Page 14 of Mercy (The Sins Trilogy 3)
I go back to the paramedics who are dealing with Ivy.
“Tony. I don’t want to go,” she says, reaching for my hand. She’s too cold and clammy, her face pinched with shock and fear.
“I know, but you have to. They need to make sure you aren’t hurt.”
“I don’t feel hurt. And I really don’t like hospitals.”
I swallow the bitter knot in my throat, feeling like the biggest failure in the world. She shouldn’t have to go to a fucking hospital. She should’ve never known the terror of tonight.
“You don’t feel anything right now because you’re in shock,” I explain. “It’s best you get checked out to make sure.”
She opens her mouth, then sighs. “Okay.”
I kiss her knuckles, grateful she’s giving in. I’d hate to fight with her when she just returned to me this morning, but I’d drag her by her hair to the hospital if I had to. “Bobbi’s going too.” I kiss her cold fingers. “You’ll be okay. I promise.”
“How about you?”
“I’m riding with you.” There’s no way I’m letting her out of my sight.
The Escalade is a mess, and not at all drivable. Julie takes the suitcase out.
“My assistant Wei is going to be here to pick it up,” I say.
She nods. “I’ll make sure he gets it.”
I have Ivy lie down—her pasty complexion is freaking me out. The ambulance is silent on the way to the hospital. The paramedics decided it’s better to drive normally, since it’s not a dire medical emergency. I wish they’d go faster anyway, so I can be sure there’s nothing wrong with Ivy. At least the hospital is close, and the roads are relatively empty.
Holding her hand, I call Wei and give him Julie’s number so he can get directions from her. Then I tell him to have TJ meet us at the hospital. With Bobbi needing to be looked at as well, I need someone else I can trust to keep Ivy safe.
I stare at a name on my contact list. I haven’t called in any favors from this particular individual, but as soon as Ivy’s with her medical team, I’m going to have a chat.
When the ambulance pulls in at the hospital, uniformed nurses are ready for us. Ivy’s complexion turns slightly greenish, and I squeeze her hand. “It’s fine. They’ll make sure you’re all right.”
“Okay.” Her voice is small and shaky.
My heart breaking at the thin, slightly panicked tone, I place a kiss on the crown of her head. “TJ’s going to be here soon. I promise you, you’ll be protected. Nobody’s going to hurt you.”
I watch her go with the nurses.
One approaches me. “You need to get checked out too,” she says.
I start to tell her I’m fine, then stop. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with me, but that’s being arrogant. I could have an internal injury too, and I’m not letting it kill me. “Sure. Let me make one call.”
The chief of police—Jim Womack. Even though I’ve been disowned, I’m still my parents’ son. And they always made sure that law enforcement was on their side. Enough that Sheriff Wentworth lied to the public about who really killed Katherine.
I doubt Jim would ever lie for me. The man has too much integrity. But he’ll repay some favors owed, especially when they benefited his officers.
“Sorry to bother you so late at night on Saturday, Jim, but it’s urgent,” I say.
“Anthony, what is it?”
He’s calm but alert. I’ve contributed a great sum of money over the years for scholarships for police children, special funds for the families of his fallen officers and various other causes. But I’ve never once called in a favor. He understands this is no ordinary circumstance.
I explain the situation. “I would never ask if it were just me, but it’s my fiancée. I can’t let anything happen to her. I want to know who was in that damned car, how it was able to get inside a gated complex and try to run us over. And I want that bastard buried six feet under a jail.”
“You sure you aren’t the target?” he asks.
I wish. My enemies are too civilized for such blunt threats. They’re more into fucking up my deals or trying to copycat my clubs and steal business ideas. “No. It’s her.”
“Okay. An ex or a stalker?”
“Not an ex. Don’t know about a stalker, but I doubt it.”
“No other motive you can think of?”
“No. But I’ll call immediately if I do.”
“All right. I promise you, we’ll do everything we can to bring whoever it is to justice. And my line’s always open.”
I wish an arrest had already been made, but this is the best I’m going to get tonight. “Thanks, Jim.”
