Page 7 of Ignited Heat

"Just come. Don't tell anyone. I'm in the waiting room on floor 8."

After thirty minutes, Carlos comes through the sliding doors. The nurse has already told me that they're moving Cassie to a private room, and I'm just waiting to tell her brother what happened.

"Why am I here, Jason?"

"There's no other way to tell you this. Cassie was attacked tonight by Marcos Solis."

"Fuck! How is she?"

"They've just finished tending to her. They've put her in a private room."

"How bad?"

"It was bad, Carlos."

"I got to tell my family."

"Wait, don't do that just yet. I want to ask Cassie what she wants to do."

"I can't keep this from my family."

"And I'm not asking you to. Just give your sister a chance to say what she wants."

He looks at me dubiously but stays quiet. He knows there's going to be a reckoning. I told him what would happen if Marcos hurt Cassie again, and I didn't make false promises.

"I told them I was her husband so they would give me information about her."

He starts pacing across the waiting room. Thankfully, it's empty. And we wait until one of the nurses approaches.

"Cassandra Dalton's family?"

We get up and wait for the news.

"She's all set up. You can go see her. Room 808."

We locate the room stand outside the door.

"You go in," I tell Carlos.

He doesn't hesitate and goes through the doors. Not even five minutes pass when he's out telling me to go in.

"She wants to see you."

I go in and find her with her eyes closed. Thinking she's probably asleep, I pull the chair next to the bed closer so I can sit with her for a few minutes. Dare I pick up her hand? She seems so broken right now, and I don't want to hurt her. But my need to feel a connection to Cassie is greater, so I reach out and hold her hand in mine. It's cold, and her fingers look pale against mine.

"Jason."

"Shhh. It's okay. You're okay now."

Her eyes are open, and there are tears there. Seeing her like this makes my blood boil.

"Everything hurts,” she croaks.

"I can get the nurse to give you more painkillers."

She nods, so I try to go get the nurse but she grabs my hand. Her touch is light like a feather, but she's not letting me leave. There's a strength in her that I admire so much.

"Stay."

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