Chapter 34
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Wave hadn’t even been home twenty-four hours before he was at the hospital with his mom. He felt helpless. She wasn’t supposed to die like this. Why couldn’t the doctors do anything?
He clung to her fragile hand, careful not to crush it as she struggled to breathe. Cassandra was in a test, and the last thing Wave wanted to do was make her fail her test, but their mom didn’t have much time.
“Keep hanging on, Mom. Don’t give in until Cassandra gets here.”
He had no idea if his mom could hear him or if she was too far gone. Talking was one of those things recommended. He wouldn’t bring up anything negative, though. It wasn’t the time. Whatever needed to be reconciled, he’d have to do it on his own after she died.
A nurse stepped in, doing her best to not disturb him.
She was the nurse who’d been on duty when he’d first showed up two days ago.
She’d been nice not only to him, but to his sister as well.
That made him take another look at her. He hadn’t hit on her, though.
For all he knew she was with someone else and didn’t need another jerk hitting on her.
When he stepped back to give her room to adjust the equipment closest to him, he couldn’t help but let his gaze linger on her. That’s when he saw the bruise. It looked like a thumb print under here ear.
He focused his gaze on her neck, seeing that she had makeup on the back collar of her scrubs. That’s when he noticed she’d applied concealer on the back of her neck. What the hell? How many bruises did she have?
Questions rose, and he was about to ask her about the bruises when a doctor stepped in. It wasn’t the time. He would find this woman later and ask her what was up.
The doctor gave him the report. It wasn’t looking good for his mother. The man didn’t think she would pass today or tomorrow, but it was soon, which led to questions about what type of care they wanted to continue to deliver.
“Thank you, sir. My sister is taking her last final today, so she’ll be here in a few hours, and we can make some decisions about care.”
“I understand. Your sister has been a real trooper through this all. I’m glad you’re here now, but she’s wise beyond her years.”
Wave nodded, thinking that probably wasn’t a great thing for Cassandra. She’d had to grow up way too fast. It wasn’t fair. He hoped when she came out to live with him, he could give her some peace so she could live like a teenager should instead of having to be so damn responsible.
After Cassandra arrived, he let her sit with their mother while he went out to grab something to eat.
He was at a sandwich shop, placing an order when he heard a guy yelling.
Wave stepped to the door and pulled out his phone, about to call the cops when the guy pulled back his arm then let it fly, knocking the woman to the ground.
Wave had his share of fist fights, grappled with terrorist, but fights were uncalled for here in the middle of this practical paradise.
He stepped out of the shop, telling the guy making his sandwich he would be right back, and moved to the man who looked like he was going to kick the woman who was on the ground.
Wave caught the guy’s shoulder and spun him around. The man let go a frustrated yell and looked like he was about to turn his anger on Wave when a police car pulled up and blasted their siren.
The guy’s lips twisted with anger before he turned to look at the woman. “One word of this, and I’ll fucking kill you.”
“Whoa, man. Calm the fuck down,” Wave said.
The guy turned and swung. Wave lifted his arm, blocking the punch. With the police right behind him, Wave knew better than to return the punch. Instead he took a step back and kept his arms raised to block more punches.
Chaos erupted as the cops rushed forward.
The woman stood, wiping blood from her cheek.
He had to do a double take as he stared at her.
It was the nurse with the bruises. At least now he knew who’d given her the bruises.
What was she messed up in? Surely, she would press charges, and her life would go back to normal.
But he watched with shock as she shook her head, waving off the officer’s help then turned and walked down an alley, trying to get away from the area. What was up with her and why didn’t she want to press charges against this asshole who had attacked her?