Page 121 of Pretend
“You’re in the naval base emergency department. We’ve rehydrated you. You passed out and suffered trauma to the head. Thankfully, it wasn’t too serious, but it was enough to make you pass out for a few hours. You’re going to be okay, Ms. Valentin.” She squeezes my hand.
“And what about Daegan?”
“Who?” She arches a brow, and her light brown eyes brighten with firm curiosity.
“Daegan Hannibal,” I repeat.
“Oh, him,” Ari frowns and sits on the bed. She grabs my hand again like she’s about to give me the worst news of my life. She grabs the railing on the hospital bed and takes in a deep breath.
“Please don’t say it,” I beg.
“He’s—”
“Mija…you’re awake!” My mom exclaims, interrupting Ari. My eyes widen, and I shrink in the bed. “You’re going to be okay,mija. You’ll even get to be discharged by tomorrow morning. Now that we know it was Gabe, we’re that much closer to shutting these assholes down and putting them in prison.” She embraces me. Her cold arms hold me tight, and I hug her back as hard as possible, which isn’t a much because my muscles quiver weakly.
“You mean, you didn’t catch him?!” I breathe out harshly with panic laced in my dry tone.
“No, I’m sorry,mija. He got away. But I’m confident we’ll get him. From the investigation we did, Gabe is wounded, and he’ll have to seek treatment at a hospital somewhere. We’ll find him, I promise.”
“What about Daegan?”
“I’m sorry, Alessia. He might not make it.” My mom shares with me, grabbing my shoulder and squeezing it.
“Mom, don’t tell me that, please don’t tell me that!” I yell as my heart shatters and depletes into a puddle of misery. I can feel my vision blurring, leaking with hotness. It trails all the way down to my lips, and I wipe it away.
Ari stands quickly and grabs a box of tissues, handing them to me with blurry vision of her own.
“He’s been in surgery. According to the paramedics, his friend, Graves, found him without a pulse, dead, but he worked on him vigorously and was able to get his heart beating again. He’s…in critical condition. Right now, it’s touch and go, but I’ll come back with an update. If I must scrub in and bang on that operating room door myself to get you information, I will.” Ari chimes in.
I nod vehemently, squeezing her hand.
“I’ve already talked to my husband. He’s getting paperwork together to grant you a 60-day leave of absence. Get some rest. You’ll be discharged soon from the hospital and?—”
“I’m not going anywhere without Daegan.” I cut my mother off, blinking more tears away. My chest tightens with despair.
He has to make it.
“He better make it so that I can yell at him. And tell him that he’s crazy! To tell him that I’m upset with him for all the lies and deception.” I shout at Ari and my mother like they’re the ones responsible for everything wrong that’s happened to me. Ari has no clue what I’m talking about, but I’m hoping she doesn’t sedate me for my outburst that’s pouring out.
My mom quiets down, and Ari listens with open ears. My mother stands and strokes the back of my head.
I close my eyes tight and suck in a deep breath. “I need to tell him that I love him. I love him despite the imperfections of how we got here. I don’t care if our journey has been full of weird bumps. I love him.”
It’s the following day.Daegan’s surgery is running longer than expected. Ari hasn’t updated me, and I’m going crazy. I refuse to leave this hospital without him. My mother left home to shower, and she’ll be back soon to take me back to her house. She doesn’t want to leave me alone.
I’m folding my Jack Skellington blanket when someone knocks on the door. I turn to my left and see Kane.
I smile, and the thick rock in my throat forms. I start to tear up when I see Daegan’s closest friend on the team. He’s in his signature black leather jacket and beanie. He wears dark blue jeans, and his dark hair waves out at the corner of his patriotic beanie. He slides the door open fast, and I rush into his arms. He doesn’t hesitate to welcome me in a warm, friendly embrace. He holds me tight, innocently.
“Alessia…how are you?” He murmurs against the top of my head. We’re swaying back and forth as we hold each other. He pulls me forward to get a good look at my injury. He shakes his head when he sees the white bandage on my forehead.
“I’m okay! Nevermind me! I’m worried about Daegan!” I sniffle into his chest. Kane always feels good, smells good, looks good. He’s always just…good, in the most friendly way possible.
“Creature’s still in surgery, huh? Grim called everyone to the hospital. His wife works here and called him immediately, filling him in. We’re all here, but I had to see you.” Kane gives me one more tight hug before releasing me.
“Yes. I haven’t heard anything. They’re discharging me. I’m leaving soon, but I don’t want to. If that’s okay, I’ll wait in the lobby with you guys.”
“Of course, it’s fucking okay. I can’t believe Gabe is the one who was behind everything. I liked him for the most part. I didn’t know him too well, obviously.”
