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“Yes, but you’re here.”
“And?”
“Beau,” I say slowly, withdrawing my hand, looking at Danny’s thoughtful face. He’s wondering the same now.
“Hmm,” she hums, fiddling with the things on the bed.
“Beau,” I snap, reaching for her face and directing it to mine. “Where’s James?”
She glares. “He’s?—”
Danny’s phone rings, and all attention redirects his way as he looks at the screen. He answers. “Higham?” His scar deepens by the second, his chest dipping with his long breath. “What?” He looks at me. “Where?”
I sit up straight, listening, watching Danny’s expressions, hating every one of them. He eventually hangs up, rubbing at his chin, looking disturbed.
“What is it?” I ask. “Is it Sandy? Luis?”
“No,” he breathes out, looking at me. “It’s King.”
My back straightens, my eyes going to Pearl. Sleeping. “King?”
“He’s alive.”
“What?” I breathe, standing up, shaking. “How?” I watched him go down. Saw the boat blow up.
“The Coast Guard pulled him out of the water a few hundred yards offshore.” Danny stands, twitching. “He was brought in. Unconscious.”
“He’s here?” I ask, already heading to the door. Jesus fucking Christ. In the same building as Pearl while she was lying on a fucking operating table?
“Brad, wait,” Beau calls.
“Fuck that.” I swing the door open and walk face first into James. “Where the fuck have you been?” I bark. “King’s still fucking alive. Move.”
“No.”
I slam James against a wall with force, my anger and panic feeding my strength. But he doesn’t retaliate, his face annoyingly impassive.
“Calm down,” Danny says, massaging my shoulders until I release my hold of James.
“Calm down?” I clench my hair with my hands. Kill him. “Where is he?” I stalk off. “Stay with Pearl and Nolan,” I yell over my shoulder, marching on, heading for the emergency room.
“Brad, wait,” Beau calls.
I stalk past Rose and Ella at the café, their bodies turning as I pass. “What’s going on?” Rose calls.
“Brad, wait!” Beau clips my heels. “He’s not in the emergency room.”
I stop dead in my tracks, facing her, my stomach bottoming out. “He’s gone?”
James moves in, his phone at his ear. “Excellent. Appreciated.” He hangs up and stalks off, and I frown at his back as he goes.
“Where the fuck is he going?” Danny asks.
Good question.
“Go with him.” Beau pushes me on, ignoring my confused face. “Both of you.” She directs Danny as well. “Now.” Then she claims a bemused Rose and Ella and walks them off.
We follow James for what feels like miles, and he doesn’t look back once. Because he knows we’re here. The hospital gets quieter the farther we go, until the echo of our boots is all the company we have. James eventually comes to a stop. I peer at Danny, as he peers at me.
