Game of Vengeance by Amanda K. Byrne

Author:Amanda K. Byrne [Byrne, Amanda K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensignton Publishing Corp.
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Hospitals exist in this weird pocket of time, where everything is speeding up and slowing down all at once. The paramedics won’t let me ride in the back with Scott, but they allow me to ride up front, and we roll into the loading bay at UCLA Medical Center in a matter of minutes.

After that, everything’s at warp speed. Scott’s wheeled into a curtained-off area, and a nurse stays with me to find out what happened while people in scrubs crowd around his gurney. She takes the information and points me toward a restroom where I can wash the blood from my hands.

If I were normal, I wouldn’t have made it out of the bathroom. I’d be curled in a ball on the floor, whimpering and rocking back and forth, and the guilt that’s starting to encroach would have taken over completely. But I’m not normal. I can push that guilt into a corner to deal with later. I can hold myself together until I have time to break down. Nick’s right. I’m not normal, I doubt I ever will be, and it’s about fucking time I start accepting it.

So I wash my hands, march out of the restroom, and head for the waiting room.

My phone buzzes against my hip, and I pull it out, checking the screen. It’s Nick, probably wanting to know why I haven’t returned his car. “Hey.”

“Cass? Are”—dead air—“done?”

Damn hospitals. “Hold on.” I wind through the waiting area and step outside, squinting into the sun. “Sorry, crappy reception. What did you say?”

“Wanted to know if you were still on campus. If you are, I can have Con drop me off, and we can grab something to eat.”

I scoot farther from the entrance as another ambulance pulls up. “Constantine should drop you on campus so you can pick up your car. I’m at the hospital right now, and I don’t have any way of getting back to the car other than walking.”

He’s quiet for so long I pull the phone away from my ear to check to see if we’re still connected. “Nick?”

“You can’t say something like that and just leave me hanging.”

I wince. “Sorry. I’m fine. Scott was shot. I came with him. I should get back inside. They’ll probably be taking him up to surgery soon.” Since I’m not family, I doubt the staff will tell me much, but I need to be there for Scott.

The redhead from earlier wanders into view, and I wave her down. “I need to go,” I tell Nick.

“Text me the location of the car.” He doesn’t sound pissed. He doesn’t sound happy, either.

We hang up as the girl stops in front of me, shifting her weight onto her back foot. “Hi?” Her fingers curl tight around the strap of her messenger bag. “Um. I’m Tori. Victoria. Tori. Call me Tori.” A blush sweeps over her cheeks.

I manage a smile because she looks like she needs it. “Cass. Are you here for Scott?”

She nods. “Is that his name? I thought…” She looks at the door.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.