Chapter 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Sutton
I splash cold water on my face and stare at my reflection.
I look like a hot mess after our bout of lovemaking and finding out that people are being hunted like wild animals.
I shake my head because even if I don’t care about my appearance, there’s more life-altering events taking place that I should be focused on.
“You can do this, Sutton. Put one foot in front of the other and take a step out that door.” Here lately, I’ve found that giving myself a pep talk gives me the courage to move forward.
Inhaling, I twist the doorknob and step out into chaos.
Orion is being held back by Pisces and Gemini, the latter is bent over, whispering something in his ear.
But the way his eyes are wide and bewildered have me pausing.
“What’s going on?” I ask, letting them know I’ve rejoined them.
Gemini quickly swivels on his feet, his face withdrawn—a mask I recognize. One he wears often when he’s trying to cover his emotions. “Baby, I think it’s best if you sit down while I tell you this,” he says, his voice low yet ominous.
On shaky legs, I amble over to the closest chair to me and all but collapse into it. “How bad, Gemini?”
He pats Orion on the chest and walks over to me, kneeling down in front of me and clasping my hands in his. “It’s Skippy,” he announces. I become lightheaded and feel like I’m on a tilt awhirl ride. “She’s the woman who was found on the side of the road by the passerby.”
“What? How?” I babble. I am the world’s worst best friend. I’ve been so enchanted by the relationship with Gemini, along with all of the Allen crap, that I’ve all but abandoned her. “Is she… is she dead?”
“No, baby,” he quickly says, trying to put my mind at ease. “But she’s not in good shape. She’s in emergency surgery and as of now, she’s stable.”
“Don’t lie to me, Gemini,” I scoff. “I want you to give it to me straight.”
“I can’t do that, Sutton, because I don’t know the facts,” he reiterates.
“We have to go to the hospital. I need to be there for her,” I whimper.
“We’ll go but first, Mercury’s on his way there to get the lay of the land and find out some information. Sutton, Do you know if she has any family?” he asks.
We may have been reduced to texts and phone calls these past few weeks, along with a few FaceTime calls, but at this point, we pretty much know everything about one another.
I wrack my brain to remember what she’s said about her family and come up blank.
“I-I can’t remember,” I moan out, my head now in my hands as tears fall down my cheeks.
“I don’t think they’re in her life now for some reason, so it’s even more important for me to be there for her. ”
“They might only let family be there with her,” he cautions. “From the newscast, it sounds like she’s in bad shape, sweetheart.”
“How did this happen?” I whisper. “She took a couple of days off because she had some doctor appointments. It’s a pain in the neck to try and work around zipping into and out of the different doctor offices in the complex.”
While the hospital is the primary building, many of the providers have their own offices on the premises, which makes it easier for them to see patients when they’ve been admitted.
Not all small towns do this, but up until now, I personally thought it was very convenient for people who had to go to the hospital’s lab for testing or to get MRIs and CAT scans.
“We know as much as you do,” Pisces says while Orion paces, pulling at his hair and muttering to himself.
Gemini takes charge then and asks, “Orbit on the way?” At Pisces’ nod, he continues.
“Good, then Sutton and I will head up to the hospital. When he gets here, show him his new room and tell him I want everything there is out there regarding Sutton’s situation, as well as whatever he can find out about those other people. ”
“I’m coming with y’all,” Orion states. The expression on his face is unyielding and I briefly wonder why he’s so invested.
I mean, the guys got to meet her, of course, but outside of that, none of the guys have even hinted at being interested in her in a romantic sense.
So Orion’s insistence has me wondering if I missed something.
* * *
It took some finessing when we got to the hospital, and I had to pull out my credentials, but I’m now standing over my best friend, who’s still unconscious and hooked up to so many machines it’s hard to see a bare spot of skin.
“She’s got a traumatic brain injury, so we’re watching for swelling right now.
The next forty-eight to seventy-two hours are critical,” the doctor intones as I tightly grip her hand.
“Surgery was done to repair the damage from the arrows, and we were able to remove the bullet from her hip. All of those injuries should heal, although she’s going to need physical therapy for both her hip as well as her shoulder, since her labrum was torn and her rotator cuff was separated. ”
I may not know a lot of medical terms, but I’ve learned enough with my job to know her shoulder was messed up big time. “Y’all will let me know if there are any changes?” I ask, never looking away from her face, which has cuts and bruises.
In fact, her whole body is busted up with scratches, deep gashes, bruises, and of course, the arrow and bullet wounds. Seeing her head wrapped in gauze and spotting the pink discoloration, I know that they cleaned the laceration there as well.
“You’re on her paperwork as her emergency contact, Miss Alexander,” the doctor replies. “I apologize for the initial confusion when you tried to get in, but because of the sensitive nature of her injuries and the potential circumstances surrounding them, we’re being extra cautious.”
Considering there’s an armed police officer outside of Skippy’s ICU room, I’m glad they’re taking her security seriously.
I don’t know what the hell happened for her to be in this position and will have to wait for her to wake up to find out, but I know that because of her association to me, the Kings will not leave any stone unturned until the culprit or culprits have been found and justice has been served.
I may be a huge fan of law enforcement, but I know my man and his brothers dance along that gray line now that they’re with the Kings.
Surprisingly, it doesn’t bother me one single bit if they find out who is responsible and permanently take them out.
Skippy needs a hero right now and while these guys don’t ride horses, they’re the men she’s gonna need.
“Can I stay with her?” I question.
“Normally, I’d say no. However, since head injuries can be tricky and the brain is a complex organ, I’ve found that having someone who is close to the patient staying with them helps.
Talk to her even though she doesn’t respond and let her know you’re here with her,” the doctor replies.
“If you know what kind of music she enjoys, play it softly by her head. One of the most interesting things to me as a physician is seeing how music often plays a part in someone’s healing. ”
“She loves audiobooks too,” I murmur.
Right now, I wish she’d open her eyes and say, “Gotcha!” but that’s just fanciful thinking. She’s lucky to still be alive, so whatever it takes to bring her fully back, that’s what I’m going to do.
I catch the doctor trying not to roll his eyes and giggle. “Let me guess, you know someone who enjoys them as well, right?”
His face flushes slightly as he says, “My wife. She forgets to unsync things in her car and when I’ve had to drive it into work, I’ve gotten quite the earful.”
“Ah, she likes the racy ones then,” I tease.
“You could say that.” His embarrassment has him shutting down a little bit, so I try and turn the conversation back to Skippy.
“She also likes true crime podcasts,” I say. “But maybe those should be held off until she’s awake. I don’t want it to cause any nightmares that she can’t break out of with the way she currently is.”
“Good idea,” the doctor replies. “I’ll be checking on her periodically, but the nurses know to call me if anything changes with her vital signs. We also have her hooked up to several machines that will monitor her neurological responses, as well as swelling.”
“Healthcare has come a long way, huh?” I lightheartedly murmur. “At least we’re beyond using leeches.”
He chuckles as he starts to head out of the room. “If I’m not mistaken, they’re still used in some circumstances, but we don’t have them here so you don’t have to worry.”
Gemini, who has been silently at my side this whole time, wraps his arms around me and puts his head on my shoulder. “We’re going to find out who did this to her,” he whispers as he stares down at her unmoving body. “Then they’re going to find out because they damn sure fucked around.”
“Yeah we are,” Orion pipes in, his gaze never leaving Skippy’s face either. I notice his fists are clenched and the fierceness of his expression has me stepping back. There’s a simmering anger that surrounds him and I wonder why until it dawns on me.
He likes her. He may joke around about being too young to settle down, but he’s attracted to her and this has thrown him for a loop.
A little bit later, after we sit here in silence watching for any signs of life, Gemini pulls me out into the hallway and Orion follows us out. “I told you I’m always going to put you first, right?” Gemini poses.
“Yes,” I remark, watching him closely because he’s once again shut down his emotions outside of the ones surrounding me.
“I need to head out and meet Mercury, but first, I need to know what you want to do,” he states.
“In regard to?” I inquire, unsure of where he’s going with this conversation.
“Do you want to stay here longer with Skippy, or head back to the house?” he questions, peering into my eyes.
“I’d like to stick around here a bit longer and keep an eye on her. I don’t think she should be alone right now,” I insist. “She’s my sister, Gemini. The only one I’ve ever had.” We may not share any DNA with each other, but that’s how I think of her and I won’t leave her if I can help it.
“Then if she’s your family, she’s mine,” he acknowledges. “I’m going to post some of our guys around the hospital, don’t leave unless you’re with one of them. Got it?”
“Got it,” I say, nodding my head. I understand that my protection is his top priority, and I want his sole focus on finding the motherfucker who did this to her, so I’ll do anything he says and follow every command if it gives him the freedom to locate her assailants.
“Orion, you sticking around here or heading out with me?” Gemini asks his cousin. When I glance up at Orion, I notice how conflicted he is.
“Go, Orion,” I whisper, reaching out and squeezing his shoulder. “I promise, I won’t leave her side and I’ll keep you updated. If even one of her fingers twitches, you’ll be the first person I call.”
He swallows past the lump in his throat, I watch as his Adam’s apple bobs before he comes to a conclusion. “I’m coming with you. I’ll be better in the field than sitting at her bedside.”
Gemini nods at him then leans down and presses his lips against mine. It’s not a scorching kiss full of fire and brimstone, but it’s still one full of passion and ownership. When he pulls back, he lays his forehead against mine and orders, “Stay inside, baby. Love you.”
“To the moon and back,” I whisper. “Love you, too.” He escorts me back to Skippy’s room and I watch him with longing as he walks away.
“Be safe,” I mumble as I close the door, leaning my head against it.
“Come back to me in one piece.” My biggest fear is that Allen and his people will make him pay tribute for not getting what they want—me.