Page 64 of Deadly Designs

The light flicked to green, and Nicole motoredthrough the intersection. Movement out of the corner of her eye hadPresley turning her head. She opened her mouth to shout a warning,but it was too late. A car slammed into them with a deafeningscreech of breaking glass and crushing metal, and the last thingshe remembered was kissing the airbag.

Chapter Eighteen

Christian was basking in theafterglow of mind-blowing sex with Aja Blue when his phone buzzed.Aja Blue made a sound and snuggled against him as he reached overto pick it up from the table. He didn’t recognize the number.

“Hello?”

“Christian Zamora?”

“Yes.”

“I’m calling from the Sentara Norfolk GeneralHospital. There’s been an accident.”

He sat up, dislodging Aja Blue, who grumbled herdispleasure. “What happened?”

“I’m not at liberty to discuss specifics, but Iwanted to inform you that there has been an accident. Ms. PresleyParrish was brought in. You were listed as her emergencycontact.”

Christian leaped out of bed and dressed. “Can youtell me her condition?”

“I’m afraid not.”

Damn HIPAA laws. “I’m on my way.”

Christian disconnected and pulled on his tacticalpants.

“Christian? What’s wrong?”

“Presley was in an accident.”

Aja Blue gasped and shot out of bed, dressing inrecord time. He notified Kayne, who was ready when they ran downthe steps.

“How is she?” Kayne asked, his jaw clenched.

“They wouldn’t tell me.”

The ride to the hospital was filled with nervoustension. Christian whipped into a visitor space, and they booked itfor the entrance. He made a beeline for the check-in station.

“We’re here for Presley Parrish.”

The woman typed into a computer. “She’s been admittedto Room 322.”

Christian thanked her, and they found the elevatorbank. One opened immediately, and they filed on. When they reachedthe third floor, Christian followed the signs to the room andpushed open the door. Presley was lying in a bed beneath dimmedlights with a sheet wrapped around her torso and a bandage on herhead. Cuts on her face and arms had been cleaned and dressed. Shewas hooked up to machines that beeped softly. Christian clenchedhis jaw, wondering what had happened to his friend andcoworker.

Presley’s eyes blinked open, and she glanced aroundthe room. “Where am I?”

Christian stepped into her line of sight. “You’re atthe hospital. You were in an accident.”

That seemed to jar her from her stupor, and she shotup, her head scanning back and forth. “What happened to DetectiveHerbert?”

“We haven’t heard.”

“I’m on it,” Kayne told them as he hustled out of theroom.

“How do you feel?”

Presley collapsed onto the bed and closed her eyes.“Like a wrecker plowed into us. The impact was on the detective’sside, so she took the brunt.”

“What else do you remember?”

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