Page 63 of Isabela

“I know, baby. I have someone coming to pick you up. I’ll send you the person’s name as soon as I get it. Lily is persona non grata, and is being held for punishment,” I tell her.

“Make her scream,” my wife growls before she hangs up.

A shudder runs over me as I toss the phone into the cup holder. I never want to make a call like that in my life again. Checking on Isa in the rear view mirror when I hear a whimper, I find myself pressing down harder on the accelerator.

Hold on, love. Almost there.

ISABELA

There’s an obnoxious beeping that can only mean one thing. “No hospital,” I rasp, opening my eyes.

Aria is sitting next to me, typing on her phone when she hears me. Dropping her device on the table, she climbs in the bed with me, careful of the IV in my hand.

“It’s a little late for that, baby,” she says. “You were dehydrated and they’re monitoring you for shock. How are you feeling?”

Slowly memories wash over me as I remember everything. “I really want a shower,” I mutter. Glancing at my arms, I expect to still be covered in the mayor’s blood, but my skin is clean and I’m in a gown. “How is there no blood?”

“Gael and I wiped you down the best we could the second I got here. He was already working on it actually. You reminded me a little of Carrie for a bit,” Aria teases me.

I didn’t think I could think about the past events of today or however long it’s been as funny, but my lips twitch regardless. “What time is it?” I ask.

Aria lays her head on my pillow, being really careful not to mess with any of the wires. This feels like overkill, though, I feel a little floaty and I don’t have a headache. What kind of drugs are they giving me?

“It’s three in the morning on Tuesday, and the drugs are strong,” she says, amused.

“Ugh, I said that out loud, huh?” I mutter. “I hate hospitals.”

“I know, baby, but you need to be a good girl and?—”

I shudder at her words, shaking my head wildly. All I can hear is Charles Markship’s words in my mind, feel the sharp blade over my skin, feel his cock in my mouth…

It doesn’t matter that I know he’s dead. I saw him die, I did it myself, yet those words throw me back into a room I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get out of.

“Isabela? Fuck, what did I say?” Aria asks, panicking. The monitor is screeching, complaining at how high my heart rate is. I can’t breathe, my gasping wheezes alerting her that I’m being pushed back into a living nightmare.

“Don’t call me a good girl,” I gasp. “I can’t, please. Just don’t.”

Aria is sitting on her knees next to me, looking lost until her lips part in understanding. “I’ll tell Gael, too. Come on, breathe. You’re safe. Right now. You killed the fucker. He’s never going to hurt you again. They incinerated his body for good measure too,” she says.

This makes me imagine a vampire, and my airways open, allowing me to gulp in air. A nurse practically crashes her way into the room due to how fast she’s going, staring at me.

“What happened?” she asks.

“I don’t know,” I say honestly, easing myself into a sitting position. “It was like a flashback in a way. My body doesn’t quite believe I’m safe, so my heart is pounding and my vision is starting to get a little fuzzy.”

“Okay. I’ve been told not to sedate you again, and I don’t want to, either. Keep breathing, try to get your heart rate down, alright? Do you need anything?” she asks.

“Just water,” I say with a wince. My throat feels gross and talking feels as if my voice needs to travel through a million layers of knives before it can come out of my mouth. Yuck.

I shouldn’t be surprised that my body hurts, though I’m trying to avoid the reason why my jaw and throat ache. He’s gone, I’m safe, it’s done.

Telling myself and believing it are two different things unfortunately.

The nurse putters over to check my stats, muttering to herself when things appear too high.

“I’m Nurse Riley, and I’m going to be your nurse. I’m going to get you some ice chips, because it’ll be soothing for the soreness in your throat,” she says. “Whatever your brain tries to tell you, Isabela, you’re a damn warrior. Is that understood?”

Riley barely gives me time to process her words before she walks out of the room. Head dropping back on the pillow, I wince, expecting it to hurt. Thankfully, the haze of the pain medications save me from it.

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