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For a moment, I push away the worries of how I’ll explain everything. I’m happy. I get to see my sister after being apart for months.
“She’s going to want answers.”
“Of course she will. And she’ll get explanations.”
But they won’t be the truth.
* * *
Sin’s phone alerts him to a new message. “It’s Jamie—texting to let me know he and Ellison just arrived.”
I may throw up. Really. “I’m more nervous than a fox at a hound convention.”
“At least you still have your humor.” Sin sits on the edge of my bed and places his hand on my leg. “Don’t be so tense. The story’s a good one. She has no reason to suspect it’s a lie.”
“Anyone still here?”
“My parents are in the waiting room. And Mitch, but he’s still with Lainie.”
“He’s been with her for hours.”
“I sent Kyle to relieve him but he said he was fine and wouldn’t leave.” That’s a little strange.
“Will you tell Kyle and Blare to not allow anyone in my room while Ellison’s here?” The less contact she has with The Fellowship, the better.
“I’ve already put out an order for everyone to stay away from the hospital. A large crowd draws attention. I’d prefer the staff didn’t figure out it was my face all over the newspaper the past few days.”
Agreed. I don’t want my nurses to realize who Sin is, either, but right now I’m more concerned with my sister figuring it out.
There’s a light tap on the door. Ellison doesn’t wait for an invitation to come inside. I’m not sure if that’s a nurse thing or a sister thing.
The smile she’s wearing when she enters fades when she sees my face. “My God, Bleu!”
She looks at Sin and back to me before darting to my bedside. “No one told me you were in the hospital because you looked like this. What the hell happened to you?”
Lacerations decorate my forehead. Edema has almost forced both of my eyes closed. The discoloration of my face darkens by the hour. This must be a terrible shock for her.
I put my hand to my cheek and smile. Even that hurts. “I assure you it looks much worse than it really is.”
“Who did this to you?”
“That’s the question of the day. I was mugged while walking to the market.”
“What kind of mugger stomps the hell out of a woman while stealing her purse? And how did you let anyone best you? You’re able to kick anybody’s ass.”
She isn’t buying what I’m selling. My sister knows I’ve been trained well to handle such situations. “The guy was huge and I was caught off guard.”
“Bleu. You’re never caught off guard.”
She’s right. “Even I get preoccupied sometimes.”
“So this guy just walked up, kicked the shit out of you, and then ran off with your purse?”
I need to add something more to the story to make it seem real. “Yeah. He was acting like a raving lunatic. He had to be high or something.”
“Are the police doing anything to find the asshole who did this to you?”
“They are. Two very nice detectives came to see me and assured us everything possible was being done.” That part is true.
“Are you sure there isn’t more to this? There are two men guarding your door.”
“That’s just Sin being overprotective.”
“I don’t think he’s being a bit overprotective after what you just went through. What about the babies?”
I’m not going into details about the tear in the placenta. She’ll freak out. I know I did when Sin finally told me about it. “I’ve had some bleeding so I’ll be on bed rest for a while.”
“Then it’s a good thing I’m here. You’re going to need me.”
There’s an impending war with The Order. I can’t think of a time when I need her here less. “We spoke four days ago and you didn’t mention a word about coming.”
She looks away, avoiding my eyes. That’s not a good sign. “I wanted it to be a surprise.”
I don’t believe her. “Liar. Something happened.”
“You using your human lie detector skills on me again?”
“Maybe.”
“Well, a little something might have happened.”
My idea of a little something and Ellison’s often differ greatly. “What kind of a little something are we talking about?”
She drops her face and pats the top of her head. She always did this when she was a kid and got into trouble. “Oh God. It’s so stupid, Bleu.”
She looks over at Sin and Jamie before whispering, “And embarrassing.”
I look at my husband and nod toward the door. It’s my cue for him and Jamie to give us some privacy.
He understands and comes to kiss the top of my head. “Need anything while I’m out?”
It’s been hours and no one has told me anything about my new friend. “I’d love an update on how Lainie’s doing.”
“Of course. Want anything to eat?”
I still don’t have an appetite. Getting your gut stomped doesn’t do much for that. “I don’t think so. But don’t worry. I have the IV.”
“Will you try to eat something for the babies?”
God, I’d kill for some Lipton’s sweet tea with lemon. The good ol’ syrupy kind. But it’s a southern thing. People around here look at you like you’re crazy if you ask for sweet tea.
I can’t think of a thing that sounds good right now. “Surprise me.”
“A double order of haggis it is, then.” I wrinkle my nose and pretend to gag.
“Sorry, Bonny. Couldn’t resist.” Sin chuckles.
Ellison waits until they’re gone. “I take it you don’t love haggis?”
“Nope.”
Ellison plops in the chair at my bedside. “You aren’t going to believe the level of stupidity I’ve been able to achieve since you’ve been gone.”
She’s stalling. I hate that. “Come off it already.”
“I had to leave my job at Southaven.”
I don’t have it in me to drag this out of her. Not today. “Because?”
“I was given a random drug screen … and I failed.”
What? My sister doesn’t take drugs. “There must’ve been an error.”
She shakes her head. “No. It was no mistake.”
“What did you test positive for?”
“Ecstasy.”
“Since when do you take that?”
“Since never … except for this one time. I went out with some friends from work. We met these really cute guys on Beale Street … and they were musicians … and I guess we got a little carried away. It was supposed to be a fun night but now I’m totally fucked.”
“You said you left your job. Does that mean you weren’t fired?”
“The hospital told me I had to take a leave of absence and enter a voluntary rehabilitation program if I wanted to maintain employment with them.”
“So do it.”
“No way. It’s ridiculous.” She looks completely outraged. “I don’t have a drug problem. I took ecstasy one time while I was partying with friends. Why would I commit to a drug rehabilitation program when I don’t have an addiction?”
I know Ellison doesn’t have a drug dependency. “You do it because you want to save your job.”
“Do you have any idea how humiliating it is to have all my coworkers know I tested positive? I can’t go back to work with those people.”
“Then get a different job.”
“I’m on probation with the Board of Nursing. I can’t apply for a job without disclosing that. It’s on my record. No one is going to hire a nurse with a drug offense.”
I hope she has a backup plan. “Then what are you planning to do?”
“I have no idea. But it’s a total clusterfuck of suck back home. People are calling to help when all they really want is to hear the lowdown on what happened with my head nurse. I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to get aw
ay so I could think without being badgered.”
I don’t need Ellison here now, but I can’t turn my back on her. I’ve done that too much already.
My doctor has ordered me to be on bed rest for a while. That’s the perfect excuse to stay home and out of the line of fire of anything The Order might do. “You’re welcome to stay with us as long as you like.”
“Sinclair won’t mind?” She chooses now to ask? That’s just like Ellison.
“Of course not. You’re my sister. You’re always welcome in our home.”
“Oh my God. You have no idea how relieved I am to hear you say that.”
