an observer from afar, not a participant seated at the table.
Someone mentioned a CEO’s woes and being asked to step down from his position even though he’d founded the company.
“Shouldn’t have gone public,” Blaise said in a matter-of-fact tone.
Kieran shook his head. “Sometimes there’s no choice.”
Exhaustion clawed its sharp talons into her, poking holes and draining Hadley’s energy like a faucet left running at full blast. All she wanted was to sleep.
She stifled a yawn.
Another round of coughing erupted. She turned away from the table.
“You okay?” Blaise asked, his voice concerned.
Hadley nodded, but the cough medicine should have lasted through dinner. Something was off…wrong. She felt worse than she had all week. Each breath hurt as if a belt was wrapped around her chest and someone kept pulling it tighter with each exhale.
The room swayed slightly.
Whoa.
What was happening?
Something clattered against a plate.
People stood.
A person shouted.
Everything was going dark, a fade-to-black camera effect taking over her vision.
Two hands held on to her.
“Hadley?” Blaise leaned into Hadley.
Or maybe she was the one against him. “I…”
“Hadley, it’s Rizzo.” The male voice was calm and steady, the exact opposite of her racing pulse and rapid breaths. “Remember me from the ride over? I want to check you, okay?”
She nodded.
Someone touched her forehead and then her cheek.
“She’s burning up,” Rizzo said. “She’s also dehydrated.”
“She wasn’t this warm when I held her hand,” Blaise said. “That was right after we arrived.”
“Can you tell me what hurts, Hadley?” Rizzo asked.
“Chest. Hard to breathe. Cold.” She forced out each word. “Tired. Need to sleep.”
“I’ll get the car,” Rizzo said. “Take her outside through the emergency exit in the back. I’ll pick you up in the alley.”
Someone smoothed her hair. Must be Blaise.
She was too tired to open her eyes.
