Page 19 of Ravage (The Wellard Asylum #6)
B ringing Sloane to a regular hospital was worth the risk, although I know exactly what’s wrong with her; I also know what she needs to feel better.
Unfortunately, all those items are at the nearest hospital.
She’s been sleeping since we arrived, hooked up to various IVs pushing medication and fluids into her.
Nurses have been in and out the last few hours to check on her vitals.
Her fever has finally gone down, and her pulse has become normal again.
The nurse busted one of her veins while trying to take her blood, and I pushed her away and just did it myself.
They can fuck off with that legal shit. The doctor has yet to make an appearance, and that is what pisses me off the most.
I step outside of her room and come face to face with the doctor in question, whom I push right back out of the room. “Fucking finally, what took you so long?” His face is shocked, but only for a moment until his gaze grows angry.
“You have no right to talk to me like that, young man.” His berating words make me more irritated at the situation.
“Here’s how this is going to go,” I look down at his name tag to read his name before glancing back up at him.
“Dr. Collins. That girl in there is my fiancée, so you will listen closely. She has a severe mental disorder and takes things worse than they really are. A speck of dirt in the wrong spot is like the end of the world to her. That being said, you will go in there and tell her that she is just fine and allowed to go home, do you understand?” He looks at me like I have three heads and just stares at me baffled.
“Sir, you can’t just d—” I cut off his muttering with a wad of cash, two thousand dollars to be exact. He looks back and forth from my hand to my eyes before speaking, “Are you trying to pay me off?” His eyebrow rises in suspicion, but I know I have him hook, line, and sinker.
“Whatever you prefer to call it, Dr. Collins. Do we have a deal or not?” He thinks for a moment before grabbing the cash from my grip.
“I’m going to hell for this.” He says as he puts the money in his coat pocket.
He straightens his tie, and heads into Sloane’s room with me following closely behind.
Sloane is finally awake, sitting up in her hospital bed, drinking from a large plastic cup.
“Ah, you’re awake, Ms. Johnson. How are you feeling?
” Dr. Collins asks as he grabs her chart from the foot of her bed, flipping through the various pages.
Sloane lets out a chuckle before she speaks with a scratchy voice, “Do I really need to answer that, doctor? I’m in a hospital bed; obviously I’m not doing very well.” She ends her words with a roll of her eye, which has me suppressing a laugh of my own.
“Very well then, Ms. Johnson. I’ve gone over your labs and vitals several times, and nothing seems to be wrong. I’d say you just have a bout of the flu, and it should dissipate within the next few days.” He sets the chart back into the holder, and Sloane’s eyes harden.
“With all due respect, Doctor, I’ve had the flu many times before, and this does not feel the same. Something is wrong with me.” She crosses her arms over her chest, and her brows knit together.
“Ms. Johnson, I assure you that this is most definitely the flu. You are free to leave now. I will leave your discharge papers at the front desk. Feel better, miss.” He gives her a warm smile and turns to leave the room with me close behind.
I corner him down the hallway, and his expression is that of fear and annoyance.
“This will surely happen again, so how much will it cost me for you to keep quiet next time?” He thinks hard before he finally speaks.
“Five grand, and nothing will ever leave my lips about this situation.” I give him a nod and shake his hand.
“You have a deal.”
I walk back into the room to find Sloane looking absolutely defeated. “I don’t understand…” Her words are soft as they trail off with her thoughts. My legs bring me to the edge of her bed, where I take a seat on the uncomfortable mattress and grab hold of one of her cold hands.
“Everything will be okay; you probably just need some sleep.” I give her a reassuring smile, even though deep down I'm ecstatic that she's falling into my web.
“But Kole, I know th—” I cut her off because her arguing about this is just going to annoy me further.
“Stop, Sloane, you have the flu; you heard the doctor. Let’s get you home and some food into your system.
” She nods her head begrudgingly and shifts to move out of bed.
I help her up and help her out of the hospital gown and back into her street clothes.
“Ready?” She nods her head again, denying me her words which makes something go off inside my head, but I refrain from bringing it up.
She’s silent the whole walk to the car, not even responding to the nurses who wished her a good night.
She continues to not talk the entire car ride home, and by the time I slam on the brakes into my parking spot at home, I can’t stand it anymore.
“Say something, Sloane. I can’t stand this silence. ”
She’s silent for a beat before answering, “Something,” in an amused tone.
The one word has me wringing the leather steering wheel in my hands, making it creak in the confines of the car.
“Sorry, I’m just not sure what to say. I think I just need some food and to sleep, like you said.
” Her smile is soft and sincere. Nodding my head, I get out of the car and stride over to her door to help her out.
The trip up to the apartment is slow going, because she’s still dizzy and weak.
I take note to not give her so much potassium on the next round so I don’t kill her accidentally.
I lead her back into my room because I’d rather be in my own space than hers.
As soon as I get her settled into bed, I head into the kitchen to whip her up something light to eat.
I return with a bowl of chicken noodle soup along with crackers and a bottle of water.
Sloane is sitting up against the headboard, her gaze weary with exhaustion.
She notices me when I get right next to the bed and reaches out for the tray holding the food.
“Thank you, I’m starving.” She digs into her soup, huffing and puffing because it’s steaming hot.
“Oh my god, this is so good.” She exclaims, and it just makes me chuckle.
“Courtesy of Campbells. You know, the finest just for you.” I give her a wink, and we sit quietly while she finishes the entire bowl.
I opted out of giving her another dose so her body would get some of its strength back before the next time.
She drinks the broth from the bowl, the slurping sound grating on my nerves, but I let it slide.
I eventually take the empty tray from her and return it to the kitchen.
By the time I get back to my room, Sloane is passed out on the bed, sleeping soundly.
Reaching over, I brush her hair from her face, admiring her peaceful expression, and then whisper, “Not much longer until you’re stuck with me forever, my Sweet Obsession. ”