Page 33 of Vawn
“Good?” I didn’t think that was an appropriate word to use for how I felt, for the entire situation. If I didn’t have a daughter to take care of, I wouldn’t want to wake up.
“Yes.” She activated a holo-screen from the patch I’d ripped off. “I have some good news for you. At least, I think it’s good news.”
I didn’t think anything could be consideredgoodright now. “What is it?”
“Well, when you were unconscious, we ran some tests to check you all over.”
I nodded as she flipped through screens. That was expected.
Her skin quickly became purple as she moved the holo-screen closer to me. “And we learned you’re pregnant.”
“No.” I closed my eyes, trying to halt another onset of tears. It didn’t work. My eyes burned, and my chest ached. This was happening again. I was pregnant with no mate to help me raise our baby. Why was this my fate? “No, you have to be lying. Ojo’s dead, and now this? It has to be some kind of horrible nightmare.”
The doctor’s skin turned yellow. “What?”
Utahn moved closer to the bed, grabbing my hands and staring at me. “Um, Ojo’s not dead. He’s hurt bad, but he’s still alive.”
My stomach fluttered as it felt like needles were piercing my heart, putting the pieces together again. I swallowed the lump in my throat. “You’re sure? He’s alive?”
Utahn nodded. “That’s what Genj told me when he came to check on you.”
Tears blurred my vision, streaming down my cheek and onto the bed. I couldn’t stop them. Ojo was alive, and I was pregnant with his child. Though that meant many more problems.
I took a deep breath. “I need to see him.”
Chapter Sixteen
Ojokun
Pain flared down my spine as I woke. I tried to shift in my bed to find a more comfortable position, but I couldn’t. Something, or multiple things were restricting any possible movement.
I groaned as I opened my eyes.Shit!Not in my bed but one in a medical facility. I scrolled through my memories, trying to remember what had brought me here.
Oh yeah. The accident.Bile rose from my stomach, and I squeezed my eyes shut as I recalled the crunch of my jet as it collided with the ground. The torture that followed, as my body twisted in ways it wasn’t meant to go, had been excruciating. Like nothing I’d ever experienced.
We’d been about to perform the dart maneuver we’d been practicing—the one in which I’d finally convinced my team to let someone else take the lead. Ret decided he would do it and had succeeded during practice. But some asshole had still come for me, hitting me from behind. I’d been completely focused on where I was supposed to go, I wasn’t prepared for what had come from my rear.Asshole.Everything had failed instantly, and I couldn’t stop the imminent crash. I don’t remember anything after that. Probably a good thing. I really thought I wouldn’t survive.
But what had happened to the rest of my team? I hope they had won the race then kicked the ass of the guy who’d hit me. Actually, I wanted to do it myself. If I could figure a way out of the contraption holding me still.
Wait. Vawn!Had he seen me crash?
“Ojo! What are you doing?” Qé appeared out of nowhere and rushed over to me, pushing me into the bed. “You need to lie still! Stop moving!”
With a heavy sigh, I lay back. Now that someone was here, I could get some answers. “I’m glad to see you’re okay, but how’s everyone else? Did we win?”
They twisted out their neck muscles. “Uh, there was no winner. When the hit happened, everyone scattered to avoid the shrapnel. And, after you crashed, no one could get near the finish line to cross it. Based on the last digital screenshot before you were hit, Team Ffice was in the lead, but they refused to accept the win, asking for a rematch.”
I nodded as much as I could. “They’re a good bunch. I have no problems with them. But what about the rest of our team? And who in the universe hit me? I’m going to kick their ass when I get out of here.”
Qé rubbed their arm. “The rest of our team is fine. I’m sure they’ll be in shortly. But, um, it was Rieh of Team Storm who hit you.”
“The rookie?” No, that wasn’t possible. The kid could barely keep up with his own team. There was no way he would have been capable of traveling with the lead jets.
“Yep.” Qé dug the toe of their boot into the floor. “I’m not sure how he did it, but, Ojo, he didn’t survive. And his team is under investigation. The team’s training logs are being scrutinized. The USRA told our owner they believe it was a planned attempt to get rid of you.”
I rolled my eyes. “And they sacrificed the rookie to do it. Bunch of assholes. I hope they’re all kicked out and charged with his murder.” While the kid had succeeded, he didn’t deserve to die for it. If they’d waited a few more races, I probably would have retired anyway. Typical Laup, getting someone else to do his dirty work.
Qé glanced at the door as Xac walked in.
