at staying in the messy bun she’d fashioned.
“I’m looking for Ryan Scott! I was told he’s in ICU?” she puffed.
Jenny looked at me and then back to her. “Are you his…?”
“Mother! I’m his mom. He’s here? Is he okay?” she said, breathless. “I’m Callie Scott. I’d like to see him, please.”
Jenny extended an apologetic smile and then turned to Callie. “He’s here, Ms. Scott. I’ll show you to his room.”
I trudged back to my seat, glancing at my watch. According to Cynthia, I had less than an hour to make my way home to rest. Unable to comply, I pulled my phone from my pocket to call in an explanation.
As I dialed, Jenny poked her head into the waiting room doorway. “Nina?”
“Yes?”
She smiled. “He would still like to see you.”
“Oh!” I said, surprised. I followed quickly behind her through the double doors and we stopped three rooms down. When she pulled back the heavy curtain, the rings grated across the metal bar.
She smiled to her left. “I found her. She didn’t leave.”
I peered into the room and inwardly cringed at the tubes and wires leading from Ryan’s body.
“Hey, Nigh,” he rasped.
I managed a half grin. “Today is the only day I’ll let you get away with that.”
Ryan laughed and then winced.
“Take it easy, Baby,” Callie said, searching for a place to touch him that wasn’t attached to a monitor or IV pump. She settled on brushing back his hair.
“Mom, don’t fuss,” he whispered, leaning away from her nervous stroking.
“Chad, Beth and Josh were here earlier; they’ll be back,” I said, touching his foot.
Ryan nodded. “Is Jared still here?”
I shook my head, making the corners of Ryan’s mouth turn up. I wasn’t sure how much he had seen, or how much he remembered.
“It’s a good thing he’s stalking you.”
I rolled my eyes. “He’s not stalking me.”
“How else do you explain him showing up out of nowhere?” Ryan pressed.
“Who’s stalking you? Is this the man that attacked my son?” Callie’s face compressed with concern.
“No, Mom. He’s the guy that kept us all from getting killed,” Ryan said, watching my face.
Callie looked to me, still wanting answers.
I fidgeted under her stare. “He’s a friend of mine that came just in time.”
“As usual,” Ryan frowned. “You look like hell. Get some sleep.”
“I can sleep later,” I argued. Of course he would be worried about me while he was lying in a hospital bed.
“You can sleep now. My mom’s here, I don’t need both of you whining over every little thing.”
“I don’t whine,” I said, feigning insult.
“You can be kinda whiny,” he smiled and tapped his cheek. I maneuvered around the tubes and wires to kiss the spot he had indicated. Being this close to someone covered in hospital paraphernalia caused my ribs to wrench in an all too familiar way. I bit my lip with apprehension.
“Hey,” he reached up an arm to brush my cheek with the back of his fingers. “I’m going to be fine. I’d do it again if I had to.”
My face fell at his words. I knew how he felt about me, and how it would end. I couldn’t stand it if I ever hurt Ryan enough for him to hate me.
My hands grabbed his. “You just concentrate on getting well before you start planning more knife fights, all right?”
He grinned. “Sweet dreams, Nina.”
I walked into the dark, curtains drawn and all bulbs extinguished. Beth was still cocooned inside her comforter breathing heavily. I peeled off my coat and fell face down onto my bed.
I tried to lay as still as possible; I didn’t want to let my mind wander. Allowing thoughts would mean envisioning the attack, the blood, the eyes of the man that would cut off my hand to take my ring; the chilling sound of Ryan’s cry when he was impaled and Kim’s horrified expression in the car. I didn’t even want to dwell on Jared’s lips. I just wanted to sleep.
My eyes shot open to the sound of the door quietly pulling closed.
“Beth?” I called, listening for any motion from her side of the room. She didn’t answer.
I leaned up on my elbows and blinked my eyes several times until I could see clearly that Beth’s bed was empty and made. A note was on the back of the door, so I pushed myself slowly from the bed and ambled across the cold floor.
Went with Chad and Josh to the hospital. See you there. ~Beth
Ryan wouldn’t be at the hospital alone. Of course his mother might still be there, but it was good that he would have his friends around him. Beth would be home late, I assumed. I looked at the clock.
Six o’clock!
Scrambling from the bed, I rushed to change and brush my teeth, pulling my hair haphazardly into a ponytail. Just as I grabbed my keys, my stomach growled. Going off campus alone immediately seemed like a bad idea, and hoping for something edible at the hospital was being overly optimistic. Dinner at the Gate meant a long walk in the bitter cold outside, which would keep my mind off more troubling circumstances. I zipped up my coat and locked the door behind me.
Soon I was within a dozen yards of my destination. I was right; shivering with every step had been the perfect diversion from the night before. I puffed out a steamy breath of relief as my mind concentrated on the warmth and subsequent thaw the doors of The Gate assured me.
Before my hand reached the door handle, a man stepped from the shadows.
I jerked to a stop. “Mr. Dawson?”
“Do you have the file?” he asked, his eyes intent.
Still on edge from the attack, my hands balled into fists and I shoved them in my pockets. I glanced at the door handle, seeing that it was just a foot or two from me.
I forced my body to relax. “Mr. Rosen isn’t familiar with your transaction, but I could give you his number, if you’d like.”
“So you’ll help me, then?” his eyes narrowed.
“I’m not sure why you would think this incessant harassment would encourage me to be of assistance to you at all.” I was lying, of course. I knew how the intimidation game worked. I’d seen my father win it many times.
“Nina, I’ve told you what I’m looking for. Your father and I—,”
“Were involved in a property deal. You’ve said that,” I interrupted. “I’m his daughter, not his business partner. Please call Mr. Rosen.”
I reached for the door, but Mr. Dawson grabbed my arm. With a quick jerk, he yanked me toward him. I gasped as he whispered in my ear with his guttural, growling voice. “I’m not playing games with you, little girl. Your father has documents and photos that I want. The last time I saw them, they were in a file in his office marked Port of Providence. I want that entire file, do you understand me? Unless you want mommy to have to deal with me later, I suggest you do as I ask.”
Threatening my mother sent a courageous voice emanating from my throat, “Stay away from her!”
Mr. Dawson snorted. “Just like Jack…never know when to back down.”
“My father didn’t back down!”
“And that’s what got him killed!” Mr. Dawson snarled, jerking my arm again.
I felt my eyes widen in stunned disbelief. His reply didn’t make sense. My father died after his car accident.
Mr. Dawson sighed and loosened his grip. “I’m doin’ you a favor, Peach. You don’t want caught within a hundred yards of that package. There are more dangerous things than me out there wantin’ it worse than I do.
