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A BRIGHT LIGHT FLASHED. Black smoke curled in the distance. A horrible stench like hellfire permeated the air. And the children screamed. The children screamed.
Hailey shouted and kicked out her limbs.
The side of the bed dipped, and a warm hand clasped hers. A soft touch smoothed the hair back from her forehead.
Her eyelids flew open, and a savior with red hair hovered above her.
“Shh. You’re okay. You’re in the hospital and I’m right here with you.”
And he’d never leave her. Didn’t he say that before? He’d never leave her side again.
She threw her arms around Joe’s neck. “Oh, God. The dreams. The visions.”
“The explosion at your father’s house brought it all back, every wretched detail.” He stroked her glossy hair. “You should see someone, Hailey, a professional.”
“You’re probably right.” She tried to swallow, but with her parched throat, it ended in a cough.
“Here you go.” He handed her the water cup and placed the straw in her mouth. “You seemed to be sleeping soundly before. Do you want the nurse to give you some more sedative?”
“Oh, God, no.” She slurped up every last drop of the water. “That stuff makes me thirsty, and I think it’s partially responsible for giving me hallucinations. What time is it, anyway?”
“It’s five a.m. The gala is tonight, if you’re still game.”
“Damn straight.” She eyed Joe’s tousled hair and scruffy chin. “You’ve spent another night in less-than-ideal conditions, haven’t you? Let’s see—since we’ve met, you’ve spent one night in a park across the street from my house, one night on a too-small couch and now a night cramped in a chair. You need a good night’s sleep in a real bed.”
“I intend to spend a night in a real bed, real soon, but I can do without the sleep.” He quirked his eyebrows up and down at her.
So, he didn’t intend to rush off the minute the danger ended?
“That can definitely be arranged. Now, when can I get out of here?”
“Whenever you like. You’re a VIP, remember? But let’s not take off just yet. There’s a small problem. You can’t stay at the Pacific Heights house.”
“Oh, boy.” She smacked the heel of her hand against her forehead. “I need to call my father.”
“He already knows.”
“What?”
“He’s already called the hospital once.” Joe slipped his phone out of his pocket and dropped it on Hailey’s lap. “Do you want to call him? It’s eight o’clock in New York.”
“Might as well get this over with.” She entered her father’s number in Joe’s phone. “He’s not going to answer an unknown number.” To his voice mail, she said, “Dad, it’s Hailey. Everything you heard is true. I’m in the hospital after an explosion at the house. Call me back at this number.”
She ended the call, keeping the phone cupped in her hand. “In five, four, three, two...” Joe’s phone vibrated. “Dad, it’s Hailey.”
“What the hell is going on out there? Why is someone rigging a bomb at the Pacific Heights house?”
“I’m fine, Dad.” She winked at Joe.
“Don’t play that pity card with me. I already know you’re fine. I talked to Dr. Owens for a good twenty minutes. He told me you were in perfect health except for a few bumps and scratches. What he couldn’t tell me is why someone is bombing my house.”
“It has to do with—”
“Don’t tell me. It’s that Syria mess, isn’t it? Give it up, Hailey. You’ve put your life in danger too many times to count. Come back to the fold and get back into the business. Your brother’s a pretty face, but he’s useless on the day to day. I need you.”
“I don’t like the way you do business, remember? And if you haven’t changed your ways, I wouldn’t think you’d want me around to blow the whistle on your unethical practices again.” This time she avoided Joe’s gaze, which she felt burning the side of her face.
Her father harrumphed over the phone. “You think I give a damn about that now? You ratted us out, I paid my fine and it’s over. I’d still rather have a snitch like you around than Win.”
