Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 62811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
I shake my head. “No, I’m fine. Just a bit shaken up, but I’m physically fine,” I say softly even though there is an ache between my legs. There is no sense in going in for a rape kit when there is no one left to charge with a crime.
While the active crime scene procedures continue on, I step out onto the porch and order an Uber. Tristan’s car is still in the driveway, but I don’t see him anywhere outside. It would’ve been easier to just hitch a ride with Tristan, but I don’t want to run the risk of running into their father.
I anxiously wait for the car to arrive, and Tristan comes to a stop next to me. “Sure you don’t need a ride?” he asks again.
I shake my head, wrapping my arms around my body. “The officer wanted me to stay put because he had a couple more things to ask,” I lie.
Tristan frowns. “I can stay with you—”
“I’m fine.” I force a small smile. “He said he’d give me a ride back into town. Besides, you should probably go get Talon a change of clothes so that he doesn’t have to leave the hospital in bloody clothes.”
He contemplates what I’ve said before he slowly nods. “You’re right,” he says. “I’ll stop by the apartment to check on you after I check on Talon.”
I nod to acknowledge his words and watch him leave, breathing a slight sigh of relief. Just as Tristan pulls out of the driveway, my Uber arrives, literally passing him as he continues on down the road. I wait for a few moments before I enter to give Tristan enough time to get further down the road before I get in and finally leave Garrett and the terror he’s caused today behind me.
I walk up to the registration counter at the ER, scanning the waiting room to make sure I don’t see Tristan or his father around.
“Are you here to be seen?” the guy behind the counter asks.
I clear my throat. “Um, my brother was brought here not too long ago. Talon Steele?”
He types something onto his computer and grabs a visitor sticker and hands it to me. “Room 22,” he says. I thank him and walk through the automatic doors when they open. My heart races a little faster as I say a quick mental prayer that Talon is alone long enough for me to check on him. As soon as I can confirm that he’s okay, I can sneak back out before Tristan gets here.
Talon is awake when I get to his room, a small smile on his lips when I walk in. I return his smile and quickly make my way over to his bedside.
“How are you feeling?” I ask, but then shake my head. “That’s probably a stupid question. I’m sure you’re in pain since you got shot.”
“It’s not so bad now. Pain medicine works wonders,” he says with a light chuckle.
I look at his arm, which is now bandaged. “Was it bad? What did the doctor say?”
“It’s not as bad as it could’ve been.” He winces a little as he shifts in the bed. “The bullet went through, so it was just a matter of stopping the bleeding.”
“Did you lose a lot of blood? You passed out before the ambulance arrived.”
“Not as much as I thought. Probably just went into shock from everything that happened.”
I put my hand on top of his. “I’m just glad you’re okay. I was so worried.” I pause for a moment. “I really do appreciate you coming for me. And I’m sorry about the way I treated you the last time I saw you. You didn’t deserve that.”
“We weren’t going to just ignore something like that if we thought you were in danger.” He holds my gaze. “Regardless of whatever you think, we’re not these evil assholes that you keep trying to make us out to be.”
“I know.” I sigh. I give his hand a light squeeze. “But I appreciate you guys for not giving up on me.”
“Well, can you start showing that appreciation by getting me something to drink?” He clears his throat. “That pain medicine has really dried my mouth out.”
I look around but don’t see anything in his room. “Sure, I’ll go find something,” I say. “Anything in particular?”
“Coffee, if they have it.”
I walk over to the nurse’s station and ask for directions to the vending machine, only to be directed back out to the waiting area. I find the vending machine area and see a machine that dispenses both coffee and hot chocolate for visitors, so I grab a cup for the both of us. Right when I round the corner onto the hall Talon’s room is on, I spot the one person I never wanted to see again.
My breaths come in fast as I take slow steps backward. Mr. Steele stands in the hallway talking with a nurse, listening intently and nodding to whatever she’s saying. All of the memories of him flood my brain all at once and everything in me screams at me to run. He looks like he did when I was younger, aside from his hair being more gray, but with the fear coursing through my veins, he may as well have been the devil. He looks away briefly and spots me, recognition and surprise filling his face when he realizes who I am.