The Order: Hit and Run by Emma Cole Page 0,49

I can escape in just a couple minutes.

When we enter the living room the rest of the guys are piled on the couch, food laid on in to-go containers on the coffee table. Ash starts to get up, to greet me or let me have his seat, I’m not sure which, but I wave him back down.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I’m beat and would like to take my dinner to my room if you all don’t mind.” I’m being polite, but it’s not really a request. "I have physical therapy tomorrow if you guys want to work out who has room in their schedule to go with me. Let me know in the morning please." Avoiding their concerned stares, I pick up a box Ash points out and go to my room.

Jaeger is waiting on me, having taken my bag to my room for me. "You sure you're okay?" At my nod he makes to leave, then pauses with his back to me. "I'll take you tomorrow, but it'll postpone us getting a meeting for another day." He doesn't turn so I have to verbally answer him.

"It's fine, Jag. I do want to make a visit at the facility above the PT department tomorrow, so if you have something to do in the city, I'll be a couple of hours."

Softly, he answers, "That's fine," and opens the door. He pauses again, partially turning this time, with his mouth turned down. "You know you can't say anything, right?" He seems almost ashamed to have to bring it up.

"I know, no worries, Jaeger. No one would believe me anyway." I shrug at the pity he directs at me. "Is what it is, goodnight, Jag." He leaves but he drags his feet doing it.

It isn't a secret that Damien's family, and mine, had tried to say I was making things up when Damien wouldn't leave me alone. Then after the wreck his attorneys had tried to use my PTSD against me. Admittedly I've had several bad days, but who wouldn't in my shoes?

When Jaeger finally closes my door, I snatch my phone out of my bag and lock myself in the bathroom, dialing the number as I sit on the closed toilet lid. It rings twice before a woman answers it.

"Centennial Care Center, how may I direct your call?"

"This is Cordelia Shultz and I'm returning a call to Debbie Higgins, she left a message about my husband."

"Just one moment, please." Jazzy elevator music pipes through the line as I'm out on hold and I will Debbie to hurry and pick up.

It's probably less than a minute, but thoughts of every worst-case scenario runs through my head until the line is picked back up.

"Cordelia?" comes the familiar tones of Debbie's voice.

"Yes, it is. You called about, Kael? Is he okay?" I suck my bottom lip in, worrying at it with my teeth until she answers.

"He is now, yes. He gave us a scare earlier this afternoon, his blood pressure bottomed out and he had a mild seizure. The doctor on-call couldn't find any reason for it and has sent for tests to be completed." Tears well in my eyes that I hadn't been there, and that I'm still stuck here now. "Neither symptom lasted long and we're taking his vitals continuously, and will continue to do so over the next few days. Do you want me to clear you with the security guard downstairs?"

Voice raspy with emotion, I have to decline, and it kills me. "I'm too far out to make it tonight, but I'll be there tomorrow, early. Will you call me if anything else happens? No matter the time."

"Yes, of course dear. Like I said in the message there was a mix up. We have several new day staff and they must have updated your number in the computer by accident. I had to get it out of his physical chart when I got in tonight."

"Thank you, I appreciate it. And it's all fixed now?" It's not her fault and I'm trying hard not to take it out on her, but still want to make sure they have the correct information on hand.

"I did it myself and have personally spoken with the staff who were on shift about charting accurately. We'll take good care of him until you get here." She doesn't sound impatient, but I'm sure I'm not her only priority— and I definitely don't want to take her away from checking on Kael.

"Thanks again, Debbie." I hang up