Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty-Five
Dex
T he one thing you never wanted to see when you got to a loved one’s hospital room was a group of medical personnel standing around the bed with worried brows and frowns. The doctor Angie and I had spoken to the night before, Dr. Halvert or something like that, was the first to look up when I stepped into the room. I was extremely relieved to hear the monitors beeping their usual chorus.
I swallowed to relieve the dryness in my throat. “Is there any change?” It was the only question I could think of, but I knew, from the expressions on the faces in the room that there had been a change, and it wasn’t a good one.
Dr. Halvert gave a few orders to the attending nurses and then the team walked out. None of them made eye contact with me except Nurse Jessop. She patted my arm softly before leaving. My throat had gone from dry to parched, and my stomach was clenched in an iron knot by the time the doctor made his way around the end of the bed to talk to me.
“We’d hoped that the fever would have come down by now. We’re increasing the antibiotic doses, but this will be the last time. We’ll be at max dosage.”
I looked over at Quinn. Again, I had to search for the tattoo on his forearm to make sure it was really him in the bed.
“These are words every doctor hates to say—but I’m afraid you need to prepare for the worst.”
The doctor might as well have just slammed me into the wall. His words were that brutal to hear. “But there’s still a chance?” I asked.
“As long as he’s alive, then there’s still a chance. However, that chance grows smaller with each passing day. I had hoped we’d see more progress, that he would wake up or at least show some signs that he was trying to make his way back, but the fever has been a big setback. We’re doing all we can, and the rest is up to him.”
Up to him. “I’ll stay awhile if that’s all right.”
“Absolutely. I’ll call his wife and explain the situation.”
“Angie,” I said with a sigh. This was going to destroy her.
The doctor left the room. I walked to the bedside. My phone beeped in my pocket. It had to be Angie. There were only a few people in my life who called or texted me. One was laying in the bed in front of me looking thin and weak and nothing like the friend I grew up with, and the other was his wife, Angie. I couldn’t break the news to her. I just didn’t have it in me yet.
I left the phone in my pocket and leaned down, bracing my fists on the bed, so I could get closer to Quinn. “You’re not doing this, do you hear me, buddy? No damn way I’m letting you slip out of our lives. You’ve got a kid to raise. Remember, when he was born, you said to me ‘I’m going to do this right. Not like my dad, the worthless monster. I’m going to be there for my kid every step of the way.’ Those were your exact words, so you’re not backing out now. You fight this, do you hear me? You’re the strongest person I know. Don’t you dare let me down, Quinn.”
I stepped back and sat in the chair feeling tired, tired of only hearing bad news, tired of constantly trying to make things work and always failing. I pulled my phone out to read Angie’s text. I was sure she had to sneak a second with her phone just to send it. I was surprised to find that the text was from Aria. It was odd and short. Only five letters. Need u .
I never expected to hear from her again. I stared at the text and then it hit me. I flew out of the hospital. It was raining. The streets were slick and the gutters were overflowing with rainwater as I pulled the bike out onto the road. I leaned down lower over the handlebars and twisted the throttle.
It felt like hours, but I made it to Juniper Road in Whisper Cove in less than twenty minutes. I was soaked to the bone by the time I reached the café. The two choppers were parked around the corner.
Adrenaline pumped through me as I yanked off my wet gloves and shoved them into my pocket. I pushed the door open. The two customers looked up from their burgers. They dropped their food and stood up. “The place is closed,” the big one said.
Aria stood behind her counter. Her bottom lip quivered.
“Are you all right?” I asked.
“I’m fine,” she said weakly.
The big one had a deep, coarse laugh. “Hey, Jack, do you know who this is? This is Quinn’s buddy. We’re just sitting here enjoying some lunch, but like I said, the place is closed. You should be on your way.” His last words were a threat.
“I’m not leaving.”
Jack reminded me of a scarecrow who’d been stuck out in the field too long. His lip curled up revealing brown teeth. “Is this your sweetheart? Ice, this whole lunch just got more interesting.” He sat back down and shoved the burger into his face.
“Is that right, Dex? Is this your sweetheart? You staying here to protect her?” He sat down. “Like I said, we’re just here for some lunch and to wait out that rainstorm.”
Aria shot me a pleading look. She wanted them out of the café, and I planned to get them out, rain or not.
“While you two stuff your faces, I think I’ll head over to where Quinn hid the coins.”
Ice put down his burger and wiped his mouth. “I already heard that you don’t know where the coins are any more than we do. Only difference is we’re willing to do whatever it takes to get our hands on those coins. Far as I’m concerned, everyone is fair game, even Quinn’s sweet little wife.” He looked across the room at Aria. “Seems I can add another sweetie to the list. Good to know, in case you happen to get to the coins before us. Always nice to have some leverage, especially when it’s beautiful leverage. What was it for you? That copper hair or those plump lips?”
He was trying to goad me into throwing the first fist, and it was working. My fingers were curled tightly, but there was no way I was going to start a brawl inside Aria’s café. I continued with my plan.
“Quinn came to this morning. I just came from the hospital. He told me the exact location.”
The chair creaked beneath Ice’s weight as he sat forward. “I don’t believe you.”
I shrugged. “That’s fine.” I leaned down and looked out the window. “Seems like the rain is letting up. Guess I’ll head out and grab those coins.”
They both got up from the table. “If you know, then tell us,” Jack sneered.
“Not going to do that. Of course, I can’t stop you from following me to the spot.” I was taking a risk walking out. It wasn’t a great plan, but it was the only one I had in my arsenal at the moment.
I walked to the door.
“You’re bluffing,” Ice said.
“What if I’m not? I figure I can grab the coins and be hours away before you two find the courage to step out in the bad weather.” Ice was pulling on his jacket as I spoke. Jack followed his lead. There was still a heavy drizzle, but it was better than the downpour I’d ridden in getting to town.
Some of the tension flowed from my body as the two followed me outside. I glanced inside and spotted Aria racing across the dining room to lock the door. Her brown gaze locked with mine through the window for a brief moment before I pulled mine away.
“So where are we going, and you better be telling the truth, otherwise it’ll be the last lie you ever tell.” There was a chunk of flesh missing from Ice’s jaw.
“Get on your bikes and follow me.” My one and only goal had been to get them out of the restaurant without causing any trouble or damage. I’d achieved that goal, but now I had these two jerks to contend with. A scattered plan came together, but there was no real goal this time. Soon they’d find out I was lying, and neither of them looked like the type who’d say, “Aw shucks, he was just jokin’” and be on their way. I was preparing myself for a brawl. I was outnumbered, but it wouldn’t be the first time.
With no real plan in place, I turned my bike toward the lighthouse. They followed. More relief. I’d lead them far away from the café, so Aria could pull the place together and get safely home and hopefully put the whole incident behind her. Even though all this trouble started in Quinn’s prison cell and had nothing to do with me, I still couldn’t help feeling entirely responsible for what’d happened. I’d been ready to tear them to pieces if they’d laid a hand on Aria.
I could hear the rattling thunder of the choppers behind me. I glanced back over my shoulder. They flanked me on each side about twenty feet back. The road was slick with rain and wet oil. Up ahead I saw the familiar turnoff for the lighthouse. I’d gotten rid of one duo at the lighthouse. Maybe I’d get lucky a second time. These two looked far more serious and lethal than Leo and his sidekick. Plus, I’d had the advantage that Leo was already hurt. I wasn’t so lucky this time. I’d noticed a knife in Jack’s belt, and I had no doubt Ice was armed with something, too. I hoped it was a knife and not a gun.
Bad weather had kept people away from the lighthouse. The clouds hung low and heavy over a churning gunmetal gray ocean. The day couldn’t have been gloomier, which fit my mood just fine. I hadn’t heard from Angie, so I could only assume she hadn’t talked to the doctor yet. It was hard for her to take calls at work, and her boss didn’t seem the least bit sympathetic to her situation.
I parked the bike. I’d walked into the café pumped on adrenaline because I wasn’t sure what I’d find inside. Now that I knew Aria was safe, I had very little urge to throw my fist at these guys. I had too much else on my mind—like actually finding the damn coins.
They both flicked water off their heads as they stomped toward me, arms out slightly from their sides and brows furrowed in concentration. “All right. Let’s go. You lead,” Ice said.
I chuckled. “Oh, that’s cute. You two actually believed all that stuff I said back there in the restaurant?”
Jack smacked Ice on the arm. “Told you he was full of it.”
I pointed at Jack. “Obviously, he’s the brains of the group, ’cuz yeah, I’m full of it. Now I was thinking we could just have a laugh about it, and then go our separate—” Ice stormed toward me with fists curled. “I guess not.”
I dodged the first fist and managed to get in a good blow to the side of his head. While Ice stumbled sideways for a second, Jack, who moved much faster, came at me with his knife. I spun around and kicked his arm. He grunted in pain, and the knife flew free of his hand. I was in the midst of my victory moment when one of Ice’s meaty fists got me straight in the face. My ears rang and my vision blurred as I stumbled backward. I pressed my hand over my mouth to catch dripping blood. Jack rubbed his arm as he searched around for the knife. In the meantime, Ice had pulled back his arm for another go. I blocked it and threw my fist into his stomach. He bent over, but there was enough meat around his middle to lessen the impact. He recovered quickly. I could feel the earth beneath my feet vibrate as he lumbered toward me with heavy, angry steps. My cheek was numb, and my entire head throbbed.
My fist came up under Ice’s chin. He grunted and his teeth snapped together. Blood seeped from the side of his mouth. I’d been focused on Ice and had lost track of his partner. I didn’t see the blade come at me until it was too late. It sliced through the sleeve of my jacket and just deep enough to leave a shallow cut in my arm.
I looked at the gash in my coat. “Now, I’m really mad. This is my only coat.” I drew my fist back, and as Jack turned to dodge my punch, I swung around and kicked him solidly in the back. He made that short, bursting, groaning sound that came with having the wind knocked out of you. Before I could swing around, Ice’s fist came down on my shoulder with enough force to knock me to my knees. While down there I gritted through the pain in my shoulder and used my good arm to hit him hard on the knee. I felt his patella shift to the side. My hand reverberated from the impact. Ice yelled out in pain, and the ground shook again as he dropped to his back. He grabbed his knee to staunch the pain.
I pushed to my feet and stared down at them. “I don’t care where you go from here, but I don’t ever want to see either of you again.”
I walked back to the motorcycle. Jack had recuperated, but he was leaning over, holding his back as he tried to help his much bigger buddy to his feet. Ice’s face was pale as snow. He was still gripping his knee. I now had two very dangerous enemies, who, no doubt, had equally dangerous connections. I was no closer to finding the coins, and Quinn’s health was getting worse. This day just kept getting better.
The rain had slowed to a cold, heavy mist. The coolness felt good on my face. My right eye was starting to close up from the swelling in my cheek. I could still taste blood in my mouth. It seemed to be coming from my nose. I got on the bike and headed back to Whisper Cove. I’d check on Aria and then go collapse in my creaky, cold bunk. I didn’t even have my one friend, Gus, to talk to.