Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 89878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
“Mom—”
“Enough, Lettie.”
A nurse enters the room. “Morning, everyone. I hate to do this, but I’m going to need you all to step out. I have to change her dressings.”
Instinctively, I bark, “Everyone out!”
Maribel turns to the nurse. “I would like to stay if that’s okay. She’s my daughter.”
“Of course.”
“I need to make some calls. I’ll give you your privacy.” I exit the room and dial Craig.
“I just got a visit from the detective. Gave him everything he needed. Heads up, though. There’s strange activity going on at the Hallstead estate. We might have a runner. Going over there to check it out now.”
“Not shocked she’s trying to save herself.”
“Also, Vince may have had the ledger, but it wasn’t on him when they brought his body in. What do you want me to do about that?”
“Nothing. I don’t give a fuck about it.”
“You sure? Might be why Veronica is in a hurry to skip town.”
“I’m sure. I need another favor. Can you look into Maribel Price’s medical records and find out everything you can about her cancer and prognosis?”
“Got it.”
Chapter thirty-one
Georgia
Three days later…
Beep. Beep. Beep.
A piercing alarm shrills inside my head. I want to make it stop but can’t figure out where it’s coming from. I try to open my eyes, but it’s as if my brain isn’t connected to my body. Jesus, make it stop. Every sharp beep grates against my skull. I feel like I’m going to be sick. I try to speak, but my tongue is sandpaper stuck to the roof of my mouth. A shallow breath escapes me, but the pain at the simple task sears through me. A ragged cry expels from my lips.
“Holy shit—someone help! She’s awake! Georgie! Oh my God, Georgie!”
My sister’s voice. Why do I hear my sister’s voice? “Let…” My throat burns. “I… I…”
“What’s wrong? I don’t know what you need. Do you need water? Help! Of course, everybody leaves for two seconds, and you decide to wake up.”
“Why are you screaming? Oh, fuck.”
Noah.
“Noah… stop. Make it stop.” My voice sounds unfamiliar to me.
“Stop what, George? Anything. Tell me what you need.”
“The beeping. Make the beeping stop.” Why does my throat feel like it’s on fire?
“I don’t know how to do that—”
“Jesus, are you crazy? Don’t unplug the machines, you dimwit!”
“I don’t know how to make it stop!”
The shouting slices through my head, each word like a dagger plunging into my forehead. What is happening? Where am I? I blink. The lights are blinding.
“Where am I?”
“Oh, honey!” My mother appears, and she bursts into tears.
“Mom?”
Why is my mom here? Why does everything hurt?
“Oh, honey, we’ve been so worried.”
“Why? Why have you been worried? Why are you here?” I’m in so much pain. I choke on a sob, making the pain worse. “Mom, help me. What’s happening?”
“Honey, you need to calm down. You were in an accident.”
“An accident? How?” I look around the room, frantic for answers.
“Okay, everyone, let’s take a step back.” A man’s voice. I can’t make out his face. “Hey, Georgia. I’m Dr. Phillips. We’ve been waiting for you to wake up.”
“Wake up from what? Where am I?”
“You’re at Chicago General Hospital. You were in a pretty bad accident. I know it’s hard, but I’m going to ask you to try to lie still so I can do some neuro tests. Can you do that?”
“My head. It hurts so bad. The beeping—make it stop.”
“I can do that.” He leans over and adjusts the machine, and I let out a cry of relief.
I glance back at my sister, her face buried in my mom’s shoulder, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her sobs shake her small frame, and the sight sends a pang of panic through my chest. Why does Mom look so frail? My gaze shifts, and I spot Noah standing behind them. His eyes are red, his face streaked with tears.
Then I catch movement in the doorway. Jackson’s eyes spear into mine, blazing with a mix of dominance and desperation. He looks utterly shattered.
“What did I do?”
“You didn’t do anything, baby girl.” She strokes my hair back, and the tears come without warning. The pain intensifies, and the tears fall harder.
“Georgia, I’m gonna need you to take a breath, okay?” That’s impossible. Each breath catches in my throat, and I choke on my own sobs.
“What are you giving her?” That comes from Noah.
“Morphine to help her relax. She’s becoming agitated, and this upset is not good for her recovery.”
I cry out. “Mom, is this a dream? Is this a bad dream?”
Tears fall down her pale face. “No, baby. I need you to close your eyes and get some rest. We’ll be here when you wake up, I promise you.”
“I don’t want to go back to sleep. Mom, please don’t make me. I don’t understand what’s... happening…”
The buzzing gradually fades, and my body starts to go numb. I close my eyes, trying to take a breath, and sink deeper into the darkness.