Page 92 of Misery and Ecstasy

“No, you’re not just taking my car…” What is she even talking about right now?

“I know that. I’m driving us there because I don’t think you’re in any condition to do so.”

“We’ll lead the way.” I hear Royce speak from beside me before they make sure I’m steady on my feet again.

I hand my keys over to her, agreeing that I’m too blinded by dread to safely operate a vehicle right now. I need to make it to Kins in one piece so I can do everything in my power to see to it that she stays that way, too.

* * *

I spent the drive over here trying not to assume the absolute worst.

It was nearly impossible.

Olivia was quiet the majority of the trip.

It’s like she also needed that time to let the news of what McK told her to set in. I’m surprised she has any nails left with as hard as she was gnawing on them the whole way over here. She’s as scared as I am.

Stepping off the elevator, we head through the waiting area to the first person we see.

“Can I help you?” The nurse sitting at the desk doesn’t look up from her screen.

“We’re here for McKinsey Caraway.” I tap the surface of the counter as I speak, my nerves working in overdrive. “She was transferred here from Gettysburg a little while ago.”

Finally giving us her full attention, her eyes grow wide as though she’s taken back by our imposing presence. I look between us—three tough-looking guys in leather and Olivia who looks like she could probably hold her own in a throwdown.

She sure isn’t too scared to argue with me.

Her and McK are like birds of a feather.

“Um…” Shaking her head to refocus, she looks up Kins’s room number before giving us directions. “Only one of you is allowed in at a time, though.”

“Thanks for the suggestion.” Already making our way to the elevators, I refuse to turn back, my words echoing down the hallway.

I find myself taking a deep breath as we approach McKinsey’s room. I’m fucking nervous. I don’t know what this is going to mean for us—for her. But what I do know is I will be there for her every step of the way.

As long as she wants me to be.

There was a reason she called Olivia and not me.

I don’t know what’s going through her mind, and I refuse to be mad at her for making that choice if that’s what she felt like she needed to do. But if she didn’t want me here, I doubt Olivia would have told me shit.

“Draven,” Atticus stops me just before I enter her room. “We’ll wait out here.”

I nod to him before my eyes meet Olivia’s.

“I will, too.” Chewing on the inside of her cheek, Olivia looks more nervous now than she has this whole time. “That way you guys can talk for a few. Alone.”

I study her, wondering if she knows more than she told me earlier. But I don’t wait around to find out. I have to see McKinsey.

When I walk into the room, Kins has her eyes closed like she’s sleeping. I creep quietly around to the far side of the bed then lean over to give her a kiss on the forehead.

Opening her eyes, they quickly fill with tears.

“Hey.” I grab her hand and press the back of it to my lips. “How are you feeling?”

She closes her eyes again, fighting to hold back sobs that sound so painful they cut through us both.

“What are you doing here, Draven?” Her eyes remain closed, like she can’t look at me.

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