Page 85 of Tangled In Lies

He makes his “don’t be stupid” expression. “There’s a bigchance it wasn’t done at the house. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t. Way too risky to get caught.”

That was the same thought I had earlier, and I hate it. That makes finding the person who did this much harder, if not impossible. I’m unsure why anyone would want to blow me up anyway. Sure, I’ve made enemies over the years, probably more in prison, but to the level of murder? Via bomb, nonetheless? Plus, Eve was there too. She . . . she . . .

I stare at Holden and swallow. “She saved me.”

“I know.”

“She put me in prison, and then she saved me.” A laugh bubbles out of my chest.

The corners of Holden’s mouth lift. “I know.”

I didn’t know a smile could be that sad, that pitiful.

“How did she know?” A question that’s been plaguing me over and over.

He lifts a shoulder and drops it again. “She was staring at her phone one second and yelled your name the next, then took off running. Her phone broke during the explosion, but I will try to access it when I get home and also check the mirrored phone. There’s gotta be something.”

Why does it feel like we’re so close to figuring things out, yet so far away?

Before I can voice my thoughts, the door behind Holden opens, and the doctor steps out.

My feet move before I fully grasp his presence, and I stop right in front of him. It’s probably too close, but it’s better than grabbing him by his white doctor coat and shaking the info out of him, which is what I really want to do. I call that compromise.

He inclines his head. “Mr. Montgomery.”

I swallow. Hard. “Is she okay?”

He nods. “Miss Caldwell hit her head pretty hard, but she was alert during the exam. She has a mild concussion, and the scans all looked good. No bleeding or anything else unusual, which is what we want. Most cuts and wounds are superficial, but I’m sure she’ll feel them for a while. She was lucky.”

The breath that leaves my body nearly brings me to my knees. A strong hand wraps around my elbow, and I glance at Holden’s equally relieved face.

I focus back on the doctor. “Can I see her?”

“We gave her some medication to rest, so she’ll be out for a while.” He points at my face. “You need to get checked.”

“I won’t leave this spot until I’ve seen her.”

I’m ready to get in his face, doing whatever it takes, when he averts his gaze to Holden then back to me.

He lets out a defeated sigh, probably realizing it’s not worth the fight, and lifts his index finger in the air. “You have one minute, and then you’ll get checked out.” He glances around me toward the nurses’ desk and murmurs, “And don’t touch anything.”

I narrow my eyes at him but nod reluctantly. “Fine. Thanks, Doc.”

“Let’s go.”

I follow him through the double doors and down two different corridors before stepping through the door he opens. A single bed occupies the room, and Evangeline is almost hidden under the blankets. Cables run from her hand and arm to the monitors beside her. My heart slows at hearing her rhythmic heartbeat, at seeing she’s really okay.

Her skin is paler than usual, her body tiny in the largebed, but she’s here and breathing.

I step forward, wanting to get closer, but the doctor stops me with his hand. “Let her get some rest and take care of you in the meantime.”

He walks me back through the double doors. “Let me know if you have any concerns or questions. I’ll get someone for you.” Then he heads straight for the nurses’ desk.

Holden’s in the same spot I left him. “Is she all right?”

I brush a hand over my face and nod. “Seems like it.”

“Good.” He regards the approaching nurse and juts his chin toward me. “I’ll stay here until you’re back in case anything happens. Get that nasty cut checked.”

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