Page 81 of Secret Redemption

Chapter Thirty

He was being a total douchebag, and he knew it but couldn't help it. Lying around on his arse while his team worked themselves into the ground was not his idea of fun. The last nurse had left crying which was when the Staff nurse had come in and threatened him with an enema if he didn’t stop shouting at her nurses.

Zack wasn't a wimp by any stretch of the imagination, but if that woman came near him with an enema he was going to hide behind Ava, and he didn’t care how much ribbing he got from the gang.

He had managed to make it to the chair by the window using a stick, and at least he was wearing his own track bottoms now. He’d had enough of flashing his ass at every Tom, Dick, and Harry that walked through the door. It was a nice day, and he hoped to get sprung from the hospital later.

The door opened, and Daniel and Nate sauntered in, both men looked tired. The situation was taking a toll on them all.

“Hey boss,” Nate called, and Zack went to stand. “Don't bother standing.”

“Any news on Zin?” Zack asked, his voice matter of fact even if he felt far from it. The man had stepped in front of a bullet meant for him and was now in a dire situation. They had removed his spleen, and he had been put into an induced coma. The bang he had received when he fell from the bullet hitting him had caused a brain bleed, and the coma was to allow it time to heal.

Unfortunately, it seemed like he was quite happy to stay in the coma now even though he had been weaned off the drugs. It was a huge worry for them.

“Not much. Physically he’s healing. The swelling has gone down, and the splenectomy was a success. He should have woken up by now, but he hasn't. They’re going to run some more tests later today.”

Zack nodded. “What about Roz?” he asked. The woman was an enigma and he never quite knew how she would react.

“She visited last night. She said a few words to him in Russian, kissed his forehead and we haven't seen her since,” Daniel answered matter of factly.

“And Celeste?” The poor girl had refused to leave Zin’s side since it happened and had snarled at the nurses when they’d tried to make her go home, showing a side so much like her brother that it had made Zack smile when he’d heard.

“She still refuses to leave. Lucy and Ava have been bringing her clothes and food. She thinks she can hear his thoughts and he’s lost and can’t find her. It's kinda hard to watch.”

“Yeah, I bet it is. Make sure we have two people on them always. They are sitting ducks here. I’ll talk to Doc Turner and see if we can get him moved to the Estate.”

The door opened again, and all three men turned to see Ava walking in with Riley on her hip.

The little boy clapped his hands and squealed when he saw his dad. “Daddy!”

“Hey, my boy,” he said sticking his arms out for his son. Ava dropped a kiss on his mouth and moved back as father and son said hello. It had only been a few days, but he had missed seeing his son, and it felt right to have him around, although he was very cautious about his leg. The thing still hurt like a bitch, but he was refusing medication so they would let him leave.

“So, what's the latest?” Ava asked, and looked at Daniel. “You haven't told him yet, have you?” she said with a smirk.

“Told me what?” he demanded, wondering what the hell was going on.

“Gee thanks, Ava, drop a guy in it, why don’t you?” Daniel said sheepishly.

“Someone better tell me what the Fudge is going on,” Zack demanded, using his new ‘go-to’ swear word in front of Riley.

“We got word that the flight Helen, Frank and Riley came in on had some reports of a lot of people getting sick after. Out of the 210 passengers, 103 reported flu-like symptoms. Forty-four of them died,” Daniel finished and stepped back waiting for the explosion.

Zack felt his blood begin to boil and his gut roiled in fear. “And? And don’t say nothing.” This time he did stand, and Ava stepped in to take Riley from him.

“An unidentifiable source sent a message to Will through the dark web saying that the Doctor has managed to make her drug airborne and she has been testing on long-haul flights.”

Zack knocked the drip that was beside him flying. “Motherforklift,” he bellowed.

“Zack,” Ava said harshly, as Riley clapped and giggled at his father’s temper tantrum. He shot her a look but backed down when she gave him the ‘mum look’ and raised a perfectly arched eyebrow at him.

“Sorry,” he said contritely. “What else did the source say?”

“That those that had lived had developed certain new skills and gifts that had not been there before,”

Zack looked at Riley and then at Ava questioningly.

She shrugged, “I'm not sure, but it would explain the incident with your sister the other day.”