Page 86 of I Am Salvation

“She’ll be able to tell you everything, sir.”

I roll my eyes. “Fine.”

What is Diana going to do when I tell her I need ten grand to wire to Malcolm Osborne?

Damn.

All this time…

Griffin might have been right under our nose.

And now she’s with some cult.

I’ve got to rescue her. Her and her daughter.

Then I’ll make sure Malcolm Osborne spends the rest of his life behind bars.

A few moments later, a nurse brings Diana out in a wheelchair. On her left ankle is a boot.

I rush to her. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I got pretty lucky.” She winces slightly. “My pain is quite a bit relieved, and the X-ray and MRI only showed a little bit of inflammation. No actual fracture or sprain.”

“She should be able to walk,” the nurse says. “But I wouldn’t suggest doing any hiking or marathons. For the rest of the day, she should rest with the foot elevated. Tomorrow she can bear weight as necessary as long as it’s not too painful.”

I nod as I’m overwhelmed with a sense of duty and protectiveness.

I want to take care of Diana. Me. Dragon Locke, who has no more than a few bucks to his name. Whose own parents thought the worst of him when he was a mere child.

Who’s done some very bad things.

I’m living in Diana’s penthouse, driving her car, staying in a luxury hotel that she’s paying for.

But I want to take care of her.

God help me.

“Can you walk now?” I ask.

“Like I said, she should stay off her feet for the rest of the day,” the nurse answers for her. “She’s got a prescription dose of ibuprofen.”

“All right.”

I silently thank God that they didn’t give her any narcotics for pain. I’ve been sober since I fell off the wagon in London, but being around pills is never a good idea.

“I’m fine,” Diana says. “It hurt like hell when it happened, but it’s not bad now. After a day or two, I’ll be fine.”

I won’t take the time to remind her that I need to be home by tomorrow evening to begin my job teaching percussion at Antonio Carbone’s music store.

Oh, and I also need ten grand.

“I’ll wheel her out to your vehicle.” The nurse scratches her head. “Or you can bring it up. That will make it easier for everyone.”

“I came in a rideshare,” I say. “I’ll have to call another.”

“Oh.” The nurse scratches her head again. “I can’t release her to a rideshare.”

“You’re releasing her to me.” I sigh.

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