Chapter thirty-three
Hunter
Beep. Beep. Beep.
The incessant rhythmic beating should bring a sense of placidity, but all it does is cause my temple to twitch uncontrollably.
I can feel a migraine forming, my mood deteriorating rapidly while I try to ignore the pounding behind my eyes. It’s that disgusting smell again—the chemical odor that hovers permanently as if anyone needs a reminder that they are in a damn hospital.
Grabbing the side of my skull, I dig my fingers into my temple, partially aware that the action catches Tai’s attention. However, despite my silent request that he keeps his mouth shut, his exhausted voice floats over.
“You okay, H?”
“Fine,” I snap back quietly.
No, I’m not. And it’s a stupid question to ask. I have half a mind to call him out on his unnecessary question but that’s just me being a dick.
I’m exhausted. I now understand why Duchess jokes about caffeine IVs. Though, even that wouldn’t help my situation.
Sleep would possibly rectify my physical ailments but that is not an option when we’ve just endured a cataclysm of war.
So, yes. I’m unfortunately aware that I’m in a bad mood, but it’s completely justified. Therefore, I don’t give a fuck.
“Alright,” Tai murmurs, and I’m struck with a pang of guilt at his equally depleted tone. You know it’s bad when even the rambling Tai Beckett doesn’t push the point. Especially toward me.
We’ve been friends for that long that he’s one of the sole people on this earth who would call me out for being a bastard or argue that I’m clearly not fine. Even he’s given up.
My eyes drift to the limp figure in the bed—the other individual who would tear my ass apart for my shitty behavior. That’s the only reason I’m not smashing the cunt of the machine that’s drilling into my skull.
Because it’s telling me he’s alive and kicking.
I nearly missed Tai’s phone call yesterday, mentally beating myself up for rolling my eyes when his name flashed across the screen.
I was annoyed that he was interrupting when I’d be spending all damn night with him soon.
A lovers’ retreat he had called it. Probably why I was scowling at the sight of his call.
Tai never misses an opportunity to make light of our little sharing situation.
Well, to be fair, I started it after I made fun of him for missing our study session where Bexley became the educational topic.
However, I’m pleased to report you can successfully override sleep deprivation with a good fucking.
We’ll call it science or some shit. Whatever works to defuse the situation since Bexley chewed us out the next morning. It was a good verbal smackdown, probably because it was the most rested I had seen her in weeks.
Yeah. You’re welcome.
I picked up the call anyway, ready to scold him, but before I could speak, I was silenced by his rattled tone asking if I had checked the tracker app.
Fifteen minutes later I was heatedly arguing with paramedics in the back of an ambulance, demanding they take the route to Ridgeview Medical Center instead of the public hospital while an unconscious, bleeding Rylan lay next to me.
I was closer than Tai, getting to the scene of the accident first. We were still on the phone, and I didn’t have it in me to relay what I was seeing. Tai already knew something was wrong after the app alerted him to a possible crash, but knowing and seeing are two very different things.
The mangled mess of metal, shower of broken glass, and stench of oil will replace my nightmares of fire and smoke for the foreseeable future.
They were just loading Ry into the back of the ambulance when I reached them, jumping inside before they even realized I was there.
Tai was standing behind the ambulance when they flung the doors open on our arrival, the pair of us refusing to leave Ry’s side until we were forcibly held back by security so they could get him to the doctors.
He’s okay thankfully. Just concussed, a little banged up, and probably going to have one hell of a migraine too. Love that for us.
I let my eyes wander over to the other side of the bed, finally taking real notice of Tai. His unfocused gaze is staring at the blank wall by the head of the bed, hands together as he reclines in the uncomfortable hospital cuck chair.
Sensing me, he looks over, offering a tight, fake smile. I don’t return it, too tired to deal with the bullshit and pretend everything is wonderful.
“I have a migraine,” I grumble instead.
Tai nods, understanding this is my version of an apology for being a dick. Words can have minimal meaning, but letting someone see your vulnerability? That’s friendship.
“Fuck, that sucks,” he murmurs sincerely. “If you need to rest, I can stay.”
“I’m not leaving,” I reply. “I’ll survive. Besides, neither of us want to leave.”
Tai sighs, dropping his head back. “We need to tell her, H.”
I glance over at Ry’s sleeping frame. “Not yet. She doesn’t need the extra stress right now.”
“I know,” he agrees. “But she deserves to know anyway. You know she’s going to kill us when she finds out.”
An amused half-smirk tugs at my lips. “That’s the fun of it, right?”
Tai grumbles. “Sure—until she finds out we spoofed her number and lied.”
“It’s for her own protection,” I tell him. “Until we can figure out what happened, it’s best she stays in the dark. The less people who know, the better.”
The detectives claim the crash was nothing more than an accident. A reckless DUI that caused the other driver to run the red light. But I have a hard time believing that.
It’s a little too convenient and coincidental.
“Do you really think they did it?” Tai asks quietly.
“I don’t know what to think anymore,” I admit. “We’re constantly in a game of cat and mouse. Every time I’m sure I know who’s coming after us, something changes.”
Tai nods. “Between the fire and now this, I’m sick of the damn feud. Wouldn’t it be great to just finish senior year with some normality?”
I groan. The fucking exams.
And there goes my migraine again.
The nurses kicked us out of the room after Ry woke up. As soon as the sedatives started to wear off, they demanded we take a walk while he had a head scan.
Even slightly delirious, Rylan still hasn’t lost his sense of humor. He found the whole ordeal hilarious, cheering the nurses on when we tried to argue.
I argued anyway. Tai threw his hands up and muttered something under his breath. I’m fairly certain it was aimed at me, but I promptly joined him after telling Ry I’m going to slip laxatives into his IV bag when he began laughing at my frustration.
Absolutely nothing to do with the fact that he was asking about Bexley and I needed some excuse to slip away before he could pry too much.
“He looked… sad.”
I glance over at Tai, the pair of us sitting outside in the private park on the hospital grounds. Taking a sip of my coffee, I shrug. “Ignore him—he won’t be thinking straight right now.”
Tai cocks an eyebrow at me. “He’s asking for her, H.”
“No,” I cut him off. “It’s too soon. Besides, Duchess will be at the academy. You know my father will go after her if she misses any classes.”
Tai grimaces. “But it’s Rylan—”
“He doesn’t care. If he sees an opportunity, he will take it. You know Bexley won’t see reason. If she finds out Ry was hurt, she’ll ditch class.”
“Ask Archer to help. Hell, I’ll get Soph to do it. She’ll pin Bex down.”
I chuckle. “Yes, but do you honestly believe your sister will be on your side?”
Tai rolls his eyes. “Fair point. She’s been texting just as much as Bex has. Honestly, the death threats were a bit overkill.”
“Thank goodness I’m an only child.”
“It’s nearly the end of day,” Tai comments, checking the time on his phone. “Be prepared for them to ramp up their efforts.”
I nod once. “You turned our locations off?”
“Yep. We won’t have much time though. Soph will hunt me down. Probably send Calvin out on sniffer duty or lure me out of hiding by making a sneaker sacrifice.”
We finish our coffees, which is the extent of my patience, before heading back toward Ry’s hospital room. Hostility wafts from the medical staff as we pass, them probably already sensing that I’m about to become their worst nightmare until they surrender and give me answers.
I’m not asking for much. Basic information on our friend’s condition.
Do I care that I’m technically not immediate family?
No. But let’s be honest here—Max isn’t planning on making an appearance.
After all, it’s just a concussion. Maybe once Ry is given the all-clear to be discharged, the beloved Mayor might show his face for a few minutes for one minor sympathy performance.
Ridgeview Valley residents don’t care. There’s a swing coming unless Max can pull off a miracle.
I spot the doctor attempting to scurry down the hallway once he catches sight of us, and I quicken my pace. Tai does the same, and we’re on the poor guy in seconds.
“Update,” I demand, stepping around him to block his exit.
The doctor sighs, taking a quick glance down at a file in his hand. “No major change from Mr. Astor’s earlier CT.”
“So, there’s still swelling?” Tai asks abruptly.
“Yes,” the doctor confirms, looking around for a distraction. “But no new swelling, which is what we wanted to see. Now, if you’ll excuse me—”
He practically barrels me out of the way, but I’m already pivoting in the opposite direction. Behind me, Tai’s phone starts ringing right on cue and he curses out loud.
I chuckle to myself, ducking into Rylan’s room. He’s sitting up when I stroll in, oddly cheery while eating red Jello.
“Good news,” I say, taking a seat beside him. “You do have a brain. I know—it’s one hell of a surprise.”
Ry smirks, cocking an eyebrow while still focused on the snack. “Jealous? I heard you’re still searching for yours.”
“I think I left it in Bexley’s ass.”
No sooner have the words slipped out have I realized my mistake.
Fuck.
“Where is she?” He asks immediately, finally ignoring the jiggling cup and looking over at me for an answer.
“The academy,” I answer nonchalantly, hoping he drops it.
Rylan goes still, for way too many seconds. For a moment, I’m actually worried something is medically wrong and whether I should rip the emergency cord out of the wall to bring the doctor back. But then he relaxes slightly, giving a curt nod.
“Exams are next week,” he murmurs, sounding disappointed. “Tell them I need to get out of here ASAP.”
I roll my eyes at the impatience. “You’ll be discharged when you’re fit enough.”
The light patter of footsteps sound behind me and I don’t bother turning, already knowing who it is. But when Tai doesn’t enter, I swing my head to find him poised in the doorway, face a strange mixture of blank emotion and horror.
Thankfully, Rylan has returned to his snack, oblivious, so I stand and stalk over slowly.
“What?” I hiss quietly. “If this is about your damn sneakers—”
“It’s Bexley,” he replies vacantly, eyes darting over my shoulder to make sure Rylan didn’t hear.
I wait for him to elaborate but he doesn’t, my temple twitching again.
Checking that Rylan is still in a deep trance with the Jello, I lower my voice, moving closer to Tai. “You better not have told her.”
He shakes his head, suddenly appearing distressed while running a hand through his hair. “That was Archer. The cops took her from Willowbrook.”