Page 93 of Out of the Shadow

“That was stupid.”

My voice raises. “How was I supposed to know he would turn out to be King’s deranged enemy?”

The paramedic steps in and adjusts my blood pressure cuff, effectively ending my brother’s interrogation. I lock eyes with Leo, who has the grace to look down.

When the paramedic returns to his seat, Leo whispers, “You scared the shit out of me.”

Forgiving his previous outburst, I squeeze his hand. “I’m safe.”

The ambulance comes to a stop at the hospital. As soon as the doors open and my stretcher is placed on the ground, I ask the attendant, “Where’s King Hunte? He was brought in right before me.”

“I’m not sure, ma’am. Let’s get you into the ER, and I’ll find out for you, okay?”

My mind racing, I look around as I’m being wheeled into the ER, but don’t see King anywhere. Once I’m situated, a doctor in his mid-fifties with a full head of white hair approaches me.

“I’m Dr. Smith. What is your name?”

From my left side, Leo replies, “It’s Angie. Angie Russo.”

Not caring about all the formalities, I blurt, “Can you please tell me where King Hunte is?”

The doctor shakes his head. “Angie, I don’t know where he was taken, but I have to make sure you’re all right.” He looks to Leo. “Can you tell me what happened?”

Leo explains that Trevor shot some drug into my neck. Twice. The doctor listens, asks more questions, and orders bloodwork.

“I’m feeling fine. Really,” I say as the nurse takes my blood. “Can you please tell me what happened with King? Trevor hit him over the head with a baseball bat, and he wasn’t moving. He was unconscious.” As I babble, my heart rate accelerates. The monitor the doctor hooked me up to beeps.

“Angie.” Leo’s voice doesn’t register.

I have to find King.

I have to tell him I was wrong.

If he’ll listen.

If he’s not dead.

“Angie.” The doctor shakes me. “You have to breathe. I don’t want to give you any more sedatives until we find out what drugs are in your system. Do you understand?”

I inhale a deep breath. “Yes,” I reply as calmly as possible. “I’ll feel much better once you find out King’s status.”

The doctor places the stethoscope on my chest and orders me to breathe. I’ll do anything to get out of here and find King.

The attendant who brought me into the ER pops her head into my cubby and smiles at me. It reminds me of the smiles everyone at the hospital gave me when Dante was dying. It’s a pitying look. I push away from the doctor. “Tell me!”

The attendant sighs. “He’s still unconscious.” The two medical professionals exchange a glance. “But his vitals are strong. The swelling on his brain is minimal, and the doctors expect him to wake up soon. We’ll know more when he’s awake.”

I press my palm over my heart. He’s not dead. My fight-or-flight reaction recedes.

“We’re transferring you to your own room.” The doctor leans down and whispers, “I’ll let you go see your boyfriend as soon as possible, okay? You need to be stabilized.”

My boyfriend? Oh, God, yes. This is what I want. I need King to live and fight with me another day. And love me at night. I want that more than anything. “I promise to be good.”

Soon I’m in a regular room, Leo right beside me. “You’re looking a little better. Your color’s coming back.” He picks at the blanket. “You’re something else, you know that? Tough as nails.”

“I held my own.”

“I overheard Trevor telling King what you did, and I was so impressed. You bit him?”

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