Page 156 of Inside the Wicked

Allie only takes a few seconds to read what she needs. “I can’t stop them from taking you in, but that’s all they have the right to do. Don’t say a word until I get there. This is bullshit, and they know they have nothing, okay?”

Liam nods. He’s put in handcuffs, and Allie looks at them, distraught. They’re both resisting a touch, and ultimately, neither cave as Liam is led away.

“You’ll get him cleared,” I say.

“Of course I will. I’m the best damned lawyer in the city.”

Pride blooms in my chest. She’s always doubted herself thanks to her asshole father. But she has to believe in herself for this.

Allie squeezes my arm. “You’re getting out of this shit too. I promise.”

I force a smile before I’m led away. The searing look the president holds on me wavers that confidence though. I’m certain he could orchestrate my assassination right here.

All that matters is Ana, and every doubt, worry, and fear that isn’t about her leaves me as there’s nothing I can do now but wait and fucking pray.

CHAPTER 50

Anastasia

When it feels like I’m waking up to the worst hangover of my life, I wish my consciousness would quit for a while longer. I never sleep on my back, and that’s not helping matters, but I also don’t recall my bed having a forty-five-degree angle.

I peel my eyes open reluctantly to investigate, hoping to find Rhett and that he’ll make some quippy remark about how I fell asleep when I don’t remember doing so.

My groggy attention starts to sharpen quicker when I don’t recognize my surroundings at all. A beeping machine starts to bring my awareness back to the fact I’m in a hospital. Then I’m suffering the flashes of memory of what brought me here.

“Rhett.” I can barely get his name out of my bone-dry throat.

“Darling,” a voice says gently.

My head falls to find my dad, and that doesn’t help—my panic surges more, and the beeping intensifies.

“Where’s Rhett?” I demand, trying to sit up, but I wince at the sharp stabbing pain in my shoulder that shoots across my chest and my arm, which I realize now is in a sling.

Right, I was shot.This fucking sucks. Somehow I know it could have been a lot worse. I feel okay, all things considered.

“Please keep calm, Ana. You’re okay.”

But I’m not worried about myself.

Two nurses enter and check things around me, but I can’t take in any of it.

“Where. Is. He?” I demand again.

“In the hospital. Detained for now.”

I can’t think straight, see straight, but as I’m consistently pressured to calm down by the nurses I fear they might sedate me, so I try to reel myself back in to prove I’m fine. I just need Rhett here.

“I want to see him,” I say, unable to look at my dad with the way I know he’ll be torn with concern and anger.

“Your mother is on her way.”

I close my eyes. He’s not fucking listening to me.

“If you let them take him out of here, I’ll never forgive you.”

He drags his chair closer to my bedside, and neither of us speak for a painfully long moment.

“I’ve been trying to understand, Ana,” he says in defeat, “why you continue to defend someone who is dangerous, and with all the things he’s done. He told me who he is, what he does.”

---