today. I have three amazing kids and a boyfriend who also has an amazing kid. I have more left on this earth to do before I bite the big one: more Halloweens, more cases with the Bourbon Street Boys, and more sex with Dev.
It’s time. Time to Hulk-out.
I slam the car into first gear, drop my foot like a brick onto the accelerator, and lift the clutch.
A roar worthy of the most awesome Incredible Hulk episode rips from my mouth, filling the interior of the car with echoes of my rage.
The warehouse door comes flying at me so fast, it’s like it has left its spot on the building to join me in my mission of destroying my car to gain my freedom.
“What the . . . ?!” my captor yells, just as we’re making impact.
The last thing I remember is a big, loud BOOM! . . . and then darkness.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Dev?” I wait. Nothing happens. “Dev, where are you?” I have the strangest sensation moving through me. I can’t feel my body exactly, but there are tingles. And wherever I am, it’s dark. I think Dev is here, or he should be, but I don’t see him. I don’t see anyone. Where am I? Why is it so dark? Ack! Please don’t let this be hell!
Something squeezes my hand, bringing me instant relief. I don’t need to panic. I’m not dead and I’m not about to meet Beelzebub himself. Dev is here. Nobody else has hands that damn big.
I feel myself smiling. It’s not without pain, though. My nose and head are killing me. “There you are,” I whisper. It’s the best I can do.
Something tickles my ear, and then his voice is there delivering warm puffs of air onto my neck. “I’m right here. I won’t leave you.”
“Why is it so dark in here?” I struggle to open my eyes. When I manage to crack them open just a bit, the light is so bright, I slam my lids shut again. “What the . . . ?”
“Take your time,” says a softer, female voice.
I tilt my head in her direction. “May?”
Somebody squeezes my left hand. “Yes, sweetie. It’s me. I’m right here with Dev.”
I attempt to open my eyes again. This time I have a little more luck with it. I manage to catch a glimpse of my very worried sister, before I have to give up again. This time I don’t give in to the darkness because of the bright light; I do it because opening my eyes takes too much effort, and I’m exhausted for some reason.
“Where am I?” I ask.
Dev answers. “You’re in the hospital.”
“My kids?”
“They’re fine.”
My brain drifts off for a little while; I’m not sure for how long. But then I remember something Dev said to me, and it makes me worry.
“Did you say hospital?” I force my eyes open.
Dev is leaning over me, concern marring his features.
I look at him and then at May. She’s been crying; her eyes are red-rimmed and puffy. “Are you okay?” I ask her.
She laughs with what looks like relief. “You’re asking me if I’m okay? You’re crazy.” She leans down and kisses me on the cheek. Then she tries to hug me, but I wince at the pain it causes. I hurt all over, but especially on my face.
“Ow.” I reach up and touch my forehead. There’s cloth there where there should be skin. I roll my eyes up to try to see my own face, catching a glimpse of something white. “What’s on my head?”
May takes my hand and pulls it away so that I’ll stop trying to touch my injuries. I notice out of the corner of my eye that there’s an IV stuck in the back of my hand.
“You were in a car accident. You hit your head on the steering wheel. The airbag failed to deploy.”
I frown. “Well. That sucks. Not part of my plan.”
Dev smiles. “You got lucky. You escaped with just a concussion, some bruised ribs, and a broken nose. Your passenger didn’t do so well.”
I search my memory for a passenger, but I’m coming up blank. I almost ask if my kids were passengers, but I know that’s not right. I wasn’t with my kids in the car when this happened. So, who was I with?
“Passenger?”
Dev and May exchange glances. The silence between us stretches.
Then a flash of memory hits me. This has something to do with Little Miss Kickass. “Is Toni okay?”
“Why do you ask?” May says.
My memory