Page 46 of The Silent Note

“What’s wrong? Did your mom say something?”

I shake my head no.

“She looks like she’s seen a ghost,” Finn mutters.

Sloane is floating behind us, hearts in her eyes.

I cringe.

“Are you in pain?” Zane puts his hand to my forehead and curses. “She’s hot.”

“I’ll get a thermometer,” Finn says, jumping into action.

“I’m fine,” I say.

“Maybe Zane should take you back to the hospital,” Dutch grunts.

“The hospital isn’t safe anymore. We don’t know who was watching us visit Slavno.”

Cadence plants her hands on her hips. “Zane, she was in a car accident not too long ago. She had seven stitches in her head. We can’t just pretend that didn’t happen.”

“Excuse me, I’m right here. And I said I’m fine.”

Zane gives me the eye of doom before glaring across the room. “I didn’t say I’d ignore it, Cadey. I said we can’t take her to the hospital. I’ll call a private nurse.”

“Good idea,” Dutch says.

“Guys, I’m okay. I swear.”

Finn barrels in with the thermometer.

Zane takes my temperature, his eyes locked on the digital pad like it’s a secret code to a treasure.

Sloane sits on the edge of the bed, smiling softly.“Aw, you’ve got a nice little crew here, Grey.”

She’s very misinformed. They’re not my crew. The Kings are only helping me because I promised to break up my mom and their dad. Once our goals stop aligning, they’ll drop me too.

I hold my breath until the thermometer beeps and Zane checks the instrument. “She’s got a slight fever.”

“I’ll call the nurse.” Cadence scrambles for her phone.

I try to scoot to the edge of the bed. “Cadey, put the phone down. Everyone, clear out. I don’t need a nurse.”

“Why the hell not?” Zane bellows, stopping me with his giant body.

“Because I said so.”

He looms over me. “You have a freaking fever.”

“And? No one died from a fever. I said I’m fine, so I’m fine.”

“You’re wrong, Grey. You’re fine, ifIsay you’re fine.”

“You’re a doctor now?” I spit back.

“Are you?”

“You’re so immature.”

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