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“Approximately fifteen minutes.”
“Why didn’t you wake me?”
Macht didn’t respond, and I didn’t ask a second time. He hadn’t. Did it matter why not? “Have we heard from Reaper about Verity’s condition?”
“Not yet, sir.”
I saw my mobile sitting on the tray table in front of me, picked it up, and rang Nemesis. The call went straight to voicemail. Next, I tried Reaper.
“I’ve just arrived at the hospital, Zep. No report yet.”
“Hurry the fuck up and get one,” I muttered before ending the call. “Someonehas to know her condition, for God’s sake.”
I wanted to scream in frustration. Instead, I called Magnet. “Where are you?” I barked when he picked up.
“Zep, you’re obviously out of surgery and making the lives of those around you miserable.”
“Don’t fuck around with me. Are you at the command center?”
“I am.”
“I need an update on Verity’s condition.”
“Nemesis should be in Dubai very soon if not already. She left as soon as she heard what happened. Took helicopter transport to Gatwick even.”
“Ask Ares if he’s heard anything from her.”
“I don’t need to ask. No one has yet.”
“Whatever you find out, let me know the minute you do.”
“Roger that, Zep. Before you hang up on me, how are you doing?”
“I was shot in the fucking leg. I sure as hell didn’t need to be brought to the hospital, nor did I need surgery.”
Right as I hit the button to end the call, I could hear Magnet chuckling.
“What?” I barked when Macht looked at me with a raised brow.
“You are right to say you didn’t need to be transported here, nor was surgery required. We could’ve let you die instead.”
“Sod off,” I muttered, closing my eyes again and wishing I could get the hell out of here and to the hospital where Verity was. I’d raise the bloody roof and wouldn’t relent until I got some answers.
I swung my legs around and attempted standing, but immediately fell back on the bed. I didn’t bother to look at Macht, who no doubt was smirking. I put my head in my hands. “I just want to know if she’s okay,” I said under my breath.
“I understand, sir. Everyone does. Believe me when I say everything that can be done to get the answers you seek is happening.”
“Not fucking fast enough.”
The door opened, and the nurse I’d seen earlier rushed inside. “What do you think you’re doing?” None too gently, she lifted my legs and swung them back on the bed.
“Ouch!” I yelped. “That wasn’t necessary.”
“It was, and you should’ve stopped him.” She pointed at Macht. “You’re to stay off this leg until the surgeon says otherwise. Unless, of course, you have a death wish.”
She raised the bed guard and stormed out of the room.
I rested my head against the pillow like I had to every few minutes. When I opened my eyes again, Nemesis was standing by the bed.