Silence.
More silence.
Then, Hannah started trembling and Evangeline held her hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to tell you now, but you have to know the truth. He’s dangerous.”
Though still shaking, Hannah nodded. “I’m sorry I doubted you.” She knitted her brow. “Why did he want my baby?”
Evangeline’s gaze floated over her sister’s face and she lovingly tucked her hair behind her ear. “I don’t know.”
“I won’t let him near Robert.”
The aching muscles running down Evangeline’s back released a little. “I’m sticking around tonight. After you’re discharged, I’ll stay with you for a few days, until you’re settled and Joey’s no longer a threat.”
Evangeline felt like she was blathering. She couldn’t catch her breath and she paused to rub her chest.
Hannah stared at her for several more seconds. “There’s something else you’re not telling me.”
“Sinclair is missing.” She blurted the words before she could stop herself.
“He’s probably sleeping. It’s still early.”
But Evangeline knew that wasn’t the case. Rather than pile on, she kissed Hannah’s forehead. “That must be it,” she said, fastening on a smile. “You, little mama, need to get some sleep of your own.”
Once Hannah closed her eyes, Evangeline slipped out of the room. She leaned against the wall and stared down the hallway. Her nerves were shredded and her pounding headache wasn’t helping her to think clearly. She couldn’t leave Hannah, but she felt trapped at the hospital.Where are you guys? What happened to you?
As she pulled out her phone, the image of Sin flying off his motorcycle crashed into her thoughts.
I’ve got to find him before Joey does.
* * *
Sin opened his eyes. His brother sat in a chair beside him while Jacoby stood in front of a closed door, his arms folded over his chest. Pain interrupted Sin’s confusion, then reality seeped back into his consciousness. He eyed the IV drip, the stark walls. He was at Dakota’s black site.
“Well?” he asked.
Dakota nodded. “You live another day, my brother.”
“Can’t kill the devil.” He tried to move, but winced in pain. “Help me sit up.”
“Don’t push.”
“Just fucking help me.”
As best they could, Dakota and Jacoby repositioned him against the pillows. “Better?” Dakota asked.
“You tell me.”
“You were shot.”
“That, I remember. You wanna fill in the details?”
Tap-tap-tap.
“Come in,” Dakota said.
A man and a woman entered. “We heard voices,” said the man. “Figured he was awake.”
Dakota introduced the surgeon and the nurse anesthetist. “Dr. Joyce Ferguson patched you back together. And Nurse Baker Deen has been monitoring your vitals.”
