Chapter 53 – Sydney
SYDNEY
I hate hospitals. The last time I was here at Fortune City Emergency and Critical Care, it was to watch my grandmother die. The time before that? My parents.
Every time I’m here, someone dies.
The waiting room chair digs into my back, no matter how I sit. It’s hopeless. It’s like these seats were designed to be deliberately uncomfortable. I slump forward instead, elbows on my knees.
Across the room, Alec and Seb are arguing, their voices pitched low. I can only catch fragments of their conversation: not safe anymore… the compound… our only choice…
I barely listen. Barely care, even though I know they’re talking about me.
The doctors are with Viper now, examining him. They said the main concern is smoke inhalation and some second-degree burns to his hands and arms, but I don’t trust it. Something is wrong, I can feel it. I just know it.
I’ve called Jade at least forty times in the few minutes it took to follow the ambulance over here, but she hasn’t answered. And Justin’s phone is going straight to voicemail.
I stare down at my phone, feeling broken, empty. Gone. Everything I’ve built, everything I sacrificed for. It’s all gone, burned down to ash.
How could this happen?
“She was probably gone for the day, right? It was already late,” Ash says from the seat next to mine, trying to sound reassuring. His hand settles on my back, his touch soothing and sweet.
“Maybe.” My voice sounds weak, disconnected from my body. “But I… I left her there with so much work. What if she was still in there?” I can’t shake the feeling that something is wrong. Jade never ignores my calls. Never.
Alec and Seb finally stop arguing and come join us. Neither one of them looks happy.
“Viper is positive there was no one inside the café,” Sebastian says, watching me a little too closely. “He swears she wasn’t there.”
But he had blood on his hands, I almost say.
And none of the doctors know why. Or where it came from.
“What if she’s hurt?” I ask, for what feels like the thousandth time.
“She could have been taken to another hospital,” Alec reasons, pulling out his phone. “I’ll have my assistant call around, check every medical center and urgent care in the city. If she was hurt, we’ll find her.”
I don’t answer. I dial her number again without offering a response.
It rings.
And rings.
And then—
“Hey.”
I suck in a breath, almost dropping the phone in shock. “Jade?” I’m out of my seat in an instant, a laugh bursting out of me. “Oh my God, you have no idea how happy I am to hear your voice. Are you okay? Are you—”
“I’m fine.” Her voice is monotone. Flat.
“The shop, Jade. The shop is gone.” The words catch in my throat. It still feels unreal, feels like a nightmare. “There was a fire, and I thought… I thought you were still inside. You’re sure you’re okay?”
“That’s crazy,” she says. Too calm, the world’s biggest under-reaction. But I’m just so relieved to hear her voice, to know that she’s not dead in the alley or trapped in a corner of the shop Viper missed. “But no. I’m fine.”
Then why weren’t you picking up?
“Thank God,” I say with a shaky laugh. “I’m okay, too. But Viper got hurt. I’m with them now, we’re at the—”
“Listen, I’m in the middle of something,” she interrupts, talking over me. “Can I call you back?”
“Oh. Yeah. Yeah, of course. I’m just glad you’re okay. I was so worried.” I take a breath, trying to calm down. “We’ll talk later, okay? I love you.”
There’s a long pause. Too long.
“I love you, too,” she says. And the call disconnects.
“See?” Ashton grins, his expression smug. “She’s fine! Just like I told you she’d be!”
But I don’t really hear him. I stare at the ground, heart stuck in my throat. It takes me a few seconds to pinpoint it, to realize why my chest is suddenly so tight.
I love you, too.
“Something's wrong,” I say softly.
“I’ll say,” Ashton mutters. He stands with a groan, stretching his arms over his head. “This place doesn’t even have vending machines, you know that? You think the cafeteria is still open? I need, like, a gallon of coffee. And a dozen donuts.”
“No.” I shake my head, tears welling in my eyes. “Something is wrong with Jade.”
Seb looks over sharply, eyes narrowing. “What do you mean?” he asks.
“That wasn’t—” I stumble over my words, trying to explain. Trying to put it into words they’ll understand. “Something is wrong!”
I love you…
… to the moon and back.
I blink, and the floodgates open. Tears stream down my face.
“I think…” My voice breaks. “I think Jade is in danger.”