Page 170 of Cook

“Give it up,” said a man, his tone harsh. “It’s not going to work.”

“Only Cook worked,” said another voice.

These were the reminders that I wasn’t alone as I waited for the doctor to come back.

As I waited to find out if Cook was dead, I considered the ways I could join him. The easiest seemed like the hospital roof. I would jump, and if there was an afterlife, Cook and I would be reunited. If there wasn’t an afterlife, that would be okay.

Because there wouldn’t be a life without Daddy, anyway.

“Maybe while we’re here, you should seek some help,” someone said.

In the back of my mind, something told me I should be offended,but I was too numb.

“She’s getting help in the Ridge,” replied a womanly voice. Was that Mel? Roni? Even Bou knew I had started meeting with Ava for therapy.

“It doesn’t look like it’s helping.” Another man. Their voices all sounded the same, merging into my memories of how men used to tell me they would make me feel so good or how they could be the best fuck of my life as they raped me.

“Should someone go ask at the nurse’s station if there’s any news from the doctor?” asked a woman.

I felt the eyes leave me, and the weight vanish from my shoulders. They were now distracted by Cook—as they should’ve been all along. I released the breath I’d been holding and hung my head.

“The doctors are working on Cook,” said a guy. “We shouldn’t distract them.”

“But they’ve been in there for a while,” said another.

“Isn’t that better than them coming out and say he’s dead?”

I flinched. Cook, dead. Me, alone.

“Don’t say that,” hissed a woman.

“I’m trying to be positive.”

Their voices blurred together, not connected to anybody.

“Fuck off.”

“Can you all just not? We need to be focused on other things right now.”

“We’re just talking, Bou.”

“This isn’t the time.”

“We’re just trying to cut the tension. Do something useful.”

“Is that what happened with Massimo? How the fuck did that get out of hand?”

“You don’t need to know.”

“I’m patched. It’s my business, too. Wilde?”

“Everyone, pipe down. We got company.”

I dragged my eyes up, hoping for Cook’s doctor, but instead, I faced the man who had cornered me in Serenity. Massimo walked in, two of his dark clad men behind him. Thank God, I didn’t recognize them, but then again, I wouldn’t since most of the men who’d touched me or raped and scarred me were faceless.

Massimo held his arm out like a gentleman, and Vivi Cook had her arm slung through the crook of his elbow. She was dressed in a fancy dress for an older woman, and she didn’t look scared at all, not even that her son was in emergency surgery after being shot.

“Why don’t you sit next to Maddie?” Massimo inclined his hand toward me, and I thought about sinking my teeth into the hand that drew near my face.

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