Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 73724 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73724 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Cassia crawling to get to her sister.
Even though she begged me to save Eleni, there was nothing I could do.
Just like there was nothing I could do for Ronnie.
The memory of Ronnie’s body pinned beneath the bastard while foam was dribbling from the corner of her parted lips ravages my already destroyed soul.
My legs almost give way, and I place my hand on the side of the bed for support.
I’m surprised when Cassia’s fingers stir, and the knuckle of her pointer finger brushes against the side of my pinky. My eyes flick to her face, but not seeing any other signs that she’s coming to, I let out a sigh.
For some reason I can’t explain, I pull the armchair closer and take a seat beside the bed.
The bratva wiped out her family, and she kept going with three bullet wounds. Not even the fourth one took her out. She still crawled to her sister.
Flashes of when Cassia saved Santiago and Dominik flit through my mind, and my eyes narrow on the woman who’s much stronger than she looks.
My eyes drift over her face. Her pale complexion makes her seem fragile, and I catch myself doing something weird by taking hold of her hand.
Her skin is ice cold, so I lift my other hand and rub my palm up and down her arm.
She’s freezing.
I tuck her arm beneath the white sheet and adust the fabric around her before I get up to go look for Jasmine, the nurse.
Finding the woman at a nursing station, I ask, “Where do you keep the blankets?”
Her eyebrows lift as she gestures to a room behind her. “Do you need one?”
“Just give me two,” I order.
She pops into the room, and a few seconds later, she returns with two blankets, which she hands to me.
I head to Eleni’s room and place one of the blankets on the armchair while I cover her with the other. As I tuck the fabric in around the girl, my mind plays tricks on me, and for a split second, I see Ronnie lying with a breathing tube.
“Ronnie,” I whisper, my heart stuttering in my chest.
When I blink again, it’s to see Eleni, and I step away from the bed while sucking in a deep breath. Swinging around, I grab the other blanket and rush back to Cassia’s room.
As I’m draping the blanket over her, she lets out a soft groan, but when she doesn’t move or open her eyes, I start to get worried.
Hurrying out of the room, I head to the nurses' station, and as the woman lifts her head, I gesture with a jab of my thumb over my shoulder. “Cassia just groaned. I think she’s in pain.”
The nurse shakes her head as she accompanies me back to the room. “She’s probably starting to come to. She’ll be in and out of it for a while.”
“How long is a while?” I ask, my tone too harsh.
“It can be anything from a few hours to a couple of days. It’s different for every person.”
The nurse checks the machines before she leans over Cassia and taps her cheek. “Miss Dimitrou? Can you hear me?”
Cassia suddenly makes a gagging sound, and it has me darting forward while snapping, “Remove the fucking tube. She’s choking.”
“Sir, you have to calm down,” the nurse orders with a stern voice. “Wait outside while I see to the patient.”
I tilt my head, a tremor shuddering through my body as I level the woman with a look of warning. “I’m staying right here.”
Fear creeps into her eyes, but then Cassia groans again, and the sound draws our attention to her.
“Cassia?” Jasmine murmurs. “Can you open your eyes?”
My hands fist at my sides, but then I cross my arms over my chest, my body tense because the nurse isn’t working quickly enough for my liking.
Cassia’s lashes start to flutter, and when she gags again, I rub a frustrated hand over my face.
Thankfully, Jasmine starts to remove the breathing tube, but the sounds coming from Cassia have me clenching my teeth.
The sight of Ronnie foaming around the mouth hits me hard, and when the gruesome image passes, I find myself right next to Cassia’s bed, her hand gripped tightly in mine while ragged breaths rush from me.
The nurse checks Cassia’s vitals again, then she smiles at her patient. “Your breathing is normal, and your vitals look good. I’m just going to go call the doctor so he can come check on you.”
I’m given a cautious look as she leaves the room, and through a window that looks out into the hallway, I see her quickly hurry away. When I turn my eyes back to Cassia, it’s to see her drowsily looking at me.
“E-Eleni?” The word is hoarse and weak.
I gesture with a nod toward the window, and my tone is too harsh as I mutter, “She’s in another room.”