Page 73 of Sinful
"I can't."
"You need to. You're going to collapse."
"I'm fine."
"You're covered in blood and you haven't slept in two days. You'renotfine."
I stop pacing. Look down at myself. She's right—there's dried blood on my jeans, under my fingernails, probably in my hair.
I showered at some point, didn't I?
No. That was before.
Before the safehouse. Before the shooting. Before everything.
"Come here." Elfe pats the bench beside her.
I sit.
Not because I want to, but because my legs are shaking and I'm not sure how much longer they'll hold me.
Mom is silent beside us, staring at the closed door like she can will it open through force of concentration.
"He's going to be okay," Elfe says quietly. "He's survived worse."
"Has he?" I hear myself ask. "What's worse than being tortured for weeks? Than having your hand cut off and sent to your family?"
Elfe doesn't have an answer for that.
We sit in silence.
Minutes pass. Maybe hours.
Time feels meaningless when you're waiting to find out if your father lives or dies.
Finally, the door opens.
Dr. Castellano emerges, pulling off bloody gloves.
His face is neutral—professional—but there's exhaustion in his eyes.
"He's stable," he says, and Mom sobs with relief. "The amputation site is cleaned and properly closed now. I've debrided the burns, stitched the deeper lacerations, started him on IV antibiotics and fluids. He's sedated for the pain."
"Will he—" Mom can't finish.
"Will he live? Yes. If the infection responds to treatment and there are no complications, he should recover." Dr. Castellano's voice gentles. "But recovery will take time. Weeks, maybe months. The physical trauma is extensive. And the psychological trauma—" He pauses. "That will take longer."
"Can we see him?" Elfe asks.
"Give us ten minutes to finish cleaning up. Then yes. But he needs rest. Minimal stimulation. Quiet voices."
"We understand," Mom says. "Thank you. Thank you so much."
"Thank Runes. He's the one paying my retirement fund." Dr. Castellano manages a small smile. "I'll check on him in a few hours. If anything changes—fever, increased pain, confusion—call me immediately."
He gives instructions to Gwen and Vail, leaves prescriptions and care protocols, and then he's gone.
Disappeared into the night like he was never here, because he wasn't.
