“That would be my brother and his… friends.”
It couldn’t be further from the truth, but it required less explanation than calling them enemies.
The mattress shifted as she stood. “They’ve been out there for more than twenty-four hours. If I didn’t know better I’d say it’s some kind of standoff.”
“You’re probably not far off.”
“Did the nurse explain the rest of your injuries?” she asked.
“She did.” I knew them by heart — the fractured arm, the broken ribs, the injured spleen, the cut on my forehead — but my body would have told the story even if the nurse hadn’t.
“Nothing that won’t heal with time,” Doctor Sterling said. “How is your pain?”
“Manageable,” I said.
“Good. Let the nurse know if the current meds stop cutting it. No reason for you to suffer.”
“I will.” I wished I could see her face. She was surprisingly nice for a doctor.
“I’ll be back to check on you tomorrow, but let the nurses know if you need anything.” She was moving away from me now, her footsteps swift and purposeful on the floor.
“Can I see my brother? And his… friends?”
“Family only for now, but I’ll tell the nurses.”
“Thank you.”
I sensed her absence as soon as she left the room.
I was alone again. In the dark.
The monster threatening to tip my tiny boat.
8
VIGO
I eyed the nurses’station as the last remaining nurse — a younger guy with pale hair — stepped out from behind the long counter and headed down the hallway.
I glanced at my phone.
Right on schedule.
I wandered as casually as I could over to Hawk and Jagger, leaning against the wall and murmuring in tones low enough that Bram, Poe, and Remy probably couldn’t hear them. Maeve had gone to get coffee, a good thing since I was pretty sure no one was getting anything past Maeve.
Across the waiting room, a thirty-something guy in a polo sat slumped over in a chair, a morose expression on his face.
“Let’s go,” I said to Hawk and Jagger.
Jagger looked up, his brow furrowed. “Go?”
I started walking, knowing they’d catch up. It was second nature for us to move in a pack. Even more than that, none of us ever wanted to miss out on any fun, and fun was always right around the corner, even in this fucked-up situation.
“Where the fuck are we going?” Hawk asked.
I headed down the hall leading to Cassie’s room. “To see our mouse. Obviously.”
I’d been itching to get into Cassie’s room ever since the doctor had said she was out of surgery. Bram had been in three times — alone — and had said she was in some pain but okay.
