Page 47 of Down and Dirty

Keaton

Chapter 20

Keaton paced the surgical waiting room. He’d make a pass, and then Jimbo would do the same. Other police officers were seated around the room along with Reggie, who demanded to wait too.

Doctor Myers was in ER working on Faith while Patricia was passed off to another doctor. Brandon cared about Faith almost as much as Keaton did.

Female voices carried down the hall, making Jimbo pause in his tracks. “They’re here. Everyone brace yourself.”

Six women and two men burst into the room like tornadoes ready to strike everyone in their path.

“You,” one of the women growled and pointed a finger in Jimbo’s direction.

Jimbo held up his hands. “Gwen, I didn’t do this.”

“You’re damn right you didn’t. You didn’t protect her. You’re supposed to keep her safe. Why do you think I haven’t run you off yet?”

“Because he’s her best friend,” Keaton said. “And Faith would be pissed at you if she knew you were attacking him.”

Gwen narrowed her eyes and stepped in Keaton’s direction, but Nina, the only sister he’d met, stopped her. “Gwen, this is Keaton. Faith’s Keaton.”

“Theothercop who didn’t protect her, great. I can kill two birds with one stone,” Gwen growled.

“She didn’t mean that.” A man dressed in an expensive suit stepped up behind Gwen and wrapped his arms around her waist. “She’s just worried. We all are.” He leaned down and whispered something into her ear.

“Did you catch the killer?” the other man with the sisters asked, flashing an FBI badge.

“Faith did,” Reggie announced. “She figured it out. She saved my dad’s life. If it wasn’t for her, I’d be an orphan.”

No one else in the room could see all of the ghosts crowding around. Keaton’s seven were in attendance, along with Jared and Veronica, and Keaton could only assume the rest were Mary and her witches, swirling overhead.

She better be okay,he kept repeating over and over in his mind.Please be okay.

Jared stepped up beside him. “She will be.”

Keaton shouldn’t have answered the kid with the amount of people in the room, but he did anyway. “I hope you’re right, kid.”

“I’m always right,” Jared answered before he vanished out of sight. Veronica was right behind him, calling out his name as if Jared was a toddler and about to get into mischief.

Faith had been in surgery for three hours before Brandon walked out, removing his mask. The frown made Keaton’s heart clench.

“Dad,” Reggie screamed and ran to his father.

“How is she, Doc?” Dr. Myers met Gwen’s gaze. “It was touch and go, but she’ll be fine. Looks like you’ll still have to wait several more years for her to haunt those people you hate.”

The other women gawked and turned their gaze on Gwen.

Gwen shrugged. “What? Like you guys haven’t asked her to do the same thing.”

“Can I see her?” Keaton asked.

“When we move her into a private room, you can,” Dr. Myers assured us.

“And Patricia?” Jimbo asked.

“Patricia’s injury would have been lethal had we not gotten her here so quickly. Faith’s text to you probably saved Patricia’s life.”

“Pity,” Gwen mumbled.

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