Page 86 of Revive
“I’m sorry,” the ward sister butted in as she inserted herself between him and Marshall. Brave woman that. “Could you explain to me who you are exactly?”
“I’m her boyfriend,” Spook replied, taking a hold of Alle’s hand again.I need you to wake-up, babe. I really need you to wake-up.
His heart was jittering, working up to the unruly jig of an oncoming panic attack. His lung capacity had already shrunk to half its typical volume, making each breath more ragged than the last. The place was too damn hot, and Marshall continued to glare at him with his sly foxy face and sour mouth.
“I understand this is a difficult time. Very stressful. If you could just step out for a few minutes.”
“I can’t,” he said. “I’m sorry. But I really don’t trust this prick. You’ve no idea what he’s done.”
“This prick happens to be her brother and her next of kin. You’re what, her sporadic hook up?”
“We’re currently cohabiting.”
“The fuck you are!” Marshall interjected. “She lives with our eldest brother in the house we inherited from our father.”
Spook wetted his lips. “She’s been with me in Cornwall for the entirety of this last month.”
That was a fact. An indisputable fact. And there was plenty of evidence to back it up.
But Marshall was determined to have the final word. “Yeah, and look at the state she’s wound up in because of that. One month with you, and she’s in a hospital bed, you abusive arsehole. I know the real you. I’ve heard all the sordid details.”
Oh, yeah, Spook was sure Siv had shared all sorts.
The chair made an ear-splitting scrape as he jack-knifed out of it. He was so done with all this shit. The accusations, trying to maintain a low profile, hiding, being afraid.
“Yeah, ’cause you’re such a noble champion of her welfare, aren’t you, Marshall? The man who sold his own damn sister out for the sake of a by-line in a poxy online rag is now all about her well-being. Pull the other one.”
Marshall’s freckled nose crinkled. “At least I’m not a fucking rapist.”
There was a truly jaw-dropping silence. Followed by the patter of numerous feet.
Spook’s heart hammered in his throat. Someone pulled his hands into the small of his back. Nausea bubbled inside his nose.
“Why don’t you say that again a bit louder?” he encouraged, pleased to note that Marshall was also being manhandled. “Or wasn’t one jaunt through the judicial system for defamation not enough for you?”
“Why are you tugging at me, it’s him you need to remove.” Marshall’s eyes narrowed, then his scowl transformed into a slimy grin, as he fought against the grasping hands. “You truly are a piece of work, shithead! What did you do to her this time? Smack her around and then push her down a cliff after you violated her? Well, they have your DNA this time. So, yeah, I’ll see you in court, and this time you won’t be getting off scot-free. They’ll bang you up for good, like they should have done the first time around, and the second. Yes, ladies and gents, he’s quite a record, has Mr Jan Mortensen. I’m sure you’ve all read about him and his band of jackasses. Now please get him the hell away from my sister. And let go of me.”
-29-
Allegra
“Spook?” Alle croaked, coming to in an unfamiliar place. Everything was so bright it took a minute or two for her surroundings to settle into something recognisable. Hospital? Shit. Yes, she’d fallen. The swooping sensation in her stomach of toppling briefly returned. Thankfully this time, it wasn’t followed by a crunch, although more than one bit of her definitely hurt.
“Ah, you’re awake. Welcome back.” The smiling face of a nurse bent over her. “Let’s just take some vitals, shall we?”
The nurse raised the back of the bed so that Alle was comfortably sitting and attached a blood pressure cuff to her arm.
“Where’s Spook?” she croaked. “Where’s my boyfriend?” How long had she been here?
“There was a man here a few minutes ago. I think he just stepped out to get a drink. Blood pressure’s near perfect, and your pulse is good. Any pain?”
“Shoulder,” Alle confirmed, it was hellish stiff and tender. “Bit of a headache.”
The nurse nodded as if that was to be expected. “You dislocated it. I’ll get someone to strap it up for you, so you’re not persuaded to use it. Resting it would be a good plan.”
“Okay.” She’d popped her shoulder. Fuck! She was glad she didn’t remember that or them righting it.
“Ah, and here’s your visitor returned. Good timing. I’m all done and she’s awake.”
