Page 139 of Hushed

“Is it Reggie?” Kenzie asked.

“He’s been hurt, but the ER staff won’t tell me anything. I saw the ambulance from my parking spot near The Cage, and recognized him on the gurney when they wheeled it back out.”

“Fuck,” Gage swore.

“How close are you?”

“Still another twenty minutes. Fucking traffic.” He slammed the steering wheel with his palm, making Kenzie jump.

“Calm down, Gage,” Samuel admonished. “Get here safe. I’m doing what I can. When Kenzie comes in she needs to say she’s Jason Anderson’s sister. That should get them to tell her something.”

“Thanks for the information, Samuel.”

She wasn’t sure why she was able to sound so calm. Maybe because she knew that Gage was spiraling and needed her to be strong. Everyone always said she was great in a crisis, but she’d never seen that in herself until now.

It took twenty-five minutes to actually reach the hospital, and parking was a nightmare that had Gage tense and angry by thetime they exited the vehicle and raced for the ER. She held his hand, and he squeezed her fingers so tight she had to protest.

“Fuck. Sorry, babe. I’m sorry. I’m trying to pull it together.”

She shook her head. “You’re fine, Gage.”

At the information desk, she told them her name and that she was Jason Anderson’s sister.

Kenzie held her breath as the woman tapped keys on her keyboard. What would she do if they asked to prove she was Reggie’s alias’ sister? How would they get around the lack of documentation? Her brain kicked into overdrive with a million questions and possible worst case scenarios, and she tapped her fingers nervously on the counter.

“He’s getting an x-ray right now, but you’ll be able to see him in about thirty minutes,” the receptionist said, interrupting the swirl of anxiety.

Relief nearly made her fall to the ground, but Gage held her up and she’d never been so grateful to have him to lean on.

“Thank you so much.”

“Come on, babe. Let’s sit down,” he murmured.

They were just settling into plastic waiting room seats when Samuel came through another door putting his phone in his pocket.

“He’s going to be OK. They’re doing an x-ray and then we can see him,” she said. Her voice wavered, and Gage held her hand tight.

“We’re going to get him through this, Ms. Kenzie,” Samuel said with a gentle smile.

“What happened?” Gage asked when the other man sat down in the chair across from them.

“I’m still not fucking sure. I’m trying to get the nine-one-one transcript or talk with the EMTs but so far no one can tell me anything.”

A half hour later, the nurse called for the family of Jason Anderson, and Kenzie lept to her feet.

Gage quickly caught up with her, but Samuel opted to stay behind.

“Visit with him. I’ll talk to him when you’re done.”

“You’re not going to take him away from me again are you?”

Samuel’s face softened and he pulled Kenzie into a hug. “No. I promise. And I’m so sorry you had to go through that all those years ago.”

She didn’t want to cry, so she squeezed her eyes shut and bit the inside of her cheek as she hugged him back, but a few tears still escaped. When they were led to Reggie’s room, Kenzie had to take several deep breaths before walking in. Unsure of what state he would be in.

He was sitting up looking pissed.

“Reggie!” She cried as she went to him.

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