Page 49 of Justus
“Sheknows what ISH does. She’s my best friend. I confided in her after Dare and Igot together.”
Ilower my voice. “She knows what the group does, not that I’m the designated hitman.”
Aydaturns to me, and whispers, “You aren’t a serial killer. You’ve put down two menwho only lived to torture and abuse kids.”
“Iknow that.”
“Thenquit making excuses like a pussy, man the fuck up, and go after your girlbefore I kick your ass.”
Aydais a fierce little thing. Dare really has his hands full. But she’s also right.“Yeah, you and what army, Tiny Dancer? I could pick you up with two fingers,” Itease.
“AndI can shove my tiny foot up your ass until you taste my pointe shoes. Sadie hasalways been good to me. She’s a wonderful person. Stop jerking her around.”
Asmile forms on my face at the pinched, stubborn expression on hers. “I’ll fixthings. I promise.”
“Good.Now buckle up. We’re landing.”
Ohfuck.
Werent a car at the airport and head straight to the hospital. I take theopportunity to call Hannah’s rehab center and a counselor assures me she’s fineand settling in. He reminds me I can’t have any contact with her for the nexttwo weeks, but I’m welcome to call anytime and talk to him for an update.
Aydaand I head up the Intensive Care unit where we’re directed to the door of asmall waiting room. Hoping to find Sadie inside, I take a deep breath and openthe door.
She’scurled up on a sofa, gnawing on a fingernail, her gaze pointed at a TV in thecorner I doubt she’s even seeing. Sadie is always fit, but her face shows arecent weight loss. I wonder how much of that has to do with her mother and howmuch has to do with me.
Guilttugs at me. Ayda was right. I had multiple opportunities to call her. Hell, Ihad multiple burner phones I could’ve used. Once things started getting rough,I did what I always do. I closed down and isolated myself, determined to dealwith the situation alone.
Shedoesn’t notice me until I sit down beside her and brush a strand of hair fromher eyes. “Justus?” That one word is all I can take, and I pull her into mylap, relief filling me when she goes willingly. Her face is buried in my neckand sobs shake her little body.
“I’vegot you. I’m sorry I wasn’t here.” What if she has already died? I stroke herhair and squeeze her tighter. “How is she doing?”
Sittingup, she wipes her face with her sleeve and shakes her head. “Sorry, I didn’tmean to lose it. What are you doing here?”
“Aydatold me what happened.”
It’sthen Sadie notices her friend standing across the room. “You two didn’t have tocome.”
Aydasits beside us. “Don’t be ridiculous. I wanted to be here, and as soon as Itold Justus, he insisted we take the first plane out.”
Sadielooks from Ayda to me. “You flew?”
“Yep.Risked my life just for you, Sweets. The plane was all over the place. It wasterrifying.”
Thesmile I’m trying to elicit blooms on her face, turning to a giggle when Aydasays, “For fuck’s sake, we didn’t even hit any turbulence.”
“Theywere warning us about oxygen masks!”
“That’sa safety demonstration! They always do it. Sade, you’re driving him back. Noway am I babysitting him again.”
Sadieand Ayda laugh, and Sadie slides off my lap to sit on my other side. “How isyour mom, hun?” Ayda asks.
“Youaren’t going to believe this. I barely believe it, but…she’s in surgery. Theyfound a heart.”
“Holyshit! That’s amazing!” I pull her into another hug.
“Westill won’t know anything for a while. Even if she pulls through the surgery,it’ll be touch and go. She’ll need anti-rejection drugs and undergo cardiacrehabilitation.”
“We’lltake care of it. Whatever she needs.”
