Page 25 of The Devil's Redemption

I know he’s right, but I’m still struggling with my feelings over the whole incident.

“Hey,” I hear Hawk call after walking through the door into the infirmary.

“Hi,” I respond. “Am I going to be able to get out of here anytime soon?”

He regards me carefully before feeding me a line that I know isn’t true.

“I’d still like to keep you under observation for a few more days. Drug withdrawal can be tricky. One minute you think you’re through the worst of it, the next you’re fiending for a hit.”

“I know Blade is making you keep me here. All I’m asking is if I can go home and sleep in my own bed. I’m not running anywhere. I’m not leaving Blade. I lo—”

I stop myself before I finish that thought. I know how Blade feels about me, but I don’t know how he’d react to hearing the “L” word.

“We’re together, and I’m happy about that,” I recover.

The smug grin on his face tells me he knows exactly what nearly slipped out of my mouth.

“I need you here, Sasha. I’m sorry.”

I roll my eyes before closing them, and I fold my arms over my chest.

“Anyway,” Hawk continues. “There are some people here who want to see you.”

My eyes fly open at his words, and I’m instantly sick to my stomach. I don’t want to see anyone. I don’t want anyone to see me like this.

“Who—”

Before I’m able to get my question out, Ellie’s concerned, teary-eyed face pops out from behind the door. Behind her is Steve.

“Ellie…” I whisper. “Steve…”

I didn’t expect to feel so emotional upon seeing them. But it’s as though something inside of me broke all over again when I realized how much I’ve missed them. There was a part of me that didn’t believe I’d ever see them again. Ellie reaches out for me, wrapping me in a hug as soon as she steps up to my bedside.

“Oh, Sasha,” she cries into my hair. “I was so scared we’d lost you. Are you okay?”

She pulls away from me, awaiting my answer. I can’t tell her the truth… That I’m not okay. That I don’t know if I’ll ever be okay again. I can’t bear the thought of breaking her heart any more than it already is where I’m concerned.

“I will be,” I nod my head.

“Hey, Sash,” Steve exhales, bending over and pressing a light kiss to the top of my head.

“Hi,” I respond.

I wipe the tears from my cheeks as a shadow in the doorway grabs my attention. My brows furrow, wondering who else is here.

“Um, Toni and Whitney wanted to come by also,” Ellie explains. “But I can tell them to leave if you’re not up for more company.”

Shocked beyond comprehension, I have no idea why either of them would want to come visit me. Or why they suddenly care anything about me at all. Noticing my confusion, Ellie speaks up again.

“I wouldn’t have brought them if I thought there’d be an issue. When I told them you’d gone missing, they surprisingly changed their attitudes toward you. It was the first time I actually saw genuine concern in Toni’s eyes over something that didn’t have anything to do with her.”

I don’t know what to say about that. I certainly don’t trust that Toni just happened to flip a switch and is nice all of a sudden. But I do trust Ellie.

“O—okay.”

I nod to Hawk, and he waves them in. As soon as my eyes meet Toni’s, I can see a change in her normally discontented gaze. It’s lighter, softer, glimmering with compassion instead of shadowed with hatred.

“Hi,” she mutters as she walks through the door. Whitney remains silent behind her.

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