Page 78 of The Ruthless Note

“I'll take the picture when you’re recovered and dressed up,” I promise.

She holds out her hand.

I glance at it in confusion.

She sticks out her little finger. “Pinkie promise.”

I chuckle softly. The kid is cute. I’ll give her that.

Linking my smallest finger with hers, I seal it with my thumb.

“Okay. I’ve got the information down.” Cadence motions to the nurse.

“We’ll prepare your sister for surgery.”

“How are we going to afford this?” Viola whispers to Cadence as the nurse trots away.

Something deep inside me starts aching. Why the hell is this kid worried about hospital bill payments when she’s in the middle of a literal medical emergency?

“I’ll take care of it,” Cadence promises in a firm voice.

My phone rings.

It’s Finn.

I walk away to answer. “Hey.”

“You found her yet?” It’s Zane’s voice that blares through my ears.

“Yeah.”

“Good. How’s the little sister?” Finn asks.

“In the hospital. Burst appendix.”

Zane lets out a low whistle. “That hurts like hell.”

“When are you coming back?” Finn asks.

“I’m gonna stay.”

“Stay?” Zane’s surprise is thick.

“Her sister just went into surgery.”

There's a moment of silence.

Finn speaks first. “I’ll tell Sol. He was really worried.”

The instruction to not tell Sol a damn thing is on the tip of my tongue, but I curb it back. “I’ll see you at home.”

I hear wheels rolling on the ground. When I turn back, nurses are rushing Viola away. Cadence is trailing them, a hand covering her mouth and worry in her eyes.

She stumbles and I’m on the move. I stalk over to her and slip my hand around her waist to keep her steady.

Cadence jumps when she feels me, but I don’t allow her to shake loose.

“What are you still doing here? I thought you left.” Her eyes are tired. Her voice isn’t as sharp as she probably hoped it would be.

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