Chapter 49
Vincent
Breakfast is eggs, toast, and something that looks like it’s supposed to be bacon. But I’m doubtful.
I eat all that shit anyway, though, because I’m starving. It don’t taste as good as that fuck ass boar did, but it hits the spot.
After I finish, a nurse comes in to check my vitals. I ask about Ari, about if she’s awake, if she ate, and how the baby’s doing, but this lady don’t understand me. She leaves and sends the translator back in, and he saunters in all happy like shit is sweet.
As calmly as I possibly can, I look at him and say, “Respectfully, if I don’t see my girl in the next five minutes, it’s gon’ be a problem.”
His face falls. “Mr. Newcastle—“
“I ain’t askin’,” I say. “I know about the protocolo, and the psychology, and all that other shit. And I’m telling you, you got five minutes to let me see her or I’m goin’ ape on y'all niggas.”
“Sir, please—“
I stand up, ripping the IV tape off my arm. “I’ll find her myself.”
That gets everybody’s attention.
Within seconds, there’s another nurse, a man in uniform, and the doctor all standing in the fuckin’ doorway. They’re all talking at once, telling me to calm down, to sit, to wait. But I don’t.
“Move the fuck out the way,” I say, my voice low now, steady in that way I get when I’ve made up my mind. “Move or get moved. Your choice.”
They make the wise decision to step out my way. I don’t know where the fuck I’m going, but I’ll find her. I don’t care if I gotta do a sweep of this entire building, top to bottom.
“Mr. Newcastle!”
Rick O’Donnell, the embassy guy, jogs up behind me.
“She’s in room seven. Can I take you to her?”
I wave him off. “My legs work.”
There it is. Room seven. That was easy.
When I open the door, there she is.
My island angel.
She’s sitting up in bed, face all sad, eyes wide when she sees me. She looks beautiful, but also strange in this setting.
I cross the room in two steps and pull her into my arms.
“Hey,” I say against her cheek. “How you feelin’?”
“I’m okay,” she says. “I heard the baby’s heartbeat.”
I pull back and press my palm to her stomach. “I wanna hear it.”
She smiles and puts her hand over mine. “I missed you.”
Rick is hovering in the doorway, so I tell him to make himself useful. “Aye, get the doctor in here so I can hear my baby.”
I turn back to her. “I missed you, too. How’d you sleep?”
“I slept okay,” she says, putting a hand on my cheek. “How are you? Why are you bleeding?”
I look down at my arm. “Took my IV out. But it’s whatever. I’m here now.”
The doctor comes in with that little machine, and when he puts the wand on Ari’s stomach, the sound fills the room. A fast, steady thump.
The most beautiful sound in the world.
“That’s us,” I say quietly. “That’s our baby.”
A tear rolls down Ari’s cheek, which I wipe away with my thumb. But I can’t tell if she’s happy crying or sad crying.
“Mr. Newcastle?”
Rick steps out of the doorway into the room, inclining his head at the doctor, who leaves immediately.
“What’s good?”
“Great news,” he says. “You’ve both been cleared medically. Now it’s time to make arrangements for your return to the U.S. You’re going home.”
Ari looks at me, and I look at her.
Home.
Fuck.
That word has a whole lotta different meanings right now.
Ari swallows hard, and I see it all over her face—a mix of hope and fear. Home ain’t supposed to feel like the unknown, but after being gone this long, shit done changed. People done changed. We’ve changed.
We’re finally leaving the island behind, but like…it feels so sudden. I ain’t sayin’ I wanted to stay on that bitch, but this feels fast.
Rick is still talking. Some shit about passports, flights, debriefing. But I don’t hear shit. All I can think about is what’s about to happen.
I don’t know if we’re ready for it.