Her heartbeat quickened, and her breathing became shallow as she wondered what was going on. Alexa’s lack of resistance had thrown her off.
She nodded. “Ok. Before Darren shot me, he told me that Kirby wasn’t dead. He spouted off some shit that Kirby got some kind of new identity because he testified against his dad.”
She shook her head. “I don’t know if there’s any truth to that because knowing Darren he could have made all that up to fuck with my head. He was totally frying on PCP or something. But, it was on my mind right after he shot me, when I started losing consciousness. And then Lex, I swear I saw him—Kirby.”
Alexa moved to the edge of her seat. “When?”
She sighed. “It was so weird. It was here at the hospital.” Her eyes welled up with tears. “Lex, it was so real. Maybe I’m crazy. Maybe it was just the general anesthesia coursing through my veins.”
Alexa reached across the table and grabbed Kit’s hand. “Tell me.”
Kit closed her eyes to regain her composure as a lone tear trickled down her cheek. She opened her eyes slowly and met Alexa’s alert violet eyes.
She cleared her throat. “This was after surgery. I was in the recovery room. I opened my eyes, and he was standing over me.”
She sighed. “He looked just how I imagined he would all these years later, a little older like us and frankly, even better looking if that’s even possible. I always thought he’d be one of those guys that got better with age.”
“Anyway, back to that moment. I saw so much love in his eyes.” She closed her eyes. “God, Lex, it was like the last time I saw him… When he was telling me he loved me the morning before he died.” Her eyes fluttered open, tears rolling down her cheeks as she hastily wiped them away and sniffled.
Alexa reached for Kit’s hand. “Do you want to continue?”
She nodded. “I was gazing into his eyes, and I can’t lie—it was like a little slice of heaven for a moment. I said hi to him, and he said hi back, but I couldn’t keep my eyes open anymore. I remember feeling so tired, yet content that he was there. And I swear on my life, Lex, the morning after my surgery when I was lightly sleeping, I heard him tell me he loved me and he always would. It was his voice.”
She took the time to recall the experience fully. “I know the anesthesia they gave me was heavy duty, but it was so real, Lex.” She shook her head. “It still sticks with me.” She looked up and met Alexa’s eyes. “Do you think I’m crazy? Do you think my mind made this up because I’ve been thinking about him, and the drugs created some weird hallucination?”
Alexa swallowed hard and shook her head. “No.”
She frowned, completely confused. “What?”
Alexa sighed. “I thought I was going crazy, but I wasn’t on anesthesia. I swear I saw him too, Kitty. And he was just like you described. A little older, but handsome as ever.”
Her emerald eyes widened. “Are you fucking kidding me right now? Lex, do not toy with me like this.”
Alexa leaned forward and hissed. “I’m not. Kit, I saw him when I was coming off the elevator on your floor here at the hospital. I chased him down the hall, calling out his name. He glanced over his shoulder once, and we locked eyes. It was him! Those unforgettable green eyes he has… That strong jaw line. It was either Kirby or the guy has a pretty serious doppelganger in L.A.”
She gulped. “What? Are you in agreement with me now that his accident was staged all those years ago?”
Alexa nodded. “Yes.”
She stared, her eyes wide as saucers. “Kirby is still alive.”
Alexa gulped. “I’m starting to think so, yes.”
Her emerald eyes twinkled with determination. “If he is alive, then I’m sure as hell gonna find him.”
Alexa blinked. “Kit, what about Sully in all of this?”
She raised her eyebrows. “What about him?”
Alexa shook her head. “Be careful. This could be a big a bombshell to your marriage.”
She snorted. “I already received one of those a few weeks ago, remember? And the hits keep coming. There has been more than one visit from Sully in this last week where he’s been high as a kite. He’s not exactly present. Anyway, I’m finding out what happened to Kirby on that winter day in 1983 and where he is now. No one is going to stop me.”
Alexa noticed the conviction in Kit’s eyes and didn’t doubt her for a moment. She swallowed hard wondering how this discovery could potentially alter the course of their lives.
CHAPTER 4
As Sully sat next to Kit on the bed, watching TV, his cell phone rang. She glanced over at him. “Aren’t you going to get that?”
He shook his head and kept his attention on the TV. “Whoever it is can wait.” He shifted his focus to her and noticed her drooping eyelids. He stroked her cheek. “Baby, how are you feeling?”
She nodded. “I’m tired.”
He chuckled. “I can see that. Why don’t you get some sleep? Your body needs the rest. Want me to tuck you in?”
She grinned and nodded, as she surrendered to her heavy eyelids. He grabbed the edge of the fluffy blanket and pulled it up, making sure she was covered. A faint grin remained on her face.
He leaned over and kissed her softly on the lips, lowering his voice. “Get good rest, baby. I’ll check on you again in a few hours.”
He got up, grabbed his cell phone and headed out of
