Page 26

“Olanzapine. Ten milligrams. It is not addictive and will help reduce the agitation.”

Azaria tried to jerk away when she saw the needle, but security kept her arms steady long enough for the nurse to give her the injection. She cursed everybody around her before the medication started taking effect.

Within minutes, her breathing evened out, her shoulders relaxed, and her eyelids grew heavy.

The nurse continued checking her while the rest of us watched.

“Her vitals are elevated but stable. Blood pressure is 154 over 96, and her pulse is 130. She is in withdrawal, so we will begin monitored detox immediately.”

I crossed my arms. “What are you giving her?”

“Clonidine for her blood pressure and withdrawal symptoms, hydroxyzine for anxiety, ondansetron for nausea, and IV fluids for hydration. Low-dose diazepam will only be used if her tremors escalate and the physician approves it. No opioids and no substitutions.”

Ares barely took his attention off Azaria. “How long before she calms down?”

“The next seventy-two hours are critical,” the nurse explained. “After that, we reassess. She will have round-the-clock monitoring, including surveillance in her room.”

They carried Azaria upstairs to the main suite overlooking the countryside. The room looked like it belonged to royalty, while my sister looked like a ghost lying in the middle of it.

Once the medical team had everything under control, Ares and I went downstairs to the kitchen. There wasn’t any liquor in the house, which had been intentional. We grabbed bottles of water instead.

Ares stood at the island staring off into space.

“You good?”

“Nah,” he answered.

I took a drink of water. “She looked at me like I did this shit to her.”

“Nah. Your family did this to her.”

“She would’ve been dead in six months if I didn’t make her come here.”

“Maybe, but now she’s mine to deal with. Every scream, every withdrawal, every relapse attempt. Mine.”

I ran my hand over my face. Hearing him say that did something to me because I knew what came with Azaria. Loving my sister wasn’t easy when she was fighting everybody trying to help her.

“Speaking of my family, I got some other shit going on.”

Ares looked at me. “Lay it out.”

“My father owes me money. Real money. He been dragging his feet for years. My mother barely sees her grandson, but she found time to call me when they needed me to enforce this shit with Azaria. When Azaria got kidnapped, them old heads moved too slow. Everybody got comfortable until I started talking about killing my father if he didn’t handle Dale.”

Ares nodded while he listened.

“They’re losing their edge,” I continued. “If you inherit the Delacroix seat, I’m taking mine. Forcefully if I have to.”

“I’m with you.”

“You staying in France?”

“For now, I guess. At least until she’s stable. I’m not leaving her here alone.”

I nodded. “I appreciate you being stand-up about my sister.”

He shrugged. “Go take Emily and my nephew to dinner before y’all fly back. There’s a spot by the harbor that’s kid-friendly.”

He said it like he wasn’t about to lock himself inside a house with Azaria while she went through one of the worst fights of her life.