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“Grab my laptop, I’ll hack into the hospital’s computer on the way,” I call out to Wes.
Leaving is a risk, but it’s one we’ll have to take if we want to keep her alive.
“I’ll grab a couple weapons on the way out. You know…just in case,” Wes says before we all head toward the elevator. Declan places a hand on my shoulder stopping me before I enter.
“If this ends badly it’s on you,” he warns as if I didn’t already know.
“Yeah, and if she dies, it’s on you. So, I guess we’re even,” I sneer back. I know I can’t be mad at him forever, he’s doing what he thinks is best for us, but it’s not just about us anymore. It’s about her and us. She’s as much a victim to her father’s bullshit as we are, and I’m hoping when all of this is done Declan can see that.
By the time we get to the hospital, we have a well thought out plan as to how we’re going to do this without getting caught. Declan’s agreed on taking her inside, pretending to be her boyfriend, while I stay outside and work on the computer while Wes keeps an eye on the perimeter. It’s not the best plan, but it’s as solid as it’s going to get.
If everything goes according to plan, we’ll be in and out, with a bottle of antibiotics and maybe a breathing treatment in no time. At least that’s all we can hope for. All I know is that I won’t let Jessa die. We didn’t make it through all that we have just to lose her.
Chapter Fifteen
Jessa
My body feels as if it’s been raked over hot coals and then ran over by a train. My chest feels tight, every breath that enters my lungs burns. I lift my hands to feel if something heavy is laying on my chest, but my arm is stuck. It takes me forever, to peel my eyes open, but when I finally do, I realize my arm is attached to an IV, tape holding the needle in place.
“Welcome to the land of the living,” a gruff voice greets me. I scan the room, my eyes feeling like someone poured salt into them.
The room is bright and smells of bleach, and antiseptic. It’s mostly quiet besides the low buzzing and beeping of the machines I’m hooked up to.
Slowly my eyes make it to the owner of the voice, and I find Declan lounging uncomfortably in a chair in the corner of the room. I blink a few times to make sure this is all real, before I actually open my mouth to talk. Is it possible this is a dream?
“You brought me to an actual hospital?” My voice sounds rough like I’ve swallowed gravel, my throat feeling similar.
“You can thank Trey for that,” he responds quickly, and the small jab makes my chest hurt for a different reason than the illness coursing through my veins. “I would have let you die,” he adds, his eyes cold, and I don’t know why I’m so hurt by his rejection.
“I don’t believe that.” I try and keep my voice strong.
“Believe what you want. When the doctor comes in for his morning rounds you will tell him that you are better and want to go home now. Even if he wants to keep you longer, you will insist on going, understood?”
“What if I don’t?” I question, wanting to push his buttons the way he pushes mine.
He answers without having to think about it, almost if he has already made a plan. “Then I’ll slit his throat and drag you out of here anyway. Don’t be fucking stupid and do what you’re told. I’m sure you don’t want an innocent man’s blood on your hands.”
I swallow, even though it’s hard to. Declan is all hard edges and anger right now and I still don’t understand why. I want to believe that he wouldn’t actually kill someone just to get me out of here, but I’m not willing to risk someone’s life on it, so instead of pushing him further I just nod my head in agreement.
Rising from his chair, he walks over to me, pushing a button on the side of the bed to raise the back, moving me into a sitting position.
“You need to eat something,” he tells me, pushing the side table with a tray of food over to my bed. My stomach growls as soon as he opens the plate cover and the sweet smell of pancakes tickles my nose. Looking as if he’s solved all the world’s problems he walks across the room and takes his seat once again.
I eat in complete silence, each bite landing in my belly with a heavy thud. It feels like I haven’t eaten in weeks, and even though I know I should slow down, I can’t. I’m too hungry. As I’m shoving the last bite of pancake into my mouth, a soft knock sounds against the door. For a brief second, I feel Declan’s dark gaze on me. There’s a warning that burns through my body, one that tells me if I do anything stupid, he won’t hesitate to hurt someone. The door swings open before I can tell him I won’t do anything and a middle-aged woman in scrubs walks in.
