Chapter 43
Madi
Ihurt.
As my adrenaline subsided, pain flooded my system.
Everything hurt.
Inside and out.
My lungs, nose, and throat.
My arms, legs, and chest.
I lifted my arms. My wrists are shredded.
I touched my cheeks and felt bandages.
Tears filled my eyes as my body started to tremble.
The small tremors quickly escalated to full on shaking as panic joined the pain.
“Help her.” A gruff voice penetrated the pain induced fog in my mind.
“The morphine should kick in any second now,” a calm voice answered.
And it did. Taking my consciousness with the pain.
I woke up in a hospital bed surrounded by white walls and beeping machines. The air tube in my nose supplied a steady stream of clean air, no doubt oxygen rich, and the IV in my arm probably provided steady doses of morphine based on my pain-free state.
My eyelids still felt more like sandpaper than flesh as they blinked over my eyes.
“Madi?” Mom asked.
“Matt?”
“He’ll be okay,” Dad answered. “The doctor set his arm and treated his burns.”
“Bad?”
Thank God they understood what I meant, because my throat could only handle one word at a time.
“Second and third-degree burns. He may need a skin graft, but he’ll make a full recovery.”
Thank you, God.
I nodded as tears of relief rolled down my face.
“Water.”
My mom held the cup and guided the straw to my lips.
The bland, room temperature liquid was the best thing I’d ever tasted in my entire life.
“See him?” I needed to see that he was okay.
“I’ll ask Jamie to see if he’s awake yet.”
“Thanks.”
“Do you want to see your brothers?”
When I opened my mouth, my mom said, “Just nod or shake.”
I nodded and held up one finger.
“In a minute?” Dad asked.
I shook my head.
“One at a time?” he asked.
I nodded to confirm.
“I’ll text Jamie.”
Dad answered the door when a knock sounded. Jamie watched me as Dad talked to him. He nodded before walking over.
“You gave us quite a scare, big sister.”
More tears. This time happy ones because I was alive to hear my twin tease me.
“Sorry.”
“Dad said to ask yes or no questions, so I’ll do my best.”
I smiled in response.
“Can I hug you?”
His face blurred when I nodded a little too enthusiastically.
“Be gentle,” Mom warned him.
“I promise.”
Jamie’s hug was gentle but firm. “I’m so sorry. I never should have let you leave the house.”
“Not.”
“Shhh.” He pulled away. “I’m not responsible for Pamela’s actions, but I’m responsible for mine. You had a protection detail for a reason, and I failed you when I let you leave without him.”
“Don’t—”
“Madi.” Tears filled his eyes. “I… Please, just accept my apology.”
I nodded. When I could talk like a normal person again, I’d correct his misguided guilt.
“Thank you.”
“Pamela.”
“We know. She was standing outside when we got there. She’s being held without bail for attempted murder and arson.”
A shiver ran the length of my body as his words sank in. Pamela planned on watching the building burn as I slowly died inside.
“Insane.”
“Most likely. She’ll undergo a psychiatric evaluation before standing trial.”
“Either way, she’ll be locked up for a long time,” Dad added.
Part of me wanted to feel sympathy for her; she couldn’t be blamed if she was mental ill.
Part of me wanted to scratch her fucking eyes out for the hell she put me through.