Stoking the Fire (Salus Security #1) - Teodora Kostova Page 0,78
saying while I’ve been dealing with my anxious thoughts.
“What’s wrong? Do you want more syrup?”
He reaches for the maple syrup, but I shake my head.
“It’s perfect,” I say, a lump forming in my throat.
The pancakes he’s made are light and fluffy, drizzled with syrup and topped with blueberries and powder sugar.
“Share?”
Alec grabs a fork with eagerness I haven’t anticipated, and we dig in.
“Okay,” I say through a mouthful of pancakes. “You do make the best pancakes. I’ll give you that.”
He grins at me, so childishly full of glee that it makes my heart squeeze in my chest.
We stare at each other over a plate of perfect pancakes, and I feel this is it. This is the moment I tell him how I feel. And if he rejects me… I’ll be crushed. So fucking crushed I don’t know if I’ll be able to pick myself up again.
But I have to tell him.
“Hey,” Alec says, gently tilting my chin with a finger. “What’s wrong?”
Just tell him, you fucking coward.
“I…” I begin, not sure how to continue. “I need to tell you something.”
My heart’s about to explode in my chest. I can’t do this…
“What is it, Zach?” he asks, worry shadowing his eyes.
My mouth opens on its own, the words about to tumble out.
And then his phone rings.
I’ve never heard his phone ring since we got here. He usually called every evening to get an update, but the phone he always keeps in his pocket never rings.
I stare at it, frozen in place, my heartbeat too loud in my ears. Alec’s jerky movement attracts my attention, and my gaze follows him as he digs in his pocket and brings out the still-ringing device.
“What is it?” he says briskly, his tone shaking me out of my stupor.
It’s Alec’s official voice, the one he adopts for others or when shit’s about to go down.
“Status?”
He’s avoiding meeting my eyes, speaking in short sentences that give nothing away. My heart keeps thundering in my chest, fear washing over me like a cold bucket of water.
“I understand,” Alec says, his eyes finally meeting mine. “I’ll get back to you.” He ends the call and places the phone on the counter between us.
“What is it?” I ask, my voice small and anxious.
Placing his palms on the counter, Alec hangs his head, exhaling a loud puff of air.
“I have some bad news.”
“No kidding!” As anxious as I am, I’m getting agitated. “What is it, Alec? Is it Evie?”
I watch him, eagerly awaiting the shake of his head that’s surely going to deny it.
It never comes.
“What’s wrong with Evie?” I ask, jumping off the stool and rounding the counter to stand next to him. “Fucking tell me, Alec.”
Oh god, this can’t be happening. Not again. Flashes of memory keep jumping to the forefront of my mind, of another time I got a call that my sister had been in an accident.
We don’t know yet if she’ll make it.
The next twenty-four hours are critical.
She may never walk again.
I rub at my temples, forcing the memories to subside. “Alec…” It’s a command, a plea, a desperate question.
“There was a complication from the surgery,” he finally says, turning to face me.
I stare at him, uncomprehending. “But the surgery was last week! She’s been back home for days!”
Alec places both his hands on my shoulders. “She’s developed an infection and was rushed to the hospital earlier today. She had another surgery and was given strong antibiotics, and as of right now, her status is stable. The doctors are confident she’ll make a full recovery within a few days.”
“Confident, huh? Why doesn’t that make me feel any better?” I brush Alec’s hands off and stomp toward the bedroom. “It was supposed to be her last surgery,” I say, voice shaking as I remember how hopeful Evie had been that she’d finally be on the last stretch of recovery. “They were confident about that, too.”
I open the closet, taking out my bag and throwing it on the bed.
“Zach, stop.”
Alec walks into the room, his voice carrying a command I find hard to ignore.
But I do. Brushing past him, I yank my clothes from the hangers and start throwing them in the bag.
“My sister’s life is in danger, Alec. Do you seriously expect me to just stay here and forget about it?” I whirl on him, ready to unleash all my anger and frustration.
“No. I do not.”
Caught off guard by his answer, I stare at him, eyes wide.