Page 75 of Relentless
“That’s a good idea. Thanks, Dad,” Asher said.
His mother said something quietly to his brother, then his father opened the door and they both stepped out. When it snicked shut behind them, Ethan cast his brother a look, desperate for any hint of hope.
Asher’s expression softened. “She sustained a lot of injuries, E. Her body is doing what it needs to recover. We’re not worried.” His brother would never say “yet,” but Ethan heard it.
“There will be nothing left of Peter Hilton when I get a hold of him,” Sabina muttered. “All the money he’s made for however long he’s been doing it. It’s all going to disappear. And then once it’s gone, that’s when the fun will start.”
Ethan glanced at Chad. Sabina wasn’t usually the bloodthirsty type, but Hilton had found her breaking point. Something he’d live to regret if Ethan didn’t get to him first. In which case, he’d be dead and wouldn’t live to regret anything.
“Abu Ha—Hanifa.”
Ethan jerked, and Sabina shot up from her chair.
“Kara!” Sabina cried, leaning over her sister and brushing her fingers along her forehead. Words were beyond Ethan. He closed his eyes for a moment, fighting the tidal wave of emotion pummeling him. Then he leaned forward, kissed the back of her hand, and rested his cheek against her skin.
“Let…Abu Hanifa take care of him,” she said, her voice labored as she fought for air.
“Ssshh,” Ethan said, rising from his seat so he could better look into her eyes. She had matching lacerations on both sides of her head, a black eye, and a swollen cheek. But her eyes tracked to his, and it was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.
“No need to talk. We’re just glad you’re awake. I promise Sabina won’t do anything until you’re well enough for her to consult. Right, Sabina?” Ethan shot her a look that told her she better go along with him. Kara didnotneed to be worrying about Sabina.
Sabina narrowed her eyes at him, but then smiled down at Kara. “Of course I’ll wait. It’s always more fun to plot revenge with you.”
A flicker of amusement touched Kara’s eyes. Then she closed them again and took a measured breath. At some point in the last minute, Asher had slipped from the room, and he returned with a doctor in tow.
“We’re glad to see you awake, Dr. Kenyon. You took quite a beating,” the woman, Dr. Hasan, said.
“How long has it been?” Kara managed to ask.
Dr. Hasan moved toward the machinery monitoring her. “A little less than thirty-six hours since the incident. About twenty-four since you arrived at Mystery Lake General,” she responded. She gestured to Kara in some doctor-speak. Kara turned her head a fraction, winced, then let the doctor flash a small light in her eye.
“Your assailant kicked you between C7 and T1 vertebrate. No damage to the spinal cord, but it gave you whiplash. We didn’t put a neck brace on while you were resting, but I’ll have the nurse bring one in,” Dr. Hasan said, shifting the blankets to examine Kara’s stomach.
“What other injuries?” Kara asked. Then she raised a hand a few inches to stop Sabina from protesting. “I need to know if I’m going to take care of myself properly.”
Ethan’s gaze flickered to Sabina, and an unspoken promise arced between them.Hewould be taking care of her. And Sabina, too. But they could have that discussion later. Kara still had a few days’ recovery in the hospital before any talk of what would follow.
“Glad to see you don’t subscribe to the cliché of a doctor making a terrible patient,” Dr. Hasan said. “To answer your question, mild internal bleeding we’ve been monitoring but don’t believe needs surgical intervention. A hairline fracture on your wrist, most likely sustained in a fall. Three bruised ribs, whiplash, two lacerations on your temples that have been stitched, and a concussion.” She paused then added, “I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that of all those, the concussion and the bleeding are the two we’re most worried about.”
Kara started to nod then stopped herself. “Yes, I agree. Fortunately, if the bleeding worsens, I’ll recognize the signs. As for the concussion, well, not much I can do other than be gentle with myself.”
Dr. Hasan nodded. “How are you with the pain right now? Do you want me to send in a nurse with any medication?”
Kara opened her mouth, and Ethan knew she was going to decline. “You claimed to be a doctor who wasn’t a bad patient. Don’t turn yourself into a liar.” She shifted her head enough to glare at him. “You’re in pain, love,” he said. “You just woke after a brutal attack. I know you probably don’tneedthe medication, but it will help your body heal.”
Her blue-green eyes held his, then slowly, she returned her attention to Dr. Hasan. “Yes, please. Maybe a little something to take the edge off.”
The doctor nodded, made a note in her chart, then turned to leave after promising to stop by again in a few hours. When she was gone, Kara closed her eyes.
“Can I have some water?” she asked. Ethan rose, poured a glass, dropped a straw in it, then held it for her. She took a few tentative sips, then pulled back. “Was it Hilton?” she asked.
“We suspect, but we’re working to confirm,” Chad answered. Neither Ethan nor Sabina had left her side since they’d arrived in Mystery Lake. Chad and Ava had been heading up the investigation.
“Was anyone else hurt in Tahoe? Cody?” she asked, her voice wheezy with pain.
Ethan wanted to ask her to let it go, but it would be a worthless request. He hoped the nurse arrived soon with the pain meds, though. Maybe they would make her a little sleepy.
Chad shook his head. “No one was seriously hurt. A couple of twisted ankles and scrapes incurred while exiting the building. The gunshots were a distraction to get to you. We found three bullet holes in various spots in the ceiling. He fired into the air to create panic.”
