Page 7 of Unbroken

“She’s not going to survive it, Luke,” I said, trying to hold back tears. “You’ve put her in the worst possible situation because you’re being selfish. Flaunting your relationship, or whatever the fuck this is, is just going to bring Valerie’s wrath down on her harder. Don’t do this to her or your?—”

A throat cleared behind Luke. He turned around, and Hazelstood in the doorway. Neither of us had heard the door open, so I couldn’t be sure how much she’d heard.

The heartbroken look on her face told me enough.

“Dinner’s ready,” she said in an even voice that didn’t belie any of the feelings I was sure were simmering below the surface.

I opened my mouth, ready to apologize and tell her that I wasn’t actually the bitch I’d come across as. That I was just scared for her life and for so many others.

But she didn’t give me an opportunity. “Dinner’s ready,” she said again, and my argument died on my tongue.

I walked past Luke, then past Hazel, and went straight back to the bathroom. I fumbled with the lock and turned the faucet on before a sob broke free.

FOUR

Blakely

“Mom,you can’t say things like that to the nurses! They’re going to kick you out.”

Shelly waved her daughter off as we walked back into the hospital and toward the elevator bank. “They are not going to kick me out. And she seemed to appreciate my advice. The man was walking all over her, so I did her a favor by telling her to get the hell out.”

Sydney shook her head and gave me a wide-eyed, pleading look. But I couldn’t contain my laughter. Shelly had a point.

“Maybe just watch your delivery next time, Mom,” Devon said as we stepped on the elevator, and he hit the button for the third floor.

Shelly was a petite woman for having two children that were well above average height, but what she lacked in height she made up for in personality. Even after battling cancer off and on for the past decade, she was still spunky and brutally honest.

“I’ve gotten this far, haven’t I? And I lived thirty years without either of you smart asses to give me pointers on how to behave.”

My hand flew over my mouth to suppress my laughter. Shelly winked at me, and Devon shook his head like he was disappointed at my reaction. It wasn’t my fault his mother was fucking hilarious.

“I hate that y’all have to leave so soon.”

We stepped off the elevator and onto the treatment floor. Her room was closest to the nurse’s station, which she both loved and hated.

“I wish we didn’t have to,” Devon said as we escorted Shelly back to her room. “But both Blakely and I have to work. And Sydney has homework to catch up on.”

Sydney, Devon’s almost seventeen-year-old little sister, just rolled her eyes.

They continued bantering, but being back in the hospital, I was having a hard time concentrating. I found myself searching the face of every person we encountered, looking for someone I recognized. But none of them were familiar. And none of them screamed,“I’m the one watching Shelly to make sure you stay in line!”

Which was unfortunate and unhelpful.

Valerie’s threats hadn’t ceased. She seemed to know I hadn’t been successful, yet her tactics hadn’t changed. She sent messages warning me of Shelly’s fate if I spoke to anyone or if I tried to move against her. Most of the messages were pictures or videos of Shelly somewhere in the hospital and often in the exact room we were standing in.

A chill ran down my spine, thinking that I was standing in the exact place that sick fuck had also been.

I’d taken up calling Shelly every day. She didn’t find it strange since we were close, but every day I prayed that she would pick up and panicked after each unanswered ring.

Shelly kicked off her shoes, and Devon helped her into bed while I lingered by the door. I made eye contact with a maintenance man who passed by. But he just smiled at me as he pushed a broom down the corridor.

My paranoia was at an all-time high, and I jumped when Shelly said my name.

“We’ll see you soon,” Sydney said, leaning down to kiss her mom on the cheek. “Love you lots.”

“We’ll meet you outside.” Devon motioned to the hallway as he and Sydney walked past me. Crossing to Shelly’s bed, she patted the sheets and scooted over to make room for me to sit on the edge.

I sat as instructed but wished I hadn’t when I saw the sympathetic look on her face.

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