Page 60 of Wounded Hearts

Doc walked back in with a smile. “Doctor Marshall is going to discharge you this morning. You just need to pick up his medication.”

“Don’t need it, Doc. I handled my leg pain and I can handle this.”

Doc nodded and turned to Mara. “You can collect it from the pharmacy later rather than hanging around.”

Mara snorted at the way Doc handled Drew. “Thanks, Doc.” Mara grinned and looked at Drew. “Let’s get out of here.”

The next twenty minutes were chaotic as Lauren fussed and Drew batted her away. Mara tried to pack all his things and Dane—who was obviously more practised at this—sat in the armchair reading a fitness magazine Daniel had left for Drew.

Doc had left saying he had friends he wanted to visit while he was at the hospital and would see them at the Estate. As they turned to leave, the door opened, and they froze as Rhea Winslow walked in.

Behind her were three men and Mara could see the guns under their jackets. Dane and Drew moved to push Lauren and her behind them, and then the two men lifted their hands towards their guns.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. I have men on the Paediatric Ward, and they’ll open fire if you so much as make a move towards me. I didn’t come to hurt you. I just want what’s mine.”

“And what is that?” Danger rippled from Dane, as she could feel the fury inside Drew as she kept her hand on his back.

“Release Nazareli.”

Dane straightened. “No way.”

“You think you have a choice, but do you really want the death of all those children on your conscience?” Rhea angled her head as if she was asking the time not threatening the lives of innocent children.

“Let her have Nazareli, Dane,” Lauren begged.

“Listen to her, Dane.”

Mara heard Dane growl, but knew he had no choice. “I need time to arrange it.”

“If she doesn’t walk into the cafeteria in thirty minutes, then all those parents will be grieving the loss of their children. Oh, and another thing, I want her to fetch her.” Rhea pointed at Mara and Drew moved but Mara held him back.

“You’re sick.” Mara curled her lip in contempt at the woman.

Rhea crossed her hands in front of her and Mara saw the large black opal ring she wore on her left ring finger. “I’m merely a visionary who is prepared to do what it takes to ensure her mission is accomplished.”

“You keep telling yourself that, nutjob.”

Mara saw Rhea’s face tighten, her calm façade falling for a second at the insult before she smoothed her features. “The clock is ticking. Do not follow me, or my men will carry out their orders.” Rhea turned and walked from the room, her men leading the way.

Drew turned to Mara and dragged her against him. She held him tight as he pulled away and kissed her. “You okay?”

Mara nodded. “Yes, but we need to save those children. I need to help, Drew.”

Drew looked to Dane who had one arm around a trembling Lauren and the other holding his phone to his ear.

“Zack, we have a problem.” Dane outlined what had happened to Zack and Mara could hear him swearing over the line.

“We don’t have time to recon this and put a plan together that guarantees the safety of these children.” Dane looked pained as he spoke, and Mara and the others felt it too. A few minutes later Dane hung up. “Jack will release her. It just means we have to find them both again.”

Drew pushed his hands through his hair in frustration. “Fuck. I don’t want Mara near this.”

Dane put his hands to his hips in defeat and hung his head. “I feel you, brother, but what other choice do we have?”

* * *

Zack lobbedthe phone across the room and Ava looked up from the text she was reading. “What the hell?”

“Rhea just walked into the hospital and threatened to open fire on the children’s ward unless we release Nazareli Holt. Oh, and Mara has to deliver her.”