Page 72 of Hell House
CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
Pierce
Looking down at Salem in the hospital issue bed on the infirmary wing has me pacing back and forth with anxiety. They’d diagnosed her with dehydration and dismissed her wounds as an unfortunate run in with the foliage.
The nurse had the audacity to claim that she was intoxicated. I knew she hadn’t drunk a drop of alcohol the whole night, so that theory was utter bullshit. They wanted this wrapped up in a tidy little bow, no fuss made for the important alumni that still graced our shores.
Normally they wouldn’t disclose anything about a patient’s condition to anyone but family, but I was a motherfucking Ledger and money talks. If my father taught me anything, it’s that everyone has a price.
Salem shifts, obviously uncomfortable in her bandages. Fuck. I feel helpless to do anything but be right here. I wrack my hands down my face, slapping the sides to stay awake. I’d been up all night, not letting myself take my eyes off her for a second. Other than when she was carted off by the on-staff doctor and nurses, I’d been plastered to her side, waiting for those jade green eyes to open. I was desperate for those lips to tell me to fuck off.
Fuck, this was torture. I’d never been this out of mind for someone before and I wasn’t sure I liked it. I was supposed to use her, the same I’d done to girls before. Why her? Of all the women I could fall for, it had to be Salem Knox. No matter how much I try to fight my feelings, I end up coming back for more.
“Anything?” Walker says handing me a cup of black coffee and sets down a bag of clothes he got from Skye for Salem to change into.
I shake my head grateful for the jolt of caffeine. “Did you find anything.”
“No. Unless you want to count a drunk Emmet.”
“Emmet was out there?”
“Yeah. Seemed pretty wasted too. If I hadn’t caught him, he might have gone right over the edge of the cliff.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah.”
We stand there sipping our coffees, staring down at Salem.
“She looked so scared.” Walker whispers.
I swallow a hard lump, ashamed I drove her to want to arrive and leave alone.
“Pierce?” Salem croaks out. “Walker?”
“We’re right here, wildcat.” Walker grabs her hand, and she squeezes her fingers around him blinking up in confusion.
“What happened? Why is my back on fire? Wait. Where am I?”
“You’re in the hospital wing.” Walker says squeezing her hand he’s still holding.
She sits up abruptly with a wince. “Woah, baby. Lay down. You’ve got about fifty stitches in your back.” I go over to the head of her bed, helping her lay back down careful not to spill my coffee all over her.
“Do you want to tell us what happened? When we found you, you were shaking with fear.” Walker asks, rubbing her arm. I feel a flare of jealousy at seeing him touch her, but I shove it away. The most important thing is she’s okay and finding whatever dead man did this to her.
“I…. I was walking down the path, but it felt like someone was following me. You know that feeling? Well, then I heard their steps behind me, but I couldn’t see them.” She breathes in wincing. “I was almost to the house when I felt someone swipe at my back with claws.”
I catch Walker’s quick look at me. We hadn’t seen anyone but that didn’t mean that someone didn’t attack her. Those woods were dense. Perfect for getting lost in. Or hiding.
“Oh, good you’re up.” A nurse chimes as she rolls in a cart. “Now I need you two to scoot I have to check on Ms. Knox’s dressings.”
“When will she be able to come home?” I ask.
“She should be cleared later today. Now shoo.”
Walker and I leave the room. “I’m going to head back to the house, get her set up somewhere more comfortable.” I nod my agreement, determined to wait outside this door until the nurse is finished.
I finish my coffee tossing the cup and check my drained phone. They really ought to keep chargers up here. I make a mental note to bring it up with the head of this department.
