Chapter 52
Soren
I'm convinced this strange house is some sort of clandestine medical center for people who don’t want the attention of the authorities.
Typical underworld shit. They really do have access to anything at any time of day.
John, and what I can only assume are registered nurses, are talking quietly in Raine’s room.
Her condition is still critical, but thankfully, they were able get Raine stable.
Carson and I are hovering outside the door, standing up straighter as John emerges from the room.
He pulls a small cloth from his pocket, removes his glasses, and wipes the lenses clean before sliding them back on and nudging them high on the bridge of his nose.
“We need to get her to a hospital,” he states. “I suspect a punctured lung, fractures, possibly internal damage, but we won’t know without scans. There’s only so much we can do here.”
My hearing dulls and air escapes me in a broken rush. My girl’s insides are all torn up.
“For now, we’ve stabilized her and placed her in an induced coma. But she needs a hospital.”
I glance over his shoulder at her and nod, giving my permission. Whatever she needs, she gets. I'll make sure of it.
“What’s her name?” John asks.
I keep my mouth shut as I weigh the options of telling the truth. There's no point in lying anymore, not when Raine's life hangs in the balance.
“Angel,” Carson answers on my behalf. There goes the truth, I guess.
“Okay. Angel.” John looks at Carson flatly. “I’ll make the call. I’ll be outside until the paramedics arrive. Usual drill?”
Interesting choice of words from Johnny boy. Obviously Carson is a regular here. I already know he’s neck-deep up in shady shit, but the surveillance, the personal security, the weapons, and now this little medical black site? It raises a hell of a lot more questions than it answers.
“Yes,” Carson responds. “They aren’t to ask any questions. Tell them there was an ambush at the Golden Claw, and Angel was collateral damage in the brawl.”
John nods in agreement. “Understood.”
It’s a good cover story. One my tired and heartbroken ass couldn’t have formed. I scrub my face with my hands, feeling completely drained. There’s a vibration in my jean pocket, and I realize it’s my phone. I slide it from my pocket, glancing at it quickly.
Fuck.
Eighteen missed calls, all from O.
The Agency, even though it’s a concern and one I’ll need to address at some point, isn’t my biggest worry right now. I’ll deal with the aftermath of that bullshit when the time comes. For now, all that matters is Raine gets the care she needs to save her life.
“So,” Carson starts, leaning up against the wall next to me. “Now that it seems she’s going to live, you might want to start answering some questions. The first one being who in the fuck are you?”
Exhaling deeply, I run one hand through my hair and decide to blow it all to hell. “It's a long story."
Carson's jaw clenches in frustration. "I've got time. And in case you haven't noticed son, but you're in no position to play games with me."
"I’m not playing games," I state. "But I'm also not Lukas Klein.”
Carson tenses, pushing off the wall, straightening his spine. “Who are you?”
“My name’s Soren.”
Carson pulse is damn near bursting out his throat. “Soren who? Who do you work for?”
“I’m an operative for the Agency.”
Carson’s jaw falls open in absolute shock.
“I’m undercover,” I offer quickly. “On assignment.”
Carson balls his hands into fists. “To spy on me? My business?”
“No.” I shake my head. “It’s not about you. The Agency doesn’t give a shit about your illegal weapons ring. You’re not that important to them.”
Carson visibly relaxes at the news, but strangely, also seems offended? The ego bruised from being told he’s not as important as he thinks he is.
“They wanted PARM-17. I was assigned to retrieve it.”
“Why?”
I shrug. “I don’t ask questions. I do what I’m told.”
“And, what? Once you retrieved it, you were just going to disappear?”
I nod. “Yep.”
Carson blinks a few times, processing the level of deception and deceit. “Where’s the real Lukas?”
“Dead.”
No point in lying.
Carson’s eyes round. “Goddammit. Fuck.”
“Listen.” I turn towards Carson. “No one is coming for you. Your business will remain untouched. Your piece of shit corrupt contacts are safe. This assignment was never about you, alright?”
Carson swallows and looks over into the room to where Raine lies unconscious. “And what about her? Who the fuck is she?”
I follow his gaze and watch as her chest rises and falls. “She’s the girl I love.”
***
How the fuck we ended up here, I don’t know.
I sit on the side of her bed, waiting for the paramedics to arrive. Any minute now, they’ll be here to take her to the hospital. I take her hand in mind and absentmindedly rub my thumb over the side of her finger.
“You’re a real pain in my ass, you know that?”
Raine lies there, unresponsive, deep in a medically induced coma.
I huff out a breath through my nose. “It’s kinda nice when you don’t talk back.”
Not true. I’d do anything to hear her sweet voice again.
“So many things annoy me about you. That smart-ass mouth of yours, and the way you never say the right thing, ever.” I look at her face, covered in swelling and purple and black bruises.
“It’s annoying how your eyes sparkle in the sunlight. Did you know they do that?"
A few moments pass as I watch her chest rise and fall in a steady rhythm.
"It's annoying the way you wear my shirt. And how it looks so much better on you than it does on me." I smile at the memory of her dancing in the apartment. That night feels like it was an age ago.
“It's annoying how you make every person in your presence fall to their knees. The way you can shoot me, punch me, throw knives at me. The way you could rip my heart out and I’d still fucking crawl on my knees for you. The way I’d go to hell and back for you.”
I lean forward and hold my head in my hands. God, I’m so tired. Bone tired. Emotionally and physically drained.
“It’s so annoying the way I’m so fucking in love with you,” I mumble into my hands, eyes closed. “I was fucked the moment I saw you.”
It’s the first time in my pathetic life I’ve ever uttered those words. Part of me feels like I’ve achieved something I never thought I would. Even if she doesn’t love me back, it doesn’t matter. I am head over heels, completely and utterly deeply in love with her.
I drop my hands from my face and glance towards her. It's a shame she can’t hear me as I rip open my chest and bleed all I am right before her.
“You have to pull through,” I tell her. “Because I don’t want this life if you’re not in it. I love you, Raine. Don’t leave me here. Please. Come back to me.”