Page 66 of The Dawning
“Open now,” Doc ordered.
His face came in and out of focus until the more I blinked, the clearer he became. “Better. I can see the sweat on your face, Doc.”
He slumped his shoulders. “You might have episodes of blurriness for a couple of days.”
“I’ll take that over blindness.”
Now that I could fully relax and not have to worry about anyone controlling me or fucking with my brain, it was time to blow this joint and have some fun.
26
LAYLA
Isat at a table in the middle of the cafeteria, eating lasagna, one of many choices on the menu. On the way here, Jordyn had excused herself. She wanted to lie down and take something for her pain. I’d told her I would fill her in later on what I learned about Kendra. Jo was currently talking to a soldier by the door who I didn’t recognize. The tall, brown-haired vampire had snagged her attention when we walked in several minutes ago. It looked like she must be explaining something interesting to him because she had his rapt attention.
In between bites of bland lasagna, I was people watching. A handful of soldiers waited their turn in the food line, which had a wide selection of different meats, potatoes, vegetables, and pasta dishes.
Jo waved at the soldier she’d been talking to, then glided over with a sense of purpose as though she owned the place. She probably did. “I’m going to grab a tea, then we can chat.”
We had talked a little when we’d left the infirmary, but I’d only had the chance to ask her about the chip-removing procedure. She skirted around the topic, only saying that Peter and Doc knew what they were doing. I suspected she’d said that because she was reading my mind, knowing I’d been suddenly concerned when she’d rushed out of the room and closed the door.
I had no reason to think she was lying about the X-ray radiation. I knew there was truth to that. But I’d gotten the feeling she didn’t want me to see something. I hadn’t probed, mainly because I wasn’t sure I wanted to know. I was so tired of what the chip had done to Sam and how it fucked with our lives that I would’ve probably gone apeshit if the chip decided to fuck with Sam again.
Jo returned with a steaming cup of fragrant tea and slid into the seat across from me. “How’s the lasagna?”
“Sauce is bland. Other than that, it’s fine,” I said. I’d only taken a couple of bites. “The tea smells spicy,” I added. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what kind it was.
She flipped her black hair over her shoulder. “It’s turmeric. You should try this. It’s good for inflammation, which could help your pregnancy.”
Besides blood, I’d only been drinking water. “I might.” I wasn’t a tea drinker. My mom had been though. “So, Jordyn told me Kendra was here,” I said, jumping right into the heart of why I’d gone to the infirmary in the first place.
She blew on her steaming cup of liquid. “She was. We decided to let her go the day before yesterday. She had nothing to do with Roman. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“Did you read her mind?” I asked.
“Kendra blocked some parts, which vampires tend to do.” She sipped from her cup. “In a nutshell, she was in the hotel bar the day you were rushed to the ER and overheard a man drop your name and Sam’s, saying that you were at the hospital. Kendra was concerned. So she asked the man about you. He told her to mind her own business. Next thing she knew, Roman was knocking on her hotel door. He wanted to see how well she knew you. An argument ensued, then Ben and Olivia found her unconscious in her room.”
I cut off another piece of lasagna. “Did she say anything about my father?”
Jo shook her head. “No. But she gave me her number to give to you. It’s in my purse, which is in the infirmary. I’ll make sure to give it to you later.”
“Was Kendra here to talk to me?” I was itching to know more.
Jo set her cup down. “She knew you were with us, but she wanted my dad’s help with your uncles.”
My uncle Ray was the one who had been salivating to burn her, but Kendra didn’t have to worry about him anymore.
“I did ask her where she’d gone after my dad asked her to wait in the plane that day.” Jo scratched a spot on her neck, her wedding ring glinting in the many lights shining down from above. “Apparently, the minute Kendra left the hangar, she ran. Once she was far enough away from your uncles, she stole a car. That was all I got from her.”
It would’ve been nice to chat with Kendra, and I would eventually call her.
Jo sat back in her chair and swept her silver gaze over me. “Are the clothes comfortable? They look great on you.”
I rolled my eyes. “Stupid me. I’m so sorry. Thank you. My head is up my ass. I want to repay you.”
She grinned, looking like her brother. They had the same eye shape—the outer corners turned upward. “No need to do that. You’re family, Layla. Consider it an early Christmas present.”
I had to somehow return the favor to both her and Harley. “Thank you again.” I was digging my fork into the layers of pasta when Sam strutted in.
