Page 49 of Gage

I nodded, though Ryker couldn’t see me.

Something wasverywrong.

And I wouldn’t stop until I knew exactly what it was.

“Gage, can you hear me?”

“Yes, she was in Afghanistan and Iran.”

“That’s what I thought,” Ryker said. “She may have picked up something over there. A lot of people are getting sick right now. Stay strong for Lori.”

“I will. Thanks, Ryker.”

I ended the call and pressed the ICU buzzer. A moment later, Lori’s dad walked out. His face was pale, his eyes red from crying.

My stomach clenched.Why the hell is he crying?

“Is Lori…?”

“No,” he said quickly, shaking his head. “She’s just so sick. I don’t like seeing her like this.” His voice broke. “Go on in. I’ll hold the door for you.”

I was shaking so badly I could barely move past the curtain. My breath caught when I saw Lori lying there, pale and lifeless. Sammy sat beside her, holding her hand.

I walked up and kissed Lori’s forehead. “Has the doctor said anything?”

Sammy looked up at me, worry clouding her eyes. “He thought it might be malaria.”

I frowned. “Malaria? She was in the desert, not the jungle. Were there even mosquitoes where she was?”

“I don’t know,” Sammy admitted. “But she got worse fast.”

I exhaled sharply. “I have another doctor coming—Graham Anderson. He specializes in cases like this. He’ll find out what’s wrong with her.” I hesitated, then asked, “Why did they put her on life support?”

“I don’t know,” Sammy said. “She was already like this when I got here. Do you think she stopped breathing? Or did my dad say she was still breathing when he brought her in? Yes, she was breathing when Dad brought her in.”

“She was just sick,”I muttered, trying to wrap my head around it.

“Is there someone I can talk to?” I asked. “Someone who actually knows why they put her on life support? Sometimes, all these machines make things look worse than they are.”

“I’ll go with you,” Sammy said. “I don’t think this hospital knows what’s wrong with her. They’re in over their heads.”

I nodded. “I’m moving her to another hospital when my friend arrives. I’ll talk to him about it. We’ll take her in a helicopter.”

“I’m going with you.”

“Okay. Where are your girls?”

“Helen has them,” Sammy said. She exhaled, shaking her head. “I’m still in shock that my dad and Helen got married. But I’m glad he’s happy.”

We walked to the nurse’s station. I stepped forward. “I need to speak with Lori’s doctor.”

“I’ll call him for you,” the nurse said.

Before she could, another nurse approached. “Can I help you?”

“Yes,” I said. “I need to know why my fiancée is on life support.”

The nurse hesitated. “The doctor believed she was under extreme stress. She kept saying your name—Gage. I assume that’s you?”

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