Page 70 of Rising from the Ashes

As we all run out of the building, back into the night air, the building behind us begins to collapse to the ground. The heat from the growing fire warms my skin as we hurtle toward a safe place.

I turn around and stare at the falling debris, knowing once and for all I will no longer be haunted by my father.

“I’ll take him.” A voice I’ve never heard breaks my thoughts and I whip around to see an older man with a white lab coat on, peering down at Shado, who is now laying on the concrete still unconscious.

Drake looks at me then back at the man and says with a desperation in his voice, “Anders, I need you to do everything you can.”

The man motions to two other, younger guys dressed in navy blue scrubs, who roll a gurney over and place Shado’s body on it. Strapping him to the stretcher, they wheel him to an ambulance parked off to the side.

“Drake. I’ve seen a lot of things.” He sighs looking at Shado as they put him in the ambulance. “But I am not God.”

He shakes Drake’s hand and joins Shado in the back of the unit as they shut the doors. The two guys quickly jump in the front seat and drive off.

“W-ho was that? W-Where are they taking him?” I stammer, as Quinn appears out of nowhere and wraps a blanket around me.

“That’s Dr. Anders. He knows of Shado’s and my partnership. He’s my private physician,” he says softly. “We will meet them at Edinburgh General.”

Mindlessly, I nod my head as they guide me back to Drake’s SUV.

Shado, please fight.

Chapter twenty-two

Calista

On the way to Edinburgh General, Drake attempts to update me on the outcome of our plan, but my mind can only focus on Shado. I hear bits of the conversation, and I nod my head to acknowledge that he’s talking.

Daniil’s men were able to stop and destroy the shipment of guns from making their way into Edinburgh. By the time Julian arrived at the estate, Allister had made off with a few of the mercenaries. Quinn is livid that she wasn’t able to avenge her parents and fiancé. I hear Drake assure her that he will help her find him.

Drake praises me for getting rid of my father for good. My shoulders slump at the praise. I may have won, but at the expense of Shado’s life.

Was it even worth it?

Looking around the van, I notice Julian is not with us. I never saw him leave the docks.

“Where’s Julian?” I ask.

Even in my frazzled state, Drake’s expression on his face tells me he is hiding something.

“Uh, he went back to headquarters to update Everly on the situation,” he says, staring at Quinn, who has quietly been gazing out the window.

No doubt, she is trying to process everything that has transpired within the last few hours. I remember how I felt when I saw my first torture victim. I had nightmares for weeks.

The SUV comes to a sudden jolt as Drake parks it in the back alley where the ambulance bay resides. He steps out of the car and walks around to my door, letting me out.

Holding his hand out to me, he says, “Are you ready?”

I gladly take his hand, feeling in dire need of some support or reassurance that Shado is okay.

“Yes.” I nod.

As we walk inside the hospital, my nerves begin to flit around in my stomach like butterflies.

If someone were to recognize you…

Keeping my head down, I follow Drake down the long, stark white hallway. I can hear the hurried footsteps all around me of the staff as they busily take care of patients. The smell of bleach enters my nose, and the screeching of alarms and the cries of families assault my ears.

We stop at a line of chairs along the wall next to a hospital room with number 31 on the door.

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