Page 56 of Digital Desire

A look of nostalgia and love graced the woman’s face as she looked up at Alex. “Hello, Alex.”

Alex seemed to crumple at her greeting. “Evelyn, is it really you?” he asked his face showing years of pain that was difficult to watch.

Siren nodded. “Yes, it really is,” she answered just as police sirens filled the air.

“You should go, let me deal with this,” said Aubrey.

Will knew it would be challenging to explain Siren’s involvement in this. It would be a nightmare explaining Fortis and Eidolon, but Siren was an unknown. Siren looked at them and then Alex with regret before she turned and broke into a run. Jumping on her motorbike she pulled on her helmet before lifting the visor.

“I’ll be in touch for my debt to be repaid,” she called to Will who nodded.

Then she was gone, off into the darkness of twilight that had descended.

“Go back with Alex, he looks like he could do with a friend,” said Aubrey as her old partner pulled up and got out.

Alex was standing in the road, watching the direction that Siren had taken, his shoulders hunched, his face blank, like he was in shock. There was a story there, but she didn’t know what it was. Aubrey kissed Will and then turned to face Detective English—this was going to be a long night.

Chapter 26

It was eleven pm, and they still had no news on Drew. Aubrey was curled up with her head on his lap fast asleep. She had been amazing handling the police fall-out until Zack, having safely seen Ava home where Dr Turner had declared her fit and well after all the excitement, had gone back and helped out.

Will wondered how Alex was, he had left shortly after they had returned to the hospital not having said a word to anyone. He had seemed knocked for six by the appearance of Siren and if he had to guess, he would say there was definitely history between the two and it was probably long and complicated. He stroked Aubrey’s hair as Jack sat down next to him, having arrived just as Chopper’s body was being loaded onto a stretcher. He had stayed to help Aubrey, despite needing a doctor which he had waved off. He had apparently managed to get cleaned up somewhere though because he was showered with clean clothes, which was more than he could say about himself.

“How you doing, kid?” Jack asked using his old childhood nickname for Will.

“I’m okay,” Will replied.

“I’m proud of you,” Jack said, and Will felt his eyes prickle at the words that he had longed to hear from his hero, his older brother, for so long.

“Yeah?” he asked because to enunciate any other words was too hard with a lump the size of the Brecon Beacons in his throat.

“Yeah, you stepped up and made some very difficult decisions, and I don’t mean just today. You made the right call about Eidolon. I would have thrown it in your face, and that would have been my mistake because what we’ve built because of you is invaluable to the safety of this country,” Jack said as he looked at him with sincerity on his face.

“I didn’t make Eidolon what it was, you did, Jack. Your men, your expertise, your missions. It’s all you,” Will said.

“But with whose money? Without you thinking of it, it wouldn’t have happened, and without all of the amazing things you’ve done and created you never would’ve been able to afford to do what we’ve done or achieved what we have.”

“Who told you about the things I created?” Will asked having a sneaky suspicion he already knew.

Jack looked at Aubrey confirming his thoughts. “She really loves you, so don’t fuck it up. Women like her are rare,” Jack said with rare transparency just as a doctor in blue scrubs walked into the full to capacity waiting room.

Will shook Aubrey who came awake instantly and sat up, looking at them expectantly.

Everyone stood and rushed towards him when he said, “Drew Preedy’s family?”

Will knew just from the look on the exhausted man’s face that it was bad news.

“Yes?” Lauren said rushing up to him, Dane by her side.

“Could we talk in private?” he asked.

Lauren looked around, and the shook her head. “No. These are Drew’s family too, and they’re as worried as I am. You tell us all together,” she said gripping Dane’s hand in a white-knuckled grip.

The middle-aged doctor nodded. “Drew sustained some severe injuries. We managed to repair the damage to his liver, but we had to remove one of his kidneys. Unfortunately, we had no choice but to amputate his leg below the knee. The damage was just too extensive to fix and would have impeded his recovery. He has not regained consciousness, and it could be a few days as he has some swelling on the brain. The next twenty-four hours are critical for Drew. That said, he is strong and otherwise fit. He’s being settled in intensive care, and I’m afraid only close family will be allowed to visit,” he said eyeing them all.

“Thank you, doctor,” Lauren said as tears swam in her eyes and Dane held her in his arms.

Will felt sick at the thought of Drew who was the life and soul of the party having all those injuries. Grief pulled at him when he thought of his friend.