A Long Way Back (Unfinished Business #2) - Barbara Elsborg Page 0,82
had been here. He sighed with relief, then sucked in a breath at the pain in his chest, then winced at the further pain that action caused. Fuck! Not moving and only breathing gently helped, but he still hurt.
No way could he stay in here. Even if Tay hadn’t given them his name, they’d have found it from his bank card and entered it into the system. The police would want to speak to him. George, his offender manager, was probably salivating with glee and on his way. Carter might be too. George, Ink could cope with. Carter, he couldn’t.
The back of the bed had been raised and Ink was propped up. A bag hung next to the bed feeding a clear liquid into his arm. There were sticky pads on his chest. If he pulled them off, the nurses might come. Was he strong enough to walk? He needed to try. He swung his legs over the side of the bed. Jesus Christ that hurt. Where were his clothes? His phone?
“What are you doing?”
A male nurse appeared in front of him.
“I need my phone,” Ink croaked.
“Let’s get you back into bed.”
Ink didn’t protest. He’d found out one thing. He didn’t have the strength to leave. Not yet.
The nurse opened the bedside cupboard and handed Ink his phone. “You know where you are, right? University College Hospital. You’ve been stabbed twice, but you’re going to be fine. You’re quite the hero.”
“What?”
The nurse frowned. “Do you remember getting stabbed?”
For a moment, Ink hesitated. Could he get away with saying no? But the nurse continued as if Ink had answered.
“You’re all over YouTube and the TV. People were filming on their mobiles. The police will want to talk to you tomorrow. The press too, probably.”
Shit. “I don’t want to talk to the press.” Or the police.
“The press aren’t allowed in. Don’t worry. Nor the police until you’re well enough to talk to them.”
“Did people die?” Ink whispered.
“Probably fewer than would have done, if you’d not stepped forward.”
Ink wrapped his fingers around the T-shirt.
“Your brother came in and left that.”
Brother? Clever thinking, Tay. “I need to call him.” Go away.
“Do you want anything for the pain?”
“No thank you.” He did, but he needed a clear head.
“The doctor will talk to you tomorrow. No more trying to get out of bed. Press the button if you want anything.”
As soon as the nurse had gone, Ink called Tay. Shit, it’s two in the morning.
“Oh God,” Tay whispered.
“No, only me.”
“Fuck, fuck, fuck.”
“Good thing I’m not God. Your conversation skills need work.”
“Are you okay?”
“I will be, apparently. I currently feel like shit. I was really looking forward to that steak.” The effort of talking was exhausting, but Ink didn’t want Tay to worry. “I hope you ate something when you got home.”
“I had a sandwich.”
“What sort?”
“Shit, I didn’t feel like anything. I was… Oh fuck, I was so worried.”
“Hey, I’m fine. They’re letting me out tomorrow. Can you bring some clothes? I’m guessing mine are covered in blood. And bring a wide bandage too.”
“A what? What for?”
“I’ll tell you when you get here. In your chair. Soon as you can in the morning, right?”
“I looked online. Visiting isn’t till nine. And I’ll have to go and buy a bandage. What the hell do you want that for?”
“To gag you.”
“Hmm. I wish I was there with you now. I didn’t want to leave, but they don’t have guest beds. God, Ink, you… You could have been killed.”
“I had my trusty sword which I think I might have lost. Sorry.”
“I can manage with one crutch.”
“Good, but please come in your wheelchair tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
“Sorry I woke you.”
“I’m not. I miss you.”
Ink smiled. “See you tomorrow. ‘Night.”
“’Night.”
INK SLEPT FITFULLY. NURSES CAME and did stuff and left again, but in the morning, the IV drip was gone and so were the monitors. He was helped to the bathroom and though he wasn’t strong enough to walk out of there, they were going to transfer him to a less intensive ward that afternoon. A doctor examined him, explained what damage the stabbing had done and told Ink he was lucky. Take it easy for a while and he’d be fine.
Physically, maybe, he thought, but mentally, never, though that had nothing to do with what had happened at Covent Garden.
He fixed his gaze on the entry into the ward willing Tay to come. But when he caught sight of the visitor first through the doors, Ink slammed his eyes shut. If the monitor had still