Page 881 of Coal Hearts

“Agreed. None of your business.” Henri stepped in front of me, crossing his arms. “Why the early morning visit?”

Looking down the corridor, he narrowed his eyes as Tess appeared. Scratching his five o’clock shadow, he shifted uncomfortably. “Eh...”

I frowned and moved to Henri’s side. I’d not known his brother long but seeing him tongue-tied didn’t fit with his usual rather snappy, prickly personality. “Everything okay?”

Tess came toward us, a charcoal woollen dress framing her curves. “We just got a call. From the hospital.”

Q glanced at her and paced away to look out the window. “You tell them. I feel like I keep fucking everything up.”

“Tell us what?” Henri asked, a trace of suspicion in his cool tone.

Catching my stare, Tess winced. “Well...you know how we had some jewels healing here but the worst cases—the ones too damaged—” She flung her arms up. “Dammit, I can’t. Just...we need to show you something.”

Henri flicked me a look. “The last time Q showed me something, I found out Ily hadn’t died...only to watch her die a few weeks later.”

“Yes well, we promise no one is going to die this time.” Tess grinned with a guilty shrug. “We hope.”

“Meet us downstairs. There’s a car waiting.” Q stalked away. Snatching Tess’s wrist, he dragged her with him.

Closing the door, Henri scowled. “Any idea what’s got up his ass?”

“Nope.” I flung myself into his arms and kissed him. “But he’s not patient so I suggest we go find out.”

* * * * *

My nose wrinkled at the scents of bleach and dying.

I’d always hated hospitals.

Despite being found at one and my father working in one every day, I’d never been able to get over the stench or the energy of the place. The energy of hope and loss, fear and prayer.

Henri held my hand as we followed Tess and Q.

We’d flown here.

By a private helicopter.

I knew Henri’s brother was loaded but until that moment when he shoved us into a helicopter with a sparrow logo on its tail and threw a headset at us, I hadn’t truly understood.

France had unravelled like a children’s story book as we flew to the roof of a hospital only to land and be immediately greeted by a doctor in a blinding white coat.

That doctor led our procession.

He hadn’t said a word, just nodded at Q and started walking.

Nerves popped in my stomach the longer we walked through a labyrinth of white, stark corridors. Nurses raised an eyebrow as we cut through their station then turned left and continued all the way to the end.

There, the doctor rested his hand on the doorknob and gave us a look. “I must apologise for the mix-up. We should’ve tried harder to confirm identities despite the patient being uncommunicative until this time. I’m not sure how such paperwork wasn’t thoroughly—”

“Just open the door,” Q barked. Stepping aside, he arched his chin at Tess to join him and added, “You two go in. We’ll stay out here.”

Nerves exploded into full-blown panic. “What’s going on?”

The doctor twisted the doorknob and pushed it open. “I think it’s best if you see for yourself, and then...we can chat.”

Sharing a worried look with me, Henri tugged me forward and we stepped into the hospital room.

Winter sunlight spilled inside, bouncing off pale green curtains wrapped around the bed at the end. Our boots squeaked on the linoleum as we made our way to the window.