Page 6 of Phoenix

Even though every part of me wanted to march back there and demand answers, I was listening. At least for now.

After Mom left for work, and I finished my coffee, guilt started gnawing at me like a splinter I couldn’t stop picking at. Not going in today had felt like the right call—and it still did—but that didn’t mean I could just not tell anyone.

Setting my empty mug on the bedside table, I grabbed my phone and pulled up June’s number, chewing the inside of my cheek while it rang.

She quickly picked up. “Hey, kiddo. Everything okay?”

My voice was soft as I answered, “Yeah, I just wanted to let you know I won’t be in today. Something came up.”

“I figured as much after everything yesterday, but I appreciate the heads-up.”

I sat up straighter. “What do you mean?”

There was a pause, just long enough to make my stomach tighten. “You didn’t hear?”

“Hear what?”

“Paul is in the hospital. Someone beat the ever-loving crap out of him last night.” June’s voice dropped to a near whisper. “They found him in some alley in town. EMTs had to intubate him at the scene. They’re saying he’s in a coma.”

My pulse thudded in my ears. “Are you serious?”

“You know me better than that. I wouldn’t joke about something like this.”

“Holy crap,” I whispered.

“There’s even a rumor going around that it was…you know. A message.”

For the briefest of moments, I considered the possibility that the Iron Rogues had done this to him. My stomach twisted with guilt as I wondered if I had set this all into motion by going to their clubhouse yesterday.

But I shook the thought away before it could take root. Beck had every opportunity to scare me off yesterday. He could’ve threatened me, dismissed me, and thrown me out of their compound. Instead, he’d warned me to stay safe. Plus, leaving Paul in an alley to be found by anyone walking by felt reckless, and Beck struck me as someone who was always in control.

“You think the center will close if he doesn’t wake up?” I asked, trying to steady my voice.

“I don’t know,” June said softly. “But I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”

I ended the call a few minutes later, but I couldn’t sit still. I kept thinking about Paul’s complete lack of concern whenever I brought up issues at the center. His attitude didn’t sit right with me, but he didn’t deserve to be lying in some hospital bed because he sucked as a manager. Unless what happened to him wasn’t a coincidence, and his disinterest was due to more than just being bad at his job.

By midafternoon, I couldn’t take it anymore. I told myself I just wanted to see if the rumors were true. I needed to know if Paul really was in a coma and if things at the center were about to fall apart even more than they already had.

I finally let my curiosity get the better of me and headed to the hospital. My stomach churned as I walked through the front doors and approached the reception desk.

“Hi,” I greeted, forcing a polite smile. “I’m here to check on Paul Langford. He was admitted last night.”

The nurse behind the counter didn’t even blink. “Are you family?”

“No.” I shook my head, then explained, “I’m a volunteer at the community center he runs. He’s…he’s been a mentor to me.”

That was a total exaggeration but had just enough truth for it not to sound like I was lying.

She gave me a long look but must have bought my story. “Hang on.”

“Sure.”

She tapped on her keyboard and glanced at her computer monitor. “He’s in the ICU so no visitors are allowed except immediate family. I can’t let you up there, but I can let his sister know you stopped by if she leaves before the end of my shift.”

Her offer was kind, but I couldn’t bluff my way through a conversation with Paul’s sister when I hadn’t even known he had one. “That’s okay. I don’t want to bother her at a time like this, with him in a coma.”

“Was there anything else I can help you with today?”

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