Page 77 of Double Edged Hearts
This just became next-level bad. I don’t know Richard. I’ve never met the guy. However, I wouldn’t put anything past him.
I don’t care who he is or what he is.
I need to get my girl back.
It’s shoot to kill as soon as I can move.
* * *
The day passes, and I feel more helpless than ever. Especially when Doc comes by to check on me and change my bandages and tells me the same mantra he uttered this morning.Rest.I don’t want to fucking rest. I want to be out on the street looking for Cora.
The pain meds make me sleep, and I hate that, but I take them because I know they will help me. It’s not until night falls when the meds start to take effect and the pain is slightly less. It’s still very much there but eases enough for me to stand and take a few steps. That’s all I need. I’m a formidable force on the regular, and I’m not going to lie down and wait this out.
I practice walking and lifting things just to get my mobility back.
The problem is when I’m standing, my whole midsection feels like glass. Like someone could smash me in two. My arm feels like it might fall off if I move it too hard, and I generally feel like shit.
I’ve been shot before. That time, it was my leg, and I was down for weeks. That was about ten years ago. This feels like that, but my saving grace is I can stand and I can move. In my mind, that means I can try to save Cora.
I manage to walk out to the kitchen. Donny’s in there making himself a sandwich.
“Hey, you’re supposed to be asleep. It’s late,” he scuffs.
“I’ve been sleeping long enough. I can’t anymore. At least not now. Besides, you’re up.” I point to his sandwich, and he smirks.
“Man’s got to eat.”
“Where are the others?”
“Out looking and trying to get a lead. Claudius is with Gibbs.”
I feel so bad that I’m not out there looking too. Cora must be so frightened. I wonder If she knows the truth by now about Richard. If she does, I know she’s going to have a hard time dealing with it.
“Doc will be back in the morning,” he adds. “I stayed behind to watch over you. I like this place, always knew you had good taste.”
I can see he’s trying to cheer me up. He always gives disconnected compliments when shit’s going down, and he’s trying to distract me.
“Thanks…. she liked it too.” I’m an idiot. I should have been the prick and insisted that we contact no one. If I’d done that, the guys would have found some way to find me, and even if trouble came for us, I would have had more numbers.
“I’m sorry. God, it’s all fucked-up shit. Alex… you know we’ll do our best to get her back.”
“I know.” In the end, that’s what everyone will do, but it doesn’t make me feel any better right now.
I sit down at the table, and he observes me.
“How are you feeling? I’m sure you shouldn’t be up.”
“I feel like shit, but I’m doing my best.”
“Alex, you’ve been shot, bro… I don’t think you can do anything besides follow the doc’s orders.” Worry washes over his face.
“Donny, I hear you, and I don’t disagree, but I can’t just lie in bed when she’s out there. I’m going to rescue her. Whether Gibbs comes back with intel first or not.”
I’m giving myself tonight as downtime. Then I’ll go out on the street tomorrow. I’m glad I have the car now because the bike would have been harder to maneuver with my shoulder. The wound on my shoulder is more like a deep cut. It’s niggling and will take some time to heal, but I can work with it.
“Okay, bro.” He walks around the counter towards me with the sandwich. “Have this. I’m gonna make another.”
I offer him a small smile. “Thanks.”
