rolled his eyes before he stuck the straw back into his mouth. “By the way, you talk in your sleep.”
Chapter Fourteen
Sloane
I’d spent the last ten days working inside these hospital walls, and for all ten days I’d been listening to the endless banter between Mark, John, and Mike. Mark’s favorite thing was when John would wake from a nap. He’d jam that stupid Furby in his face and watch him jump. I couldn’t wait for that toy to disappear, but they seemed to know where it was at all times.
They were such great friends, and it warmed me to hear them keeping up John’s spirits, toy or no toy. But Keith and Cole, on the other hand, were a lot less chatty. I didn’t blame them. While the guys joked and carried on, those two had been in constant communication with Frank and North Rock. Things were not good.
Sue refused to let Daniel work, and the poor man was going crazy. I knew he’d soon start crawling the walls. I felt bad for him, but I understood his health was much more important right now. Sue was on him like a cat on a light beam if he so much as moved.
“Excuse me.” The day nurse scrunched her face in an apology as she once more needed me to move. It was probably for the sixth time today.
“I’m sorry.” I lifted my laptop and shimmied out of the way. Daniel reached out and tugged me to him.
“I will give you a twenty if you share an update with me, anything at all.”
I laughed and shook my head. He was like a caged animal dying to be let loose, and I felt for him.
“I’m sorry, Daniel.” But I tilted my head at Sue, who was pretending to read but really watching us. “She will have my head if she thinks, for one minute, I’ve given you food for thought, any kind of thought.” I smiled in sympathy at him.
I glanced over at Mark, who was trying to peek under John’s blanket. We watched as Mark got a punch in the shoulder for his effort, and then we laughed out loud at John’s outrage.
“Look, Daniel,” I patted his hand and whispered, “I promise if I find anything, I will sneak it to you when Sue isn’t around and you can help to find the answers. I know you know a lot more than I ever could about the cartel and how they work.” I saw his face relax a little. Typical Blackstone man. He needed to know he was in control of something, even if it was from a hospital bed.
“Damn right.” His shoulders relaxed back into the mattress. “I would appreciate that.”
“You have my word.”
The door swung open, and the doctor came in with a chart in his hand. He smiled at the room then immediately looked down at the chart once he took in the two sets of steely eyes directed at him in anticipation.
“As much as it’s been a pleasure having you all here.” He gave a pointed look to Mark, who hadn’t so much as taken a breath since he walked into the room. “Mr. Black, you are free to leave.”
John’s face lit up as he sucked in a deep breath of air. His gaze then latched on to mine.
“Free,” he mouthed.
“Ah,” Daniel cleared his throat, “what about me, Doctor?”
“Sorry, Mr. Logan.” He walked over to the bed, and Sue stood and joined him. “You will need to stay approximately another week. You simply aren’t ready for discharge yet.” He took a few minutes to update Daniel and Sue on his condition, ending with the need to be patient.
Once the doctor went over the paperwork with John and he got the green light to ship out, he took the time to give Daniel a little pep talk before the nurse pushed him out the door to freedom.
“Can you pop a wheelie?” Mark held the door for the nurse as they went into another hallway.
“Why are you still here?” John snickered but playfully swiped at him as they moved down the hall.
“Mia is visiting a friend downstairs.” Mark tucked his hands in his pockets as he strolled beside me. “So, I thought Sloane might need my help getting you ready.”
“How kind,” John grumbled.
I struggled to balance John’s bag, my work bag, and his paperwork. As soon as we got to the elevator, it dawned on me that I forgot my phone on the chair back in the room.