Page 103 of The Saint

“That’s a long story.” Esme offered the bag again. “I have fruit. Want a banana? A grilled chicken Caesar salad, a grain bowl, and a chicken-and-bean burrito.” Her dark lips quirked. “I wasn’t sure what you might like. So I ordered several things.”

Amelia placed both hands on the door and tried to see around Esme. The fishbowl lens blurred everything around her. “I want to leave.”

“Not hungry, then? Suit yourself. Can I come in? We have a lot to talk about.”

“Go to hell.”

Esme beckoned to the man guarding the door and stepped back. “Why do you have to do everything the hard way?”

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Camden refused any painkillers that weren’t topical and was making everyone’s life miserable. Beth could go to hell. The doctors weren’t signing off on his release. Camden wasn’t getting answers. The hospital administration was apparently scared of releasing him until Titan Group’s designated physician signed off on his treatment plan, and that asshole hadn’t shown up yet.

The private hospital room closed in on him. The monitoring equipment beeped and reported that he needed to settle down and relax. That wasn’t going to happen. Not for the first time, Camden removed the monitors and paced the room, ready to walk out the door as soon as he knew leaving wouldn’t get him fired. He probably needed street clothes too. Someone had confiscated them under the guise of having medical staff check him out, and they wouldn’t give them back. Flapping around in his hospital gown wouldn’t help him if he escaped.

A nurse inched into his room and eyed the monitoring equipment that he’d removed. Nothing was wrong with his heart, and the beeping was pushing him to the point of madness.

She didn’t let go of the door but held out a cell phone. “You have a phone call.”

Camden snatched the device. “Hello?”

“I hear you are causing the staff a lot of heartburn,” Jared groused. “Would you sit your ass down so they can do what they’re supposed to do?”

“I’m fine.”

“Yeah. Sure you are. That’s how people blasted with that much voltage are after a half a day. Look, man.” Jared let out a deep breath. “If there was something to tell you, I’d have told you. If anyone had a lead, you’d know about it. We’re doing our best. But if you don’t take care of yourselfnow, you won’t beworth a shit when I need you.” He cleared his throat. “Whensheneeds you. Do you get me?”

Camden’s molars gnashed. “There has to be—”

“I’m tell you there’s not and that I’m wasting my time making sure you listen to doctor’s orders when I could be doing more important things—things you want me doing, brother. You hear me?”

Camden grumbled.

“That nurse still standing in the room?”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t fuck with her.”

“I’m not—”

“Jesus shit, do you think I would be on the phone with you right fuckin’ now if multiple folks with medical degrees think you need to sit down and take your medicine or whatever?”

He glanced at the nurse, who probably could hear every word Boss Man was bellowing. “All right. I read you.”

“Loud and clear, asshole?”

“That’s affirmative. Loud and clear.” Camden handed the cell phone to the nurse. “I’m going to sit down.” He hooked a thumb over his shoulder. “On the bed. You do whatever you have to do.”

She pocketed the phone. “I wasn’t the one who tattled on you.” She gingerly pulled the gown apart and, careful of his bandages, put the stethoscope in her ears then to his chest.

He tried not to grumble. “My boss has eyes and ears everywhere.”

She moved the cold metal over his skin. “That’s what I hear.”

“Drop the gown back.” She pressed the stethoscope below his shoulder blades and listened to his lungs. She pulled the fabric back into place. “You’re not dying.”

“That’s what I keep saying. Can I get out of here?”

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