Page 57 of Red's Revenge

“I’m heading to the hospital in the morning.” It’s a not-too-subtle remainder of the ring I put on Cami’s finger before she woke up, but I couldn’t exactly ask then.

One, cause she wasn’t awake, and two, because I needed to slay her monsters. I smile at her before bending down to kiss her cheek.

“I’m gonna wash up and head over now.” She clucks her tongue.

“You do that.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

CAMILA

“Can you lean back?” Evelyn carefully helps support my neck as I sit in the shower chair.

The nurses wanted to bathe me, but I just couldn’t.

“Get out. Unless you are coming to give her more of those good drugs, she doesn’t need you. She has me.” My best friend knowing that I don’t want anyone else seeing me vulnerable without me saying a word is why I love her so much.

Kit, my other shadow, has been standing guard by my door after carrying me into the bathroom before letting Eve take over.

“There. All clean. Let’s get you dried and dressed. Then I’ll braid your hair so it doesn’t get in your face.” She smiles at me, but I know what I look like.

I’d closed my eyes when we approached the sink, but what I wasn’t counting on was the full-length mirror behind the door when Kit closed us in. It took me thirty minutes to stop crying.

I looked like someone had shot me with a paintball gun at close range, but I knew what they really were.

Fingerprints.

“I hope Red shoves dynamite up their asses and launches them into space.” It’s graphic yet comical enough to make me half smile.

“You’re ruining my favorite cartoon bitch.” I let out a chuckle at the face she makes.

“Whatever, they deserve all the pain.” She helped me wash and told me what the doctors had shared since I arrived.

There was clear evidence of rape, so they performed a kit and pregnancy test. Unfortunately, the results have not been shared. So I tell her about me missing my pills, and she just blinks at me.

Slowly.

“Are you dumb or stupid? No wait. His dick is so good you went temporarily insane.” I groan as she brushes out my tangled hair.

“Sorry, that was harsh.” She gentles the brush strokes as the door opens.

“Everything okay in here?” Kit smiles at us on the hospital bed.

“Oh, just discussing my bestie here failing at Womanhood 101.” I roll my eyes at her dramatics but appreciate its normalcy.

I do not want to be treated as a victim.

“I know I’m not the gay brother, but I will happily fill Clayton’s shoes in his absence if it gets me all the juicy tea.” He flops down in the chair and places his face in his hands, propping his arms up by his elbows on the edge of the bed.

“Christopher Justice! Are you a gossip?” I mock, and he flutters his eyelashes, making us both laugh.

And that’s how Red finds us when the door opens.

He walks in with a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a gift bag. Red and yellow roses overflowing the vase, and he sets it down on the side table with the bag.

“I feel like I just walked into a hen house.” He pecks me on the lips, and the brief touch leaves me wanting more.

“Well, I was about to get all the dirty secrets, but I guess it’ll have to wait. Visiting hours are almost over.” Kit points at the clock, and Eve curses.

---