Page 61 of Betrayal & New Beginnings

“I’ll drive, let’s go,”Ruthiereplied.

Not thatIdidn’t appreciate the offer, but she was clearly emotional and likely not in the best state to drive.Diegomust have sensed that too.

“That’sDaneandAxelwalking in behind you,”Diegotold me. “They’reour brand-new hires.Danecan drive you, andAxelcan stay here to assist with the cops.”

“Fine, let’s go,”Ruthieagreed, before quickly walking toward the door.

I slid into the passenger seat asRuthiehopped in behindDane.Icould hear her sniffles few times before she broke her silence.

“I’m sorry,” she said quietly.

“Ruthie, this isn’t your fault, get that shit out of your mind,”Daneresponded.

“I didn’t mean it that way,” she said.

I turned my head to look at her and she was staring right at me.

“I was a total bitch to you.I’msorry,” her voice hitched. “It’sjust that your sister is the only friendI’vemade since moving here andIwas really stressed out.Whenyou barged in,Ijust assumed you were some rando looking for a job or something.”

“I get it,”Itold her. “Iwould have done the same thing for my friends too.I’mhappyElliehas you.Especiallysince it sounds like the necklace charm was your doing.Ishould be thanking you.”

She nodded but didn’t say anything else.Therest of the ride was quiet as we made our way to the hospital.

My priorities when we got there would be to know that my sister would be okay, and to find out if her ex was dead.Becauseif he wasn’t, he would be soon.

25

WADE

It took only minutes to get to the hospital, but it felt so much longer.Whenwe arrived,Itried to follow theEMT’sback with the stretcher but was toldIneeded to go to a waiting room while they checked her over.Theonly reasonIdidn’t throw a huge fit was because theEMTassured me she would be fine as we exited the vehicle.

A nurse walked me over to a small waiting room and asked me some basic questions aboutElliethen told me to wait there for information from the doctor.

“CanIjust wait in the room she’ll go in after she is done being examined?”Iasked, knowing it was a long shot. “I’mher fiancé,”Ithrew in at the end for good measure, knowing family got more privileges than just friends.

“We don’t know what room she’ll go in yet, butIpromise to come give you any informationIcan whenIknow,” she said kindly and smiled at me.Then, she turned and walked out of the small waiting room asIreached for my phone.

I needed to check in withArcherandVince, andImight as well do it whileIwaited.

“Hey man, where are you?”Vinceasked with not much of a greeting.

“I’m at the hospital, sitting in the waiting room while they check her over,”Itold him.

“I know that, but where exactly?” he pressed. “I’mhere too with one of the officers.Theyneed to get your statement.”

I told him my waiting room location and then hung up, knowing they would be here momentarily.Ididn’t want to do this, butI’drather get this over with now so that when they called me back to go seeEllie,Iwasn’t tied up in the middle of it.

Vince walked in moments later with an older-looking cop.

“Sir, my name isOfficerTeller.Doyou mind if we go in that more private room over there?” the officer asked me and pointed to the other side of the waiting room, where there was what appeared to be a smaller room with a table and four chairs.

“I’d prefer we stay here in case the doctor comes out, if you don’t mind,”Iexplained to him.

“Go, dude.Ifthe doctor comes out,I’llcome get you,I’llstay put right here,”Vincesaid, trying to assure me.

I nodded and followed the officer into the small room.Ianswered all his questions about how we came upon the scene and what happened after.Twentyminutes later,Iwalked out to find not onlyVince, but alsoRuthie,Dane, andJack.

Shit.Ihad totally forgottenJackwas arriving tonight.Talkabout terrible timing.Butmy first words were toVince, notJack.

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