Page 64 of Finding a Melody

“I’m so glad you’re okay,” she continued. “I swore these guys were going to get themselves killed just trying to get here. And I haven’t been able to peel them off you since. But seriously, they need to head home.” Her nose curled. “Some of them are stinky. They’re already pushing it with the hospital admin. And you, Cadence, need rest. Which I doubt you’ll get with them all shoved into this small room, taking all your air.” She sent that glower at all of them this time, making them all sit straight, looking like they were in trouble.

I laughed at that, how she so easily kept them in line. Made me more curious about who this powerhouse of a woman was. She really wasn’t going to take bullshit from anyone, it seemed. “Go shove yourselves into my car so I can drop you all off.”

“I have my car,” Bryan said. “I can drive.”

“Well at least my car won’t look like a clown car when you all get out. Get going. Seth, go back to your room. I’ll stop by in a few.”

Seth sat up straight, looking like he wanted to argue, but Laura just gave him a look that kept him silent.

“Go.” She kept glaring until every one of them scrambled out the door, but not before saying goodbye to me. Once everyone but her was out, she turned to me.

I stiffened, not sure what to say or do with her. Her smile softened and she took a chair next to me. “How are you feeling?” she asked, grabbing my hand and rubbing it. “Your hands are cold, you’ll have to work on your circulation more.”

I gaped at her. What did she want from me? Why was she still here? And acting like this? She saw my expression and her smile dimmed as she let me go. “Sorry. I’m so used to taking care of people that sometimes I go too far.”

“N-no, that’s okay,” I said.

“It isn’t. Boundaries. Justin is always warning me about them.” She cleared her throat and leaned back. “I won’t stay much longer, I just wanted to let you know that if you need something, let me know. What happened to you...” She shook her head. “I was on duty when that call came in.” She blinked hard. “It didn’t click right away, but it didn’t take long to realize Seth was involved. It nearly tore my heart out. I care for all those boys. They’re all like sons to me. And I can see they care for you.” She stood up, blinking furiously. “I’m glad this ended well, and whatever that was... whatever reason behind that attack... I hope it’s resolved quickly. Otherwise, you or even those boys won’t be pushed in here on a stretcher. Take care of yourself. Please. Some of them have lost too much already.”

“I don’t plan to die any time soon,” I said in a soft voice.

“But isn’t that what everyone says? No one ever knows when their ending is coming.” She sighed and flicked her hair behind her shoulder, trying to keep herself together. She cleared her throat. “Get some rest.” Then she left me staring after her.

I was dozing when Seth came back in a little later, moving slowly as he sat down and sighed. “Hopefully Laura didn’t scare you? She can be intense, but she has one of the biggest hearts I know.”

“No. She wasn’t scary at all.” I smiled at him, still puzzled over Toby’s aunt.

Seth snorted. “Get some sleep. I’ll harass the doctors about letting you free. Otherwise, we’re breaking you out of here.” I stared at him, wondering if what he said was true. Would he really bug the doctor to let me leave?

“I will,” Seth said, reading my expression. “I know there’s a cop outside to watch over you, but frankly, it doesn’t feel safe here.”

“You think you can protect me at your place?” I asked.

Seth broke out in a grin and leaned forward, running his hand down my hair. I drew comfort from his touch as his smile softened as he looked down at me. “I like that you thought of my place right away,” he whispered.

My cheeks heated, not even realizing that I’d done that. It was sad that I considered his place more like a home than I did my own house.

“Go to sleep,” he said and leaned forward, pressing his lips against my forehead. “I’ll be here when you wake up.”

I nodded and closed my eyes, not even aware how tired I was. I wanted to feel safe, I really did, but even as I began dozing, I could still hear my scream, taste my fear, and feel the truck squishing in on me.

Chapter Twenty-One

I was trying to stretch my legs while sitting on the edge of the hospital bed. A lot of me still hurt, and being so inactive for so long was driving me insane. As soon as the sun was up, the doctors were in here, running more tests, checking for any additional spinal damage, and everything else they were able to toss my way. Dr. Hadaway had not been happy when she realized I was in the hospital. At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if she thought I searched danger out or something.

After all their tests came back, word got back to me that I was being discharged. So I was more than ready to run out the door. Or by the wheelchair sitting in the corner of the room, wheel myself out of here. A nurse had given me all my belongings, including my purse, while going through the whole bit of taking care of myself and all that. I dug through my things, making sure I had everything on me that I needed and nothing had gotten lost.

A white card was tucked in with my measly cash. Roman Davies. That caught my attention. He said he freelanced with the police, right? He had connections and means to fight against the Ryders. Did that mean he could keep my friends safe? Maybe he had a better idea of protection than just having the police swing by periodically. All the Ryders had to do was wait the police out and attack at the right time. And if they were the ones who broke into my house, then they definitely knew where I lived.

More and more I didn’t feel safe about going home. And they’d double their attack, right? Now that the police were involved.

I grabbed my phone and realized that Micah had been trying to get ahold of me all day.

“Shit.”

Cadence: Hey, sorry I didn’t get back to you sooner.

Micah: Are you okay? I didn’t see you in school.