Page 61 of Shield and Savior

“I know quite a bit,” Alana says, then tosses her head in my direction, “but this one skipped the drug training. So explain it like he’s in fourth grade.”

Trevor hands his tablet over to Alana but directs his attention to me and Honey Badger. He blinks a few times at her, “Holy shit! You’re Lena Goodlove.”

Alana snaps her fingers in his face. “Focus.”

Trevor nods. “Okay, so it’s in this new category of drug. It’s as addictive as an opioid, and in some ways behaves like one, but also has the same effects as a stimulant like cocaine. This makes treating ODs very difficult. More so, the very few cases of people who have survived an OD eventually relapsed. It’s a sneaky bastard because you think you’re on the mend, but it lingers in your system much longer than most drugs. And once it’s fully out, your body craves it twice as much.”

He glances up at me. “You had trace amounts of it, so it should be out of your system in twelve hours. I’m not a doctor, but I would keep you here for at least twenty-four hours.”

Alana glances at me with an “I told you so” look, then asks, “What about Patient A?”

Trevor scratches his head and motions over his shoulder several beds down. “He had a lethal dose. I’m not sure how he’s lasted this long. Maybe it was the other prescription medication found in his system, or that he seems to be otherwise healthy. Most likely fast medical attention saved his life. For now.”

Alana hands him back his tablet, her icy voice back. “If he survives the night, how long do you expect him to be here for observation?”

Trevor shakes his head. “Again, I’m not a doctor, but with the half life of the drug and his dosage, I would guess at least five days. Plus he’ll need rehab.”

If Alana is fazed by this, she doesn’t show it. Instead she types on her phone and doesn’t take her eyes off the screen. “Nurse Sheila, please share the phone number I gave you with Trevor so he can be in constant contact with my team. I’d like two-hour reports on both patients, thank you,” Alana states, jamming her hands back into her pockets.

Suddenly the multiple alarms scream in different tones and the already busy ER turns into a frenzy. Someone in green scrubs grabs a crash cart. Nurse Sheila doesn’t say goodbye but sprints toward the chaos loud with commands.

Alana takes a step forward and pauses before turning toward Honey Badger and me. Her voice strains against her emotions. “Macie will be here soon to take you home, Lena. Lance, when they discharge you tomorrow, I’ll pick you up and take you to Izzy.” She shakes her head, and her long blonde hair falls in front of her face. “Don’t say this wasn’t my fault, I don’t want to hear it right now.”

We watch her walk down the hallway on her way out, pausing at Phoenix’s bed, but Nurse Sheila rolls the curtain around the shouting doctors.

Honey Badger touches my shoulder. “She shouldn’t be alone.” If there’s anyone who understands what Alana is going through, it’s the tiny fearless singer. History is on an endless loop, it’s just the characters that changed this time. When it happened to Honey Badger, she had a team of friends and employees for support.

I don’t have the heart to tell her. Alana’s always alone.

ChapterThirty

Izzy

Joey, Donnie, and Dad are hunkered down around the breakfast bar when the notification that a Mastodon vehicle is approaching the house comes through. A few minutes later, the garage door opens, there’s the roar of a car engine. It dies, and the door slams.

Alana enters the kitchen, her face neutral until she scans the room and finds her target. She smiles brightly walking towards Drew, who is sitting on the couch with me. “Hey Champ! You up for a challenge?”

Drew looks at her and says, “Sure?” his voice dripping with caution, not sure if he should agree.

“If you can pack up all your stuff and your mom’s in ten minutes, I’ll buy you a PlayStation.”

My son jumps to his feet faster than I’ve ever seen him move. He starts running, but Alana grabs his shoulder. “Do it in five, and I’ll throw in a drone and a bunch of games too.”

“DEAL!” Drew’s stomping up the stairs, and I follow after him through the kitchen. Something’s up. And all my instincts scream to be near my family.

“Don’t forget the fancy skin care stuff in your mom’s bathroom,” she calls up to him. But as soon as he’s out of sight, Alana moves so fast my brain can’t register what’s happening. She has my dad’s arm pinned behind him and slams his face against the fridge. As Joey goes to grab her, she pulls my dad’s gun from his holster and aims it at Joey’s head. Donnie has his arms around me, pulling me out of the kitchen.

“What the fuck aren’t you telling me?” Alana’s voice has a darkness I’ve never heard before. My dad tries to squirm but cries out more. My indestructible father is in pain.

“I’m telling you everything,” Dad wheezes. She’s hurting my dad.

The cold steel presses against Joey’s head, but he doesn’t seem afraid. “Alana, we need context.”

She whips her head between my dad and Joey. But Donnie keeps his grip on me and whispers, “She won’t hurt them with Drew in the house.”

My son’s stomping feet above us are a not-so-subtle reminder that we’re all on the clock. She told him five minutes. He’ll hold her to it.

Alana growls, “I left the hospital where one of my clients and Lance are being treated for exposure to Majesty.”

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