Page 81 of Free
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
D couldn't remember the last time he'd been to the hospital. Beau had handled everything for so long that it was strange walking into the emergency room. He kept his distance from the cop who stood near the doors and kept his head down, thankful he was still wearing the long sleeves that covered his tattoos.
He went to the small desk to talk to the triage nurse. "Jessica McPherson was brought in. She called me to be here with her."
"What's your name?" The nurse hardly even bothered to glance up at him.
"William Liston." The name still felt foreign on his tongue.
"Please have a seat while I check." She reached for the phone.
D took a seat near her desk, but kept his back to the majority of the waiting room. Now that he was here, he realized he should have sent Rani instead. Even if it pissed off Jessica, it would have been safer.
"You can go back. She's in room twelve," the nurse called to him.
"Thank you." He hurried and made his way back. Seeing the nurses rushing around made him think of Faith. When she'd go to the hospital and help Beau sometimes, she always came home talking about how amazing everyone was. He could easily imagine her rushing down these halls. Fuck, he missed her.
He found room twelve easily enough, but the door was closed. Afraid she might be being examined, he knocked. "Jessica, it's William."
"Come in," she called, her voice filled with anger.
He pushed the door open, stepped inside, and made sure to shut it again. As he looked over at Jessica lying in the small hospital bed, his eyes went wide. She had a huge cut along the top of her forehead, her arm was cut up and starting to bruise, and it looked as if one eye would go black, but it was really hard to tell with the blood that was still smeared across her face. "Fuck, Jess, what happened?"
"I don't know. They said some asshole ran a red light. I don't remember the accident. I just remember some guy at my car door after, asking if I was okay. I saw the other car when they were getting me into the ambulance. It didn't look like there was much left of it." She tried to move, but flinched in pain when she went to move her arm.
"Shit, stay still. What have the doctors said?" D was at her side, worried that maybe she shouldn't be going home. At the least, he needed to get her back to the STK house where Rani could keep an eye on her.
"Not much. They're pretty sure the arm is broken, and I need stitches for the cut on my head. He ordered a bunch of stuff and said he'd be back." She shifted as if she couldn't get comfortable. "I just want to go home. I hate hospitals."
"Yeah, me too, but right now, this is exactly where you need to be." He got a closer look at her face. "You're going to hurt tomorrow."
"I have work to do. I can't afford this," she grumbled.
"You can afford it. We'll help you. Once we get you out of here, any follow-up Rani can handle. We'll get you a new car, and we'll make sure your bills get paid if you can't work. Don't worry about things like that anymore. Just focus on getting better," D told her.
"Fuck, I love my little car." She again went to move and cursed when her arm hurt. "I wish they'd hurry the fuck up."
"Want me to go—" He paused as the door pushed open.
"Jess, you okay? I was so scared when I got your message." A tall man with light brown hair rushed to her side.
D went back over and closed the door, staying near it to give them privacy. He wasn't sure if he should leave or just wait until she told him what to do. She hadn't talked much about her friends or family, so he had no clue who the man was.
"I'm fine, Kevin. I just needed a ride home, but William came. I tried you several times." Jessica sighed.
Kevin turned to look at D and that was when D noticed the gun on his hip. The only way a gun would be allowed back in the emergency room would be if he was a cop. D saw the recognition in Kevin's eyes a moment before he pulled his gun out and aimed it directly at D.
"Don't move." Kevin stared at him. "If I'm right, and I'm pretty sure I am, there is a warrant out for your arrest in California, and probably charges here in Colorado if I'm not mistaken."
D's hands went up, but he didn't say a word. He wouldn't go back to jail. He had to find a way out of this. His gut had warned him this was not a good move. He'd known it the moment he entered the hospital. Fuck, how did this happen again?
"Fucking put that gun away, Kev. He's my friend. Put the fucking gun down now!" Jessica made a pained face as she moved, reaching with her good arm to grab hold of the hand Kevin was holding the gun with.
"Do you know who he is, Jess?" Kevin didn't take his eyes off D.
"Of course, I know. I work with him. Put the gun away, please Kev. Don't do this. You can forget you ever saw him. I need him right now. He's going to help me bring Marcus and Tony to justice. You've got to let him go."
"Fuck, Jess, let me handle them. You stay out of it." Kevin still stared at D.
