Page 74 of 2nd Strike
Hopefully come morning, Ethan will meet his real family too. Matt received George’s results about the time Lily shot JJ. They're a match to Ethan, and George is on a red eye on his way here. So far, no leads on his mother, but the search will continue. Matt’s picking George up at the airport and taking him to the safe house as soon as he arrives.
I return to JJ’s side, wondering when his next dose is scheduled for. He’s still under sedation as well, and that's good. I have a lot to tell him when he wakes up, but I'd rather he sleep for now and remain pain-free.
When the door behind me creaks open, I assume it's the nurse delivering those pain meds. Shock registers when I see the last person I expected.
The woman looks just as annoyed to see me. Her red lips screw up for a moment before she comes all the way in and says, “How is he?"
Carlena Gage Carrington appears as fresh as if she just started her day. I, on the other hand, probably look like I've been run over by a bulldozer. I feel like I have, anyway.
"The bullet nicked the bottom of a rib but missed his lung and vital organs. Surgery went well. I suspect he'll be up and around in a couple of days."
She stands at the foot of the bed, staring at JJ, and I can see real emotion behind her perfect features. "He's too stubborn to die."
It sounds harsh, and yet I understand where it comes from. She still has feelings for him, but she's trying to cover them up.
There's a part of me that desperately wants to protect JJ from his wife, and the irony almost makes me laugh. “He’s a good man and this is my fault."
“You’re at fault for a lot of things, Charlie Schock.” She sends me a hateful look. "But I want you to know you're not the reason for our marriage going bad."
I can't tell if she's trying to relieve my guilt or let me know I'm not special enough to ruin it.
I don't really care. "I'm sure there was a time when the two of you were happy. I hope you can remember that, what he was like then. He's a kind and generous person, and I assume you must've been too. Maybe you can find a little of that again and give him what he wants."
The lips screw up once more. "I suppose you mean you?"
"I do."If he still wants me.
She taps a foot on the linoleum, glaring at me to see if I'll back down.
I don’t.
I doubt JJ’s told her anything about me but she should know how tenacious I am just from everything that's been in the news the past week.
She sighs and reaches into her designer handbag, withdrawing a manila envelope. She tosses it on his legs. “Have him call me when he's up for it."
She turns and leaves, and I watch until the door closes behind her before I allow myself to consider what's inside that envelope.
Could it be? No. Talk about tenacious. Carlena would never miss an opportunity to put JJ through the ringer.
Gingerly, I reach out and open the flap. My pulse skitters. I hold my breath as I remove a set of papers.
The words across the top blur and I move closer to the monitors and their sickly yellow illumination to get a better look.
All the adrenaline in my body whooshes out as I realize the gift Carlena has just given me.
I flip to the last couple pages, seeing her signature scrawled on the crucial lines.
JJ shifts and I look up to see him blinking his eyes open.
"Hey." I lean over and kiss his cheek. "How are you feeling?"
He manages to raise a hand and rub it across his face. His voice is rough. “Like you beat the shit out of me."
All the anxiety and worry is gone.Poof. I throw my head back and laugh, not so much because it's funny, but just for the release.
“What…happened?" he asks.
Tucking the papers back into the envelope, I put them on the bedside table and resume my seat next to him. He reaches for my hand and I give it to him, leaning forward on my elbows and smiling.
