They grew clearer.
“Fuck,” Adonis said. “How did he get here? Looks like he fucking fell from the sky.”
“I’m not sure we should move him,” Kane said.
“We don’t have a choice,” Everett said. “I called an ex-DEA buddy of mine, Rocco Forrester. He’s a doctor. But he’s coming from Santo Domingo. It’ll be an hour before he gets to St. Felipe.”
“Maybe we should take him to a local hospital,” Adonis said.
“Fuck no,” Everett and Kane said in unison.
“No one is going to know that Ike is here until Ike tells us they should,” Everett said.
Kane added, “There could be a target on his back. Someone waiting to finish him off. We have to keep him safe until we know more.”
“Okay. Okay. So, we take him back to the compound,” Adonis said.
“It’s the only option,” Everett concluded.
That stupid dog had done good. Real good.
The black abyss descended on Ike again, numbing the pain.
He didn’t fight it.
It was the only option.
And he was in good hands.
Chapter43
“What are you doing here?” Gabrielle demanded, sitting up in the bed.
Dr. Marvin Hester raised his hands. “The hospital is buzzing about what happened to you.”
Her gaze darted from the face of the man who looked so much like her tormentor to the red alert button dangling from a cord hooked onto the wall. She willed herself to remain calm as Marvin entered her hospital room.
“I know things were contentious the last time we spoke. I’m sorry about that. I shouldn’t have lashed out at you or your sister. But none of that matters now. I want you to know that despite what I said back then, I would never have wished this on you. It’s horrible that you’re being stalked again.” Marvin looked pained as he shoved his hands into the pocket of his jeans.
Gabrielle tried to relax, but seeing Marvin triggered memories of his identical twin. Damian had kidnapped and tormented her a decade ago. Now Tony Brooks had picked up where he left off after being influenced by Damian in prison. She’d had enough of the Hesters in her life.
“I appreciate that. But you shouldn’t be here,” Gabrielle said, hoping he wouldn’t linger.
Marvin walked toward the window, his back to her. “I heard that the guy who is stalking you and stabbed your bodyguard was a cellmate of my brother. Tony Brooks. Damian talked about him when I went to visit. They were close.”
Bile rose in Gabrielle’s throat at the confirmation of what the cops had already assumed. “Have the cops reached out to you? To ask about your brother’s relationship with Tony Brooks.”
“No, they haven’t. Brooks deserves to die for hurting you.”
Gabrielle stared at Marvin as he turned around and locked eyes with her. She saw none of the anger and hatred that had dominated their earlier conversations. He seemed to be contrite and upset about what she was going through.
Marvin continued, “It took me too long to understand how much my brother hurt you. I believe he had remorse for what he did. He wanted to make things right in his own way but couldn’t figure out how to do that in a way that wouldn’t hurt you more. It was unfair of me to expect you to get over what he’d done. To forget about it like it wasn’t a big deal when it completely changed your life. I hope one day you can forgive me.”
Gabrielle was speechless. She didn’t know how to respond. Was there anything to forgive Marvin for? Loving his brother and sticking up for him despite the heinous things he’d done to her? Wouldn’t she have done the same if Serena or Ike were in that situation? After everything she’d been through last night with Tony, the last thing she wanted to think about was forgiving anyone connected to Damian Hester. She looked away from Marvin.
“Maybe.” She pulled the covers up, covering her shoulders.
“Guess I can’t expect much more than that.” Marvin shrugged with a sheepish smile. “I also thought you should know that I’m taking a leave of absence from my psychiatry residency.” He ran a hand over his low fade. “It was approved for a year. I’ll take the next few days to wrap up things here. Then I’m going to leave the island for a while. Maybe forever. I don’t know. It might be better for me to move on. Go somewhere I can start a life where no one knows about my brother and what he did to you.”
