Empire High Betrayal (Empire High #3) - Ivy Smoak Page 0,11

to have her killed,” my dad said.

“Ah. Well, that would do it.”

I laughed because I didn’t know what else to do. Dr. Wilson didn’t have much of a reaction to the statement though. Why wasn’t he horrified? I swallowed hard. Oh. Because he was my dad’s doctor. He probably dealt with things like this all the time. Maybe even things like this that had happened because of Isabella.

He pulled the stethoscope down around his neck. “Your heart is racing right now. Are you nervous that I’m here?”

“No, I’m worried.” I turned to my dad. “I’m worried about Kennedy. Have you found her?”

“She’s safe. When Donnelley brought Isabella and Kennedy home, he pulled me aside right away and told me what happened. Isabella gave Kennedy a pretty strong sedative, and I was hoping she’d wake up before we had this conversation. Last I heard, she’s still unresponsive. But she’ll wake up soon.”

Dr. Wilson nodded. “I was just with her before I came here. I’m sure she’ll wake up in a few hours.”

I breathed a sigh of relief, suddenly even more tired. Kennedy was okay. She was safe.

My dad patted my knee, keeping his hand there to comfort me. “Right now all you need to know is that Miller is guarding her room. She’s perfectly safe. And I promise to tell you as soon as she wakes up.”

I tried to hide how relieved I was. Miller was safe. I’d been worried about him too, but I couldn’t ask my dad about him without raising suspicion. “And Isabella?”

“I’ll deal with her myself.” My dad looked back at Dr. Wilson, as if that was the end of the discussion.

Deal with her how?

“Is there anything we can do to make the panic attacks go away?” my dad asked.

“I’d rather start with preventative measures. Maybe you can start keeping a journal when you have panic attacks? Find out what’s leading you to…”

“It’s Isabella,” I said. “I can’t breathe when I think about what she’s planning. I’m scared all the time.”

My dad looked so defeated. “But we’ll keep a journal just in case. Yes, princess?”

I nodded. I didn’t want him to look so sad. And when he called me that, my chest ached a little less. “Yeah. I can do that.”

“Good, good.” Dr. Wilson pulled out some bandages from his bag. “I’m going to get you all fixed up.” He looked at the cut on the back of my ankle. “Actually that might need stitches. Let me take a better look.”

My dad held my hand as I got my stitches. And when I got my tetanus shot, he didn’t mind at all when I squeezed his hand so tight that it must have hurt.

“That should do it,” Dr. Wilson said as he placed the last bandage along the sole of my foot. “Try to take it easy the next few days. No stress.”

“That won’t be a problem,” my dad said. “She’ll be staying here for the foreseeable future.”

The foreseeable future? What did he mean by that? I had school on Monday.

“Very well. Make sure to keep that journal, Brooklyn. I’ll see myself out.” Dr. Wilson’s shoes echoed in the empty hall.

“Does it still hurt?” my dad asked.

I wasn’t sure what he was talking about specifically. My cuts? My heart?

But then he reached down and inspected the bandage on the back of my ankle.

I knew what he needed to hear. And I knew it would help if he heard the truth. “Everything hurts a little less now than it did before.”

He nodded, but he didn’t look reassured. “I thought I could protect you.” He lifted his hand away from my bandage and ran it down his face. “I never meant to put you in danger. You were safer without me.”

I’d never seen him like this. He was always so put together. But tonight? He just seemed…human. I liked this side of him a whole lot better. “I’m glad you found out about me.” I was just getting used to him. And I was a little sorry it had taken me so long. He was a good person. I could tell.

He cleared his throat and stood up. “You need to get some rest. And I have a few more things I need to take care of.”

“You’re not leaving, are you?”

He smiled down at me. “No, I’m not leaving.” He pulled the comforter back on the bed, holding it up for me to climb under.

Was he tucking me in? I wasn’t a kid anymore, but it warmed my heart. I