Page 90 of Dead Fall (The Quantico Files 2)

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Alex was sitting near a beautiful lake, with Krypto next to her. She put her arm around him, and he laid his head on her shoulder. She kissed the gentle dog’s face and then went back to watching the water. She felt so relaxed. She hadn’t felt this good for a long time.

A voice began calling her name. It was so faint she could barely hear it. She didn’t want to leave this place. The voice wanted something, but she had no more to give. Why couldn’t whoever it was just leave her alone? She wanted to stay by the peaceful lake with Krypto.

When the voice called a little louder, Krypto turned around to look, his large head still on her shoulder as he gazed at something behind them.

“No, Krypto,” she said gently. “I want to stay here with you. Please. If we ignore them, maybe they’ll go away.”

Someone reached for her hand, and she started to pull it away. “Alex?” This time the voice was closer. Next to her. Krypto began to wag his tail. This was someone he liked.

“Alex?”

She recognized that voice. Logan. She glanced once more at the lake before forcing her eyes open partway. She found herself peering into Logan’s face and smiled.

“I thought that was you,” she said. Her eyes flew open all the way when pain shot through her chest. She looked at the meds machine beside her bed. It wasn’t just her chest that hurt. Her throat felt like she was still hanging from that terrible rope. Everything was sore. It felt as if her entire body was on fire.

Her surgeon came in. “You’re awake?” she said. “I figured you’d be sleeping for a while longer.”

“I’ll sleep more soon,” Alex whispered. She’d wait to push the button. She had to know if she’d be okay, and the meds would just make her drift away again.

The doctor looked at Logan, who sat in a wheelchair. Noah and Monty were here too. “Are these men family?” she asked.

Before any of them had a chance to answer, Alex said, “Yes, they’re my brothers.”

The doctor looked them over, her eyes lingering on Monty a moment longer. Finally, she smiled. “All right.” She turned back to Alex. “No internal damage. I repaired your lung and placed a metal plate on your ribs to make sure they’ll heal correctly. This will also protect your organs. You were lucky. It could have been much worse. You’ll be here a few days until we’re sure you can take care of yourself, and then we’ll send you home. Recovery will take around six weeks. That means very limited activity. You’ll need help, but I’m sure your brothers will pitch in.” She raised her eyebrows and looked at them. “Right?”

Alex had to fight not to laugh. They all nodded solemnly.

“All right, Miss Donovan, if you have any questions, your hospital doctor will have your chart and my notes. He’ll be able to help you.”

“Thank you.”

After she left the room, Logan said, “Do you feel okay to talk? I have concerns about Bayne.”

She smiled at him and reached for the button. When she pushed it, the result was almost immediate. The morphine began to put out the flames.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I have to go back to the lake. Krypto’s waiting for me.”

Logan smiled at her. “Okay. You go on. I’ll talk to you later. It will keep.”

“Okay. I love you, Logan.”

As she walked back toward the lake, she suddenly felt her legs give out. The clear sky filled with dark clouds, and a heavy wind surrounded her. It pulled her away from Krypto as she fought to breathe. Krypto ran over and started to bark. Something was wrong. Horribly wrong.

She tried to call for Logan, but her voice wouldn’t work. Her whole body felt paralyzed. As she kept attempting to call for help, she found herself in the lake. Krypto stood on the shore, barking wildly. She tried to stay afloat, but she couldn’t. As she slipped under the water, she took a deep breath. She knew unless someone pulled her out quickly, she would slip away forever.

“I don’t know what I was thinking,” Logan said as Noah pushed him back to his room with Monty alongside. “She’s had major trauma. She needs to rest.”

“I did mention that fact,” Noah said.

“Did you hear what she said?”

“Yes.”

“That was the heavy drugs, right?”

“I don’t think they make you say things you don’t mean, Logan.”

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