Page 31 of Red Queen (Red Thorns Crew 3)

The nurse lifted her hand to him, silencing his words.

“If your vitals are fine and your lungs still look clear, you’re good to go.”

I nodded. “Then get it done. I have somewhere I have to be, and I’d like to not put it off.”

Dad growled. “You’re not going anywhere.”

I shrugged. “You want to know the difference between you and Max, Father?”

I slowly looked over at him and watched his face fall.

“The difference is that you love with control. And he loves with freedom. If anything, you’re more like Max’s father than the father you think you are.”

Mom started crying. “Please don’t do this. We’re just worried about you. Talk to us. Tell us what you’re going to do.”

I nodded to Dad. “He lost that right for you when he called the cops instead of giving Max a chance.”

The nurse piped up. “Let me get your vitals really quickly and then we’ll get an ultrasound for your lungs. In the meantime, you two can wait in the waiting room.”

My father stood his ground. “I’m not going anywhere so long as my daughter is in this bed.”

The nurse nodded. “That’s fine. I’ll have you hauled out in handcuffs, then.”

He balked. “But--the only thing I’ve done in this situation is worry about my daughter!”

“Security!” the nurse exclaimed.

Mom clapped her hand over his mouth. “Shut up before I leave you to the police. I’ve had enough of this.”

I sighed. “Take her, too. I don’t want to see either of them until I’m out of here.”

My parents put up a good fight. A fight admirable of any parent worried about their daughter. But they had just made things worse without realizing it. Instead of treating me like the adult I was blossoming into, they were still treating me like some ignorant, idiotic eleven-year-old. And I wouldn’t stand for it a second longer. It took two security guards to get my father out of the room. But, once he was removed, my mother wasn’t far behind.

Then the nurses got to work.

After clearing my vitals and talking with the doctor, I was free to go. I checked myself out and accepted my clothes from last night. Clothes the staff had been kind enough to launder and dry for me. I knew I’d still have to battle my parents in order to get out of here. I knew I’d find them downstairs.

But right now, the only thing on my mind was getting in touch with Rupert. Or John. Or anyone that would help me.

We have to get Max out of jail.

The nurses wheeled me out the front doors in a wheelchair, as protocol stated. And, like I figured, my parents were there to greet me. Unfortunately for them, I was in a hurry. I had no time to waste on this matter. I needed to get into a cab, get my ass to Max’s place, and figure out what the hell to do next.

But my father wasn’t having any of it.

“Dani,” he said.

I moved past him and held my hand up for a cab.

“Danika, talk to me.”

I watched the cab pulling up into the roundabout circle as someone tapped on my shoulder.

“This is also yours,” the nurse said.

I took my purse from her. “Thank you for everything you’ve done. I appreciate it.”

“And remember what we said: no swimming for three weeks, rest and make sure you keep yourself nourished, and if anything pops up out of the ordinary--a fever, pain in your chest, shortness of breath--you come right back to us. Understood?”

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