Page 81 of Whiskey's Redemption

Jamieson

For close to twenty minutes, the two sisters, along with some guy that came in with Kano, have been talking to the doctor and a second surgeon in Japanese. We’ve been sitting here, wondering, trying to figure out from their facial expressions what the hell is going on. None of us understand, and we’re all afraid to interrupt.

So we wait.

When they stop their yelling and hand throwing conversation, the guy walks over to me. Extending his hand out, expecting a shake, I do. “Hey. I don’t know if you remember me. I’m Jacob, the guy who flew you out to the hotel.”

“Thanks. I’m guessing you brought Kano back? Do you know what’s going on? There seems to be a lot of hustle now that they’re done talking.” There are nurses and doctors scrambling all around.

“We’re waiting to see if they’re a match for a donor kidney. The sisters are arguing who will go under, but I have the feeling that Miori is the frontrunner after Kano’s gunshot wound today.”

“I know how that goes. I was a donor once,” I tell him, thinking about Petra. Damn, if I was a match I’d do it again, no questions asked. “So when will they find out?”

Motion from the girls as they argue further, presumably about who will do it, causes a ruckus in the room.

“Excuse me,” Jacob says, pretty much jogging across the room.

“Hey. How ya doin’, James?” Wyatt’s tentative, and with good reason. This dredges up old memories that I’d forgotten, or swept under the rug.

“No, really, I’m not. But I’m trying.”

Patting me on the shoulder with his good arm, I know this must be wearing on him too. Walking off to sit, Wyatt must find this exhausting. Two days out of the hospital and we’re globe hopping, dealing with gunshots, further death, and more hospitals. Turning to Circe, I tell her to keep an eye on him. The last thing we need is Wyatt in a full-on depressive state, or worse. We may be a fucked up family, but we care deeply about each other. No matter how far I was, no matter where I was, I always thought about my siblings. Yeah, Mom and Dad made it hard to be close, but we’re family, and I’ll do anything for family.

Walking over, Miori approaches me. “Jamieson, I know you care for her and your baby. I’ll do everything I can to save her, I promise. It’s the least I can do.” Bowing low, then raising her head up, I see the tears still pulling at the corners of her eyes.

Without thought, I grab her for a hug, even though I’m not much of a hugger. I think we both need it. When she steps back, I see that same fire and determination in her eyes that I always see in Carli’s. She’s a strong woman.

“Well, I better go. I promise to do as much as I can.” Turning toward the operating doors, confusion crests her face. “Where’s Kano?”

I look around the space. She’s gone.

“I’m sorry. She made me promise I’d help her,” Jacob admits, looking guilty as sin.

Spewing words in Japanese again, pushing Jacob up against the wall, Miori is slapping the hell out of him, and he takes it without argument.

I can only handle watching it for so long before grabbing her, and holding her at bay. “Where’s Kano? Did she go with the surgeons?”

“Yeah, man. She slipped through while you were talking with Miori. She’s gone to surgery. If they find her as a match, it’s done.”

I’m not sure if I’m impressed, pissed, or scared shitless.

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