Grabbing the set of scrubs first, he slides them over his clothes. Next, he slips on the boot covers and puts the mask over his face. As he breathes through the mask, his features instantly relax.
Mind over matter, as they say. And I needed to trick his mind to make him feel better. I'm just glad it actually worked.
Lastly, he grabs the blue, latex gloves and puts them on. Glancing at me, he says, "Thank you." And I can tell he truly means it.
"You're welcome. Now, let's go see how your girl is doing."
CHAPTER 38
KATYA
AFTER A COUPLE of days of sleeping in the waiting room, I'm worn out and on edge. Jackson has barely slept, and I know that for a fact since every time I wake up, he's awake. His eyes are bloodshot, and he looks like he hasn't slept for over a week. Although, I'm sure we all look like that at this point.
"I'm going for coffee," I announce to the room since Jackson has barely spoken to me in the past forty-eight hours…or maybe it's been even longer than that at this point.
All he's concerned with right now is Adeline, and I can't help but be jealous of that fact. Even though he assured me that Lucien and Adeline are together and getting engaged, something is…off. It's hard to believe he caresthatmuch for a girl who is just a friend.
I walk out of the waiting room without so much as a single word from Jackson. And by the time I reach the small kitchen at the end of the hall, I am seething to the point that my entire body is shaking. I'm sure it's lack of sleep…and food…and everything else that has me so on edge, but I'm ready to walk out of this hospital and never look back.
"Katya?" someone calls.
I grip my empty Styrofoam coffee cup in my hand and turn to the voice. A petite, blonde girl stands several feet away, and it's almost like looking in a mirror…except from a few years ago.
She's the girl from the pictures Wraith showed me.
The cup falls out of my hand and bounces to the tile floor with a hollow sound. My fingers tremble as I bring them up to my lips, covering my mouth to silence the sob threatening to escape.
"Katya, it's really you, isn't it?" the girl asks me.
I nod, unable to believe my eyes. "Senga?" I gasp.
When the young girl nods, I can't hold back anymore. I run towards her, throwing my arms around her and hugging her so tightly that I'm probably scaring the poor girl. "Sestra," I whisper in her ear.Sister.
I pull back and hold her out at arm's reach, my eyes scanning her. She looks healthy, glowing, in fact, like the angel she always was. She looks the same as when I left her but completely different all at the same time. It's so hard to explain.
"I can't believe it," I cry. It's as if the years that we were apart have completely vanished, and I finally have a piece of my soul back. "I've missed you. So much," I choke out, allowing my emotions to overcome me.
My little sister reaches up and wipes away my tears with her thumbs. She's being strong. For me. I've been so damn strong for so damn long that it's nice for someone else to take the burden for once.
"I've missed you too. You have no idea."
Taking a step back, I quickly compose myself, drying my tears. My eyes never leave my sister. I'm afraid that, if I blink too hard, she'll disappear from this room.
"How did you…how did you find me?" I ask the most obvious question.
She points to the camera in the corner of the ceiling. "Facial recognition software. I got word that theBratvawas coming for you. But since I was already here in the States, I knew I could get to you first, warn you and take you somewhere you'll be safe. With me," she says with a big smile.
I knew it was stupid for me to be in such a public place with a huge bounty on my head, but I figured I'd be safe as long as I was with Jackson.Lot of good that did me, I tell myself.
"If we leave now, we can disappear, get you underground before they come looking for you," Senga says, grasping my hand in hers. "But we have to leave right this minute," she adds.
I nod at her in understanding. I only have a certain window to escape. Now that theBratvaknow where I am, they'll have no trouble tracking my every move. It's only a matter of time before they find me…and kill me.
She pulls me towards her, and I follow. But then I stop in my tracks. "My…my friend," I stammer, not even knowing what to refer to Jackson as anymore.
"There's no time, Katya. They could be here any minute."
"But —."
