Page 406 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

“If we have time, you guys can tell me about that.”

Mona rolled her eyes.

Russ nodded. “I could use a good cop for this routine.”

“I doubt you’ll get that from me right now.” She needed good news. Then she’d be able to relax.

Mona rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”

“A friend of mine was stabbed. He could die.” Addie shook her head. “Maybe you could have some compassion.”

Mona wandered to a chair and sat but didn’t pull out her phone. Grounded from that as well?

“I’ll talk to her.” Hank headed over.

Russ didn’t back down. “It’ll pass. Soon as she gets it out of her head that a twenty-five-year-old isn’t dating a seventeen-year-old that lives under my roof.”

Before she could respond that she agreed, a doctor walked over. “You’re here for Jacob Wilson?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

She sat by his bedside with her head tipped to the side, asleep on the chair. He watched her until he felt the need to shift his legs and adjust his position.

Jacob realized immediately that was a terrible idea.

A groan slipped from his lips. He tried to complete the move anyway, so he didn’t end up awkwardly tipped to one side. It didn’t get any better. He practically had to Lamaze breathe through it, unable to think about anything else for a second.

“Hey, hey.” She touched his arm. “Easy. You need to take it easy.”

He let his body slump where it was, totally spent. “Addie?”

She pushed hair back from her face, and he saw the dark circles under her eyes.

“Hey.”

She frowned. “I should tell the nurse you’re awake.”

Jacob stalled her with a hand on his arm. There was a tube in his arm. “What happened?”

He didn’t want to think about it. His abdomen burned like fire, but the last thing Jake needed was to contemplate the origin of all that pain. He didn’t even know what time it was or what day.

“You don’t remember?”

He tried to squeeze her hand, but his grip remained as weak as a newborn kitten’s. “Say it.”

Addie leaned on the rail at the side of the bed and leaned down. “You’re safe, and you’ll heal.”

He stared at her face like he could drink it in. Was she going to kiss him? He wouldn’t mind, but his mouth tasted like he’d licked the bottom of his running shoe.

“You were stabbed.” She touched his cheek. “I found you a few minutes after, and I’m happy it wasn’t worse than it is.” Relief washed over her face. “The surgeon sewed you up, inside and out. All that’s left is to rest and heal.”

She leaned down and touched her lips to his forehead.

“Addie.” Her name was a groan, all he could muster.

“I know. I’ll be back in a second.”

Jacob drifted back into sleep. All his energy drained.

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