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When I look up, the imposter agents are piling into the SUV with a drawer from Coleman’s bureau and the computer tower. All the evidence of Coleman’s crimes. The doors slam, then the SUV peels out and speeds away.
Something tells me Coleman won’t make it to jail.
Whatever. The only thing that matters is Thea’s safety. I lean my head on hers, breathing easier when a hint of her sweet scent hits my nose.
Thirty-Nine
Connor
As the anesthesia from surgery wears off, I wake up groggy in a hospital room. Thea is by the bed, holding my hand as she dozes, her head resting on her folded arm. Her hand is re-bandaged.
“Hey, man,” Devlin says from a chair by the window, Blair asleep in his lap with her head on his shoulder and his coat draped over her.
“Time is it?” My tongue moves sluggishly and a gross metallic taste makes me grimace.
“Late. You got out of surgery at eleven and it took a couple of hours for the drugs to wear off.”
Out in the hall, I hear Mom’s grating voice, followed by Dad telling her to keep it down. She’s arguing about using this to turn around the approval ratings after they took a hit. The gunshot wasn’t a fatal injury, but Mom is here to put on her show anyway.
Rolling my eyes at her ridiculous bid for a boost in her numbers, I angle my head to get a look at the bandage covering my upper arm. It’s stupid that I’m even in the hospital. I told the paramedic I didn’t want to come, but Thea insisted to be on the safe side. I couldn’t refuse the pleading look she gave me.
“What’s the damage?”
“Stress fracture and stitches, but you’re lucky. It went in and out and missed anything vital. Minor fragments and the residue left behind, but the nurse said most of it was the force of impact to the tissue from close range.”
“Still hurts like a bitch.” I flop my head back to the pillow, easing my frustration by brushing Thea’s hand with my thumb. “Did you bring my computer?”
“Yeah, hang on.” Devlin nudges Blair, his smile tender as she makes a quiet sound. “He’s up. Want to sleep still?”
“No, I’m awake.” She moves off his lap, wrapping the peacoat around her shoulders. Her gaze shifts to me. “Glad you didn’t die.”
I snort, then regret it when it makes my arm throb. “Hi to you, too. Dev, can you also get the flash drive from the pocket of my jeans?”
Devlin gets my laptop out from a bag by his chair, then rummages through the plastic bag containing what’s left of my clothes in the corner. At all the movement, Thea startles awake, gripping my hand tighter. Her wide eyes relax once she realizes where she is.
“Hey,” I say softly. “Okay, baby?”
“Yeah, I was having a bad dream.” She presses her forehead to the back of my hand. “It wasn’t real.”
“It wasn’t.” I pat the bed. “Come here.”
“No, I don’t want to hurt you.” She gets up, gesturing with her hands. “You just got out of surgery!”
Gripping her wrist, I tug until she falls into an awkward position, bracing her arms on either side of me.
“Do I seem like I’m a severely injured invalid?” I run my good hand up her side. She no longer has the blood-stained coat on, down to a fuzzy yellow sweater and tan pants. “Come here, baby. I need you close.”
“Fine, but if the doctor comes in, I’m not taking the blame for any trouble we get in.”
“I’d break every rule just to have you close.”
She settles on her side next to me in bed, kissing my cheek. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
“I’m more glad that you’re okay.” I cup her face and pull her closer, capturing her lips in a kiss. Her body trembles as I hug her against my uninjured side, feeling the remnants of tension bleeding away. “It’ll all be okay now. He can’t hurt you anymore.”
She makes a soft sound of agreement, pressing her face into my neck. A hot wetness against my skin makes me squeeze her as tight as I can, trying to pull her pain onto my shoulders to help her bear the weight of what she faced tonight. When things have calmed down, I’ll be whatever she needs to support her through dealing with the emotional fallout of knowing she was a victim of grooming.
“Here.” Devlin brings the laptop and flash drive over, setting it up on the tray table.
