Page 106 of Redeem Me

‘Can you watch the kids for an hour?’ I hate asking, but I need to get to the hospital. Need to find Caelon before he does something that will destroy everything.

‘Of course.’

I grab the keys to the Merc and slip out the front door. Samuel is at the gate. ‘Where are you going?’ he asks with a pinched face.

‘I’m hoping you can tell me.’ There’s no way Caelon’s security team doesn’t know exactly where he is.

‘You can’t be near this, Ivy.’ Samuel purses his lips.

‘I might be the only person who can stop him making the biggest mistake of his life.’ I thrum my fingers on the leather steering wheel. ‘Open the gate and tell me which hospital.’

He pauses, staring blankly ahead. ‘Blackrock Clinic. I’ll let Damon know you’re on your way.’

Traffic is a bitch, between countless diversions and roadworks, but I make it to the hospital in less than an hour, whisper a mantra in my head over and over for the entire journey.

Please don’t let me be too late. Please don’t let him have done something stupid.

I abandon the Mercedes at the hospital door and rush into reception. Damon is pacing the white, soulless corridor with a grim expression on his face.

Fuck.

I’m too late.

I run towards him. His head snaps up at the sound of my sneakers squeaking. ‘Is he dead?’ I whisper, grabbing the lapel of his jacket.

‘It’s touch and go. The surgeons are operating on him now.’

‘Thank God.’ I exhale. ‘I know what Danny did, but he doesn’t deserve to die.’

‘It’s not Danny they’re operating on.’ Damon’s green eyes glow with sympathy. ‘It’s Caelon.’

Chapter Forty-Seven

IVY

‘What?’ I don’t recognise the strangled voice that leaves my mouth. ‘But I saw him this morning. He was fine.’

Shock seeps under my skin, chilling me to the bone until I’m shaking uncontrollably.

‘He went to talk to Danny Bourke, but it seems he was expecting the visit. Danny was armed with two blades hidden beneath the sheets.’ Damon exhales a pained breath. ‘I blame myself.’

The blood drains from my face. ‘Where is he? Can I see him?’

‘In surgery. The doctor will let us know when they’ve finished operating.’ Damon leads me through a door to a family waiting area. It’s equally white, bright and clinical as the corridor, but twice as suffocating.

‘Where was he stabbed?’ An image of Alexander Beckett’s scarred cheek fills my mind.

‘His stomach. He has a lot of internal bleeding. I’m sorry.’ Damon takes my hand and squeezes it reassuringly. ‘James was luckier,’ he adds as an afterthought.

‘James?’ I squawk as the door bursts open.

Scarlett’s hair hangs wildly over her silver eyes. Her complexion is as white as the walls. ‘What’s going on? I want to speak to a doctor.’

‘Oh, Scarlett.’ I run to her and we collapse into each other’s arms. Three security guards linger in the doorway. James clearly doesn’t take any chances with his fiancée’s protection.

‘The doctors will be along as soon as they can. James’s wounds aren’t critical.’

Scarlett shakes her head. ‘I can’t believe this could happen. Where is Danny Bourke now?’ Her eyes narrow.

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