Page 24 of Sinner's Storm

“I’ve given Harlow something to sleep through the night. We knew seizures were a possibility. I’m going to have the chief of neuro come down and check her out. While I’m optimistic she is fine, I still want his professional opinion. Malice, why don’t you take Delany to the cafeteria? She hasn’t eaten anything in days.”

“I want to stay with her,” I whispered.

“Delany, you are going to collapse if you don’t get some sleep and food in you. You’ve been by her side for a week. You haven’t left this room. You are no good to Harlow if you get sick, too.”

“I’ll stay with her,” a gruff voice said as I watched the big lumberjack of a man pull up a chair and sit next to my daughter. The man was in his late sixties, for sure, with salt and pepper hair. Wearing jeans and a black henley, I didn’t need to ask who he was.

He was one of Jason’s friends.

“Let’s go,” the man holding me said, giving me no choice but to follow him as he grabbed my hand and escorted me from the room.

Following, I said nothing when he led me down to the cafeteria, grabbing a tray and loading it down with so much food I knew there was no way in hell I was going to eat it all. After paying for everything, he walked me over to a table and pointed to a chair.

Sitting, I stared at the tray.

I thought it odd.

Everything on that tray looked good, but I felt no desire to eat. I couldn’t remember the last time I was hungry, or tired, for that matter.

Reaching for the apple on the tray, the man leaned back in his chair, taking a bite as he looked at me. I didn’t know what to make of the man, but I found him oddly comforting. Covered in tattoos, on the outside the man looked menacing, a danger to society, but anyone with half a brain could tell by looking into his eyes he was a good guy.

“Thank you for the food.”

“Thank me after you eat something.”

“Not sure I can.”

He nodded, taking another bite of the apple. “Can’t help your kid, if you can’t help yourself.”

Sighing, I looked around the cafeteria. Visitors ate, smiled, laughed, talked with others as if they had no clue my world was crumbling around me.

“She’s going to make it.”

Facing the big man, I asked, “How do you know?”

He shrugged his big shoulders and muttered, “Just do. Kids are resilient.”

“You know kids?”

He nodded. “Yep. Prefer them to adults.”

Reaching for the bowl of fruit, I picked up a slice of pear and ate it.

“You are friends with Jason, right?”

He huffed. “Storm.”

“Why do you call him that?”

“It’s his club name.”

“What do they call you?”

“Malice.”

“Not a very nice name,” I whispered before plopping a segment of orange into my mouth.

The man smirked. “It fits me.”