Page 70 of Code Name: Dante

“What’s the ETA?” he asked whoever was still on the other end of the call. “Six minutes,” he said as he knelt beside Blackjack after hanging up.

“What should I do?” I asked.

“Pray,” Pershing responded.

The soundof the helicopter approaching filled the air, drowning out everything else except the frantic beating of my own heart. Gram’s face was so pale, her usually vibrant features slack and lifeless. The sight made my chest ache.

I watched helplessly as the EMTs raced inside and took over from Blackjack, their movements precise and practiced.

“BP’s dropping,” one of them called out. “We need to move now.”

They transferred Gram onto a stretcher, then lifted it, carrying it outside. I tried to stay close but out of their way. “I’m going with her,” I said, my voice barely recognizable to my own ears.

Pershing shook his head. “Alice and I will drive you to the hospital once they get her loaded. You don’t want to be in that helicopter if something goes wrong.”

His words had me doubling over in pain. If something went wrong, it would be my fault. I’d pushed too hard, demanded answers she wasn’t ready to give.

My phone buzzed with another call from Alessandro. I answered with trembling fingers.

“Lark? What’s happening?”

“They’re airlifting Gram to a hospital.” My voice cracked. “Alessandro, she might die because of us. Because we wouldn’t leave well enough alone.”

“I’m coming?—”

“No,”I blurted. “This is your fault as much as mine. All of it. If you had just stayed away, if you hadn’t started digging up the past…” Tears streamed down my face. “Gram was right.”

“Lark, please?—”

“Just stay away.” I ended the call, my hands shaking so badly I almost dropped the phone.

Alice appeared at my elbow. “Come on. We need to go.”

The drive to the hospital passed in a blur. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Gram’s face as they carried her out.

I leaned against the seat, remembering the words I’d said only last night. That nothing in my life had ever felt so right. How everything between us had was that way. And yet, what had happened? The selfish, thoughtless choices I made had put my grandmother’s life in danger.

Once at the hospital,we sat in the sterile waiting area outside the emergency room bay. Nurses approached, saying tests were being run. Doctors came and went but didn’t speak.

Finally, after what felt like hours, one of them approached. “Are you Ms. Gregory?” the man asked.

“I am.”

When I moved to stand, he put his hand on my arm and sat beside me instead.

“Your grandmother suffered a very mild myocardial infarction, also known as a heart attack. She’s stable, and we believe she’ll pull through without any damage.”

“Can I see her?”

“She’s being taken to a room where we’ll keep her for observation overnight. It’s on the fifth floor. You can wait up there.”

Alice stood when the doctor and I did, taking my hand in hers. “Let’s go.”

Another hour passed before someone came into the other waiting room and called my name.

I stood. “I’m Lark Gregory.”

“You can see your grandmother now, but keep it brief.”

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