Page 33 of Skin In the Game (The BlackWater)

Brandon and Cole both shook their heads.

“How injured is she?” Brandon asked.

“Looks like they made her OD. Think it was meant to look like suicide. Won’t know for sure till she gets to the hospital.”

“Will she live?” Cole asked.

“Depends what they stuffed her with.”

“Did you detain the hostiles?” Brandon asked.

“Negative. They were long gone before we got in.”

“For fucks sake.” Cole said looking across at Brandon as he put the radio down.

“Come on. Let’s get to St.Mark’s. We’ll meet them there.” Brandon said.

“What the fuck does this girl know?” Cole asked. She had to know something because why else would they have gone to all this length to involve her. It just didn’t make sense.

They sat in the back of the car. Brandon taking calls and Cole flicking through his phone, checking up on his other companies. BlackWater wasn’t the only thing on his mind, he had other businesses, other priorities that needed his focus.

“We’ve got an issue with the Blue Finn merger.” He muttered and Brandon looked across at him.

“What issue?”

“Shareholders kicking up a stink, directors not playing ball. The usual shit when you’re in the midst of a takeover.” Cole stated.

“You think it’s turning hostile?”

Cole shrugged. “Potentially. They were the ones that initiated it though. They wanted to sell, don’t know what the issue is now beyond their own egos and inability to value themselves at a fair market price.”

Brandon snorted before looking out at the usual throng of city traffic. He hated the tube, hated the busyness of it, the sweat of people and the fact that everyone was right there up against you but times like these made him at least consider taking public transport. He smirked, wondering what people would say if they saw the Head of BlackWater riding the underground like a normal working man, like he had a normal office job, a normal life, with normal concerns.

Traffic was shit and by the time an accident had cleared and they got to the hospital it had been over an hour since they’d taken the call.

They walked in and took the first lift. Men were already on the door outside her room and they’d messaged ahead with the details.

“I swear I’m gonna beat this girl’s arse.” Cole muttered and Brandon looked at him.

“Sounds like she’s already had a good beating today.”

“Then I’ll give her another.” Cole said as the lift doors opened.

They walked out, Cole ahead and then Brandon. They’d had her put in a private room, two men on the door outside and agents along the corridor too. There was no way in hell there would be another attempt under their watch.

“What’s the latest?” Brandon asked the man to the right of the door.

“They gave her phenobartbitual. She’s had her stomach pumped. She should be fine apart from the obvious tube they stuck down her throat to get it all up.”

“Great.” Cole said. “Is she awake?”

The man shrugged. “Haven’t heard a peep from her since the doctor left.”

“That makes a change.” Cole muttered before opening the door and looking in. The bed was empty and he frowned. There was no way she could of gotten past the two guards and the window was sealed shut as well as being far to high up for her to escape from. He looked around seeing the drip stand in the far corner and the round tub chair turned at a funny angle next to it so that the back was facing them.

He walked in, Brandon beside him and looked over. She was curled up, small, ball like, with her knees right up by her chin in the base of the chair. Asleep.

“Sleeping like a baby.” Brandon muttered.

She opened her eyes and sprang up to face them both sending the drip stand flying before grabbing it and holding it still. Her heart was thumping, her adrenaline was thumping too and she could hear her own breath sharp and quick.

She was like a wild animal, a wild cat, Cole thought, full of rage, full of fire and begging to be trained. He looked at her in the baggy hospital gown and she glared back at them both.

“How you feeling?” Brandon asked and she swallowed, flinching at the sharpness in her throat from where the tube had been.

“I’ve been better.” She said quietly.

“Do you understand what happened today?” Cole asked.

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