AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He escapes my hand and bolts for the front door, and taking his lead, I drop the phone without saying goodbye and sprint out behind him.
We slide into the car before Aiden and Jon hit the front door. “Let’s go!” I don’t know what to expect when we get there, but I won’t waste another second not being with her.
Spinning the wheels and sliding in the snow, we arrive at the hospital in just a few minutes, skid to a stop in the emergency department driveway, and jump out as one.
We race toward the doors, but security steps in our way to stop us. “You can’t park there, son.”
I don’t say anything; I just drop my keys and keep running until I hit the front desk and scare the hell out of the lady sitting at her computer. “Catherine Reilly? We’re here to see her.”
She clutches at her chest and looks between Jack and me. “Are you family, sir? We can only give information to relatives.”
“Yes!” Jack shoulders me aside. “I’m her brother and next of kin. You guys called me. And he’s her fiancé.”
Whatever gets me through those doors.
“Okay then. Please follow me and I’ll take you to a waiting room. A doctor will be in shortly to see you.”
“What’s going on?” Jack asks. “Is she okay?”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Reilly, I can’t tell you.” She stops and looks at Jon. “Sir? You’ll have to wait he–”
“No, he’s my brother. And I have one more parking the car. His name is Aiden, and he needs to be sent through, too.”
I’m almost proud of his fluent bullshit, but her lifted brow knows he’s lying. Despite her disbelief, she turns on her heel and lets us through, and for the second time tonight, we’re being led through a maze of hospital hallways in search of someone we love.
This is different, though. Of course it is. I love Iz. She’s been my baby sister since before she could walk, but it’s different.
If Kit doesn’t survive, then neither do I.
On a different floor to the one we were on earlier, we walk past room after room in silence. I don’t know which room she’s in, and I don’t know what they’re doing to her. Why does she need to be operated on? How much pain is she in? Why was she even hurt in the first fucking place?
“In here, please.” Our escort pushes open a door and leads us into a room filled with plastic chairs and ratty old magazines. “I don’t know how long you’ll have to wait. A doctor will be with you eventually, but I’m not sure when. I’m sorry I don’t know more.”
“Can we speak to someone? Please.” Jack begs. He shakes with rage and heartbreak. He’s about ready to lose his shit. “We need some sort of update.”
“I just don’t know anything, Mr. Reilly. Your sister arrived about an hour ago. She was sent to surgery immediately. Her doctor is likely still many hours away from finishing.”
“Can we speak to a nurse or something? Someone who’s in there with her?”
She sighs with exhaustion, but with a merciful nod, turns back to the door. “I’ll go into the OR now. I’ll ask for an update and I’ll be back soon. Don’t expect too much, though. They’ve only just begun and probably don’t know the full extent of her injuries.” She lets the door swing closed at her back, and in the leftover silence, I turn around the room in search of something. Anything. Good news. Or better yet, just Kit.
Ten minutes drag by with no news until the sound of running footsteps in the hall has us looking up. Aiden steps through the door with questions in his eyes, but it takes only a moment to catch up. We know nothing. He pulls me down into a plastic chair beside Jack, sits on my other side, and presses his hand against my shoulder.
He doesn’t speak, he doesn’t ask questions. He’s just Aiden; silent and dependable.
Another agonizing five minutes drags by before Jimmy walks in. I look up with a frown. “How’d you know we were here?”
“I texted him.” Aiden answers before Jim can.
“How’s Sissy?” Jon asks him.
“She’s sleeping. Nurses have been around a few times; they said she’s going to be fine. What’s going on here?”
I choke on the emotion that threatens to kill me. “She’s in surgery. That’s all we know.”
“Who hurt her? Who hurt Iz?”
“Don’t know. I think it was Kit’s cousin.”
