Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
“You’re here.”
“Did you … the men, didn’t you get one?”
“No. They didn’t make it.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah. Don’t be afraid though. We will figure everything out. You have my word,” he said.
“I believe you.” She rubbed at her temple.
“Do you have any enemies?” Roman asked.
“Not that I know of.”
“I figured as much.”
The elevator doors slid open, and he pushed her out into the main area. Like all the other times before, it was so busy. She looked left and right, and there were so many people. This was one of the many reasons why she hated coming here. A quick glance around the room, and she saw so many people in different states of distress. It was heartbreaking. People were worried, panicked, annoyed, and in pain.
Roman didn’t linger, and the moment they were out in the fresh air, she felt better. She spotted Antonio, Marlo, and Cash up ahead.
They gave them a wave, and Roman pushed her toward the table where a coffee and a plate of food waited for her.
She noticed there was no other food. “Are you guys not going to eat?” she asked.
“Hospital food,” Roman said, wrinkling his nose.
Alex rolled her eyes. She was hungry. She took a sip of her coffee and then shoved a giant fry in her mouth. The food wasn’t great, but it was food. She missed Millie’s food.
“How are you feeling?” Antonio asked.
“Fine. I want to leave the hospital. I’m fit as can be.”
Marlo and Cash laughed.
“You’re not leaving yet.”
“People leave the hospital all the time with wounds far worse than this. Why do I have to stay?” she asked.
She wanted to stamp her foot and slam her hand against the table, but she did fear it would harm her chances of getting out sooner.
The doctor had stopped coming to her room. There was only a nurse assessing her injuries now. She didn’t see what the big deal was. It was time for her to come home.
“The doctor wants to check on your recovery,” Roman said.
Alex noticed the way Antonio, Marlo, and Cash looked at him.
“The doctor hasn’t been to see me for two days, Roman. I’m good to go, and I bet he has cleared me to leave.”
“You’re not leaving.”
“What is the big deal?” Alex asked. “I hate being here.”
“It’s safe for you here,” Roman said.
She opened her mouth and closed it. Taking another sip of coffee, she stared at him and realized what he hadn’t been saying. “The threat is still out there.”
“At this hospital, your dad has plenty of men in place. I’m always here. We can monitor who gets close to your room. You are safe.”
His friends wouldn’t look at her.
“I … I can’t stay here, Roman. I hate it here. There has to be some other place I can go.”
“I can’t guarantee your safety anywhere else. You’re staying here, and I can protect you.”
She slowly ate the food on her plate, taking her time and trying to think of some way of getting out of the hospital.
“You must hate it here as well,” she said.
“I do, but I am willing to do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”
She rolled her eyes. “This isn’t safe. This is … this is biding our time until I’m attacked again.” She wasn’t trying to make light of what happened, but staying in the hospital wasn’t going to help.
“I’m not putting your life at risk.”
“I want to talk to my dad,” Alex said. She held her hand out. “Please let me borrow one of your cell phones.”
No one moved.
“Alex, this is my decision.”
“And your decision is crap. I need to speak to my father.”
She still didn’t get a cell phone.
“Fine. If you won’t help me, I will find someone who will.” She glanced down at her chair.
Roman had put the brakes on, but because she’d been playing the role of a good student, she didn’t know where to remove the brakes.
She gritted her teeth and then looked up. “I know a place where I can be safe. That’s in a secure place. No one will find me. No one will think to find me.”
Roman folded his arms, and she knew he was going to shoot it down.
“Where?” he asked.
“The orphanage. Think about it. No one but us needs to know, and possibly my father. Perhaps your dad,” Alex said.
“No. My father doesn’t need to know.”
“My dad will want to know,” Alex said. “We can’t keep him in the dark.”
“What makes you think the orphanage is a good idea? People go and visit.”
“Yes, but I can blend in. I’m always there. People don’t know that I’m Liam’s daughter, and it’s one of dad’s privately owned buildings. He helps to invest money there, but he doesn’t do so openly. It’s private. For the safety of the children, and also for me, seeing as I volunteer there all the time, even before I found Stuart,” Alex said.