Page 34 of Deceptively Dead

“Of course.” Hunter answers for them and I smile, slipping back down the bed and closing my eyes.

“Good.” I mutter.

Chapter Thirty-four

The next afternoon as I get dressed behind the closed curtains of my room, I hear raised voices from beyond the door that leads to the entrance foyer. My brow wrinkles in worry and look around quickly for a weapon, before my eyes land on the knife Nate gifted me, sitting under the t-shirt I quickly pull over my head. Hunter and Chase left half an hour ago to get the house ready for my arrival, whatever that means, and Nate left only a minute ago to head down the hall and through to the pharmacy to get my take home drugs ready. For the first time since the guys found me, I’m alone. And the raised voices outside my cubicle are getting louder.

I shuffle to the curtain and twitch it back enough to see the door that divides this section of the hospital from the rest and unclasp my knife. I put all my weight onto my uninjured leg and wait to see what will happen as the voices get clearer, obviously nearing the door.

“Isabella!” Linda exclaims “You are not permitted back there! Dr Thompson has already told you the patient needs rest!”

“She is being discharged this afternoon, is she not?” an icy voice demands, one obviously belonging to this Isabella woman that the guys mentioned. I don’t drop my knife, instead tucking it up behind my back, out of sight for now. “Then she is obviously well enough to answer some questions for the council! It is unacceptable the Alpha team broke protocol and brought her here first.” Isabella snaps.

“The girl was a heartbeat away from unconsciousness, Isabella. I hardly think taking her before the council in that state would have been productive.” Linda deadpans. Isabella makes a frustrated noise in response. “Now, why don’t you head back to the council and let them know I will send one of the Alpha team over as soon as they return- HEY!”

The door barges open and I watch as Isabella storms through, having obviously strong armed a furious looking Linda out of the way. Isabella is tall and graceful as she prowls into the ward, her black hair hanging sheet straight at her back and her face perfectly done up in full make up. I have to admit, that throws me off for a moment, becauseholy shit it has beensolong since I saw someone with make up on.It makes her look regal and imposing and I’m pretty sure that’s the point as she pauses to flip her hair out of her face before gliding into my room as if she were the owner of the establishment.

Linda follows hot on her heels strawberry blond hair curling wildly about her pretty face and blue eyes glaring daggers at Isabella’s back.

I keep still in my corner by the door, watching in satisfaction as Isabella pauses at the sight of the apparently empty room.

“Hello.” I state pleasantly as I step into the opening she left behind her, safe now that I have an exit at my back. I have the petty thrill of watching as Isabella shrieks and spins to face me,nearly knocking poor Linda to the ground in the process, as she tries to use her as a human shield. Linda brushes her off with a snarl and retreats to start stripping the bed, keeping a close eye on the conversation but apparently willing to see how this will unfold. “You must be Isabella.” I state in an even tone, trying desperately to keep the smile out of my voice.

She narrows her eyes on me coldly before allowing a pleasant mask to drop over her face.

“Yes. I am Isabella, of course you must have heard all about me from my Hunter.” She says in a saccharine sweet voice, while she watches me with shrewd eyes as I stiffen. “Unfortunately, he and I haven’t had a chance to catch up since he has been away…” she leaves the sentence hanging, waiting for me to say something, when I don’t her eyes harden and she snaps “And you are?”

I have to bite my tongue from saying something sarcastic.She’s a member of the mysterious council, Angie, you have to play nice for now.

“My name is Angie.” I tell her easily, and then for some unknown reason I feel the need to stake my claim, “I’m Hunter’s girlfriend.” I add sweetly and watch her caramel-colored eyes widen and mind explode at my audacity.

“And mine.” Nate’s deep rumble precedes him as he rounds the opposite corner of the cubicle. “And don’t forget Chase, sweetheart or you’ll hurt his feelings.” He gives me a dark grin as he swoops down on me, cradling me against him as he takes a long, drawn-out, open-mouthed kiss from me.Cheeky.

Eventually he releases me, and I giggle into his chest as Isabella stamps her foot in annoyance. Literally stamps her foot. Like a three-year-old.

“Are you done?” she questions in an acerbic tone, lifting a perfectly manicured eyebrow at the two of us. I grin up at Nate and he just barely holds in a laugh as I say, “Not quite.” Quicklypulling him down for another kiss. Linda doesn’t even bother to hide her laugh as Isabella huffs and storms past us.

“It was nice to meet you!” I call to her retreating back, Nate breaking into laughter to match Linda’s.

I slip my knife out from behind my back and Nate gives me a sly, approving smile as I slide it back into its case. I catch Linda looking at me from the corner of my eye and when I turn to her, she gives me one of her genuine smiles and nods, “You’ll fit in just fine here, girly.” She declares, then she bustles out of the room with an arm full of dirty laundry. “See you around, Angie. Take care of those boys of yours.” She cackles as she leaves us alone.

“So. That was Isabella.” Nate tells me unnecessarily making me laugh even as I swat at his chest.

“That was about what I expected from your description of her. I don’t think she likes me very much.” I muse as he leads me out the door and back into the waiting room of Linda’s hospital.I know it’s not technically Linda’s hospital, but she’s the only nurse I’ve seen, and the evasive Dr Thompson doesn’t count in my mind, because I only met him once yesterday. The older man Nate had been speaking with when I woke up proved to be in high demand and had hustled himself out of my room as fast as politely possible when we met.

My thoughts stop as we step out into warm afternoon sunlight and I get my first real look at Charydale.

The little hospital sits on the corner of one of the main roads through town, a pharmacy squatting directly next to it. The two buildings are obviously connected inside and take up most of the space on this side of the street. Across from where we emerge storefronts line the pavement. I spot a dress mender and launderer humming with activity as well as a café and several unmarked shops, one of which has musical instruments displayed proudly in their window. Above the stores I noticeliving quarters, homes with washing lines strung between buildings and children leaning out windows to watch the people pass by underneath.

“Wh- what? Is this real?” I ask Nate, clutching his hand tightly as though I’m worried he, and this idyllic town, might vanish in a weird fever dream.

“It’s real, sweetheart.” Nate reassures me as he watches me take everything in with wide eyes, my gaze tracking a horse and cart as they trundle past carrying a load of… potatoes?Where the fuck am I right now.

“How is this place possible?” I ask him in wonder, voice hushed as though I still might scare the illusion away.

“That’s a long story, Angel.” Chase rumbles and my eyes dart to his as he steps up onto the sidewalk with me, Hunter not far behind him. He presses a lingering kiss to the top of my head and moves around to take my other hand as Hunter takes up a place behind me, his hand smoothing down my back and lingering. “One that we should definitely start over dinner. At home.”

I nod dumbly and they tug me in the direction that the horse and cart came from, away from the center of town.

---