Page 52 of The Saint

I pulled away and looked at Bastien’s arm, seeing the thick bandage that had been wrapped tightly around his bicep. “You kill the asshole who did this to you?”

He gave a slight smile. “You know I did.”

“Where have you been shot?”

The smile disappeared. “That was a long time ago.”

“Where?”

His hand moved to the back of his head, and he rubbed an area behind his ear. “It grazed me. It’s the one spot where I can’t grow hair.”

“You were shot in the head?”

“I said grazed.”

“Jesus.” He was right in front of me, alive and healthy, probably healthier than he’d have been if none of this had happened and he’d been able to eat that steak. But I still felt winded, like the action continued even though the end had arrived. “Where is he?”

“With the ER staff.”

“No updates?”

He shook his head.

“What did they do to him?”

Bastien never answered the question. “You want to wait for him here or head home? I can have my guys call with an update.”

If I went home, I would just pace the room and wish I were at the hospital. “I’m going to wait here. I understand if you want to go home and clean up.”

“I go where you go, sweetheart.” He guided me to one of the chairs and sat down. “It’s probably going to be a while, so get comfortable.”

I sat there and crossed my legs, still in the same outfit I’d worn to dinner, a low-cut sweater with tight jeans and boots. The ER was packed with people who were waiting to be seen or waiting for an update about their loved ones. The TVs in the corners showed sports or soap operas.

Having to sit there and wait was anticlimactic after all the fear that had gripped me for the last hour.

Luca took a seat beside Bastien.

“Did you get him?” Bastien asked in a quiet voice.

He shook his head. “Disappeared into the crypt…like a cockroach.”

Bastien said nothing else.

I wasn’t sure who they spoke of.

Luca continued. “By the time I reached the caverns, it would have been too late.”

Bastien remained quiet.

Luca slouched in the chair and stared at the TV.

“You don’t have to wait here,” Bastien said. “You don’t have to pretend to care about this shithead.”

“I don’t care about him—but I care about you and Fleur.”

I was scared for Adrien, but Luca’s words broke through the fear and made me smile. “Best friends…”

The doctor finally gave us an update.

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