“Can you please have Mr. Parsons check on Spinelli?” Kade asked.
“He’s already with him, sir. He will notify us once it is complete. Mr. Parsons was the lucky one out of the bunch. He just had a couple of small scratches and inhaled somesmoke. But he will make a full recovery,” the doctor responded.
I was grateful that Buddha was with Z. No one should have to go through that alone.
I looked to my left to see the dividing curtain had been pushed aside. In the makeshift room next to me, Badger was lying on an identical medical bed with dozens of cords attached to her, an oxygen mask over her soot-smeared face. My eyes opened wide when I noticed Machine had his head resting on Badger's hand that he was currently holding. That was strange but this wasn’t exactly the time or place to ask questions.
The sound of a pager beeping echoed in the open space. “Derrick is out of surgery and headed into recovery.”
“Thank god,” Kade mumbled.
“Should we plan for transport for everyone?”
“Yes, please do. I need to check on my woman.” I saw Kade’s hand grasp the curtain before pushing it off to the side. He was in for a rude awakening if he thought I was still his after what he did and how he handled everything.
I swore to myself that there was no way in hell that I would ever be able to forgive Kade. I didn’t care what it cost me. He would know the magnitude of my wrath.
FORTY-TWO
EVELYN
I clenched my jaw as Kade walked toward the side of my bed. My pulse quickened from the overwhelming emotions that were threatening to consume me. Ignoring the glare I was giving him, Kade sat down and scrubbed his hands down his face before turning his eyes to me.
“We need to talk.” His voice was flatter than a race car track.
I scoffed. “Then go ahead, talk.” I crossed my arms over my chest. The overwhelming need to cry made me close my eyes. I would not show any sort of weakness in front of this man. I didn’t care what he had to say, I couldn’t forgive him for what happened to me and…I couldn’t even think of my best friend’s name without a searing hot pain hitting my chest.
Kade clenched his jaw and rested his forearms on his thighs. “I want to make sure you understand that I have a right to be angry as well, Evelyn. So, lose the fucking attitude and hear what I have to say.”
I felt like smoke would come out of my ears from the fiery rage that was building in me. “Oh, I’m sorry, did Iallow you to get tortured and watch your best friend get gutted like a fish in front of you? Oh, and, then did I let you get shoved into a van with said best friend’s bleeding corpse?” My voice choked up at the last two words. “You let himdrugme. After I gave you the information you asked for. So, no Kade, I can’t ‘lose my attitude’ when you are the monster working with Satan himself!” My pulse spiked, making all the machines attached to me beep and chime.
Kade’s jaw clenched. “I have never claimed to not be a monster. However, the monster I know I am is different from the one you think I am.”
“Then tell me, Kade, why should I believe a goddamned word from your mouth?”
“Because, deep down, I know what happened between us was real. Regardless of all the shit that happened around us.”
I met his gaze and found myself unable to argue.
As I went to spew some lies, Kade held up a hand to silence me. “Hear what I have to say. If you still feel the same by the end, I will leave you be. You owe me at least that.”
I nodded reluctantly.
He looked away for the briefest of moments and then back to me. “I had to make it seem real. I want you to look me in the eye when I say this next part, so I know you truly are hearing me, that you fully understand.”
His eyes seemed darker. As if the events of the past couple of days had tainted their color.
“I hate Anthony Fucking Ricci, and I fully intend on burning his sadistic empire to the ground, with or without your help.”
FORTY-THREE
KADE
Evelyn’s eyes bulged. “Wha-what? But you… you were working with him?” I could almost see the gears turning in her beautiful head.
“I know that itlookedlike I was. However, that was not the case at all.”
Evelyn shook her head as if she were trying to sort her thoughts by physically moving them in her head. “I don’t understand.”
