Page 10 of Reckless Dynasty (Knight's Ridge Empire 9)

“Everything is going to be okay, Jodie,” he says sincerely.

My brow furrows as I think back to the horrors we experienced before reality slams into me.

“Sara?”

I know the answer long before Toby manages to say any words. I see it in the way his eyes darken, the way his gaze shifts from mine for the briefest moment.

“I don’t know, baby. As I carried you out, the firefighters rushed in. I didn’t see her… I don’t know…”

“Oh God,” I whisper, my hand coming up to cover my mouth but finding the damn plastic mask in the way as my tears begin to flow faster.

“Jesse,” I cry, my heart shattering all over again. If she didn’t make it, if they didn’t find her… It’ll kill him. It’ll… “Fuck.”

“We don’t know anything. I got the guys to find him. Last I heard, he was heading toward where you were. As soon as Theo finds anything out, he’ll tell us, okay? He’s got the doctors and nurses in this place in his back pocket.”

Well, I guess that’s something.

Reaching out, Toby wipes my tears away with his dirty thumbs.

“Just get some rest, Demon. I can’t cope with you in this place any longer than necessary.”

“Have you called Mum?”

“My phone is fucked. They’re doing it though,” he says, casting a look at the curtain, indicating the people beyond.

I nod, unable to respond through the lump that’s only growing in my throat as I think of Mum’s reaction when she discovers I’m in the hospital. This is going to kill her. But what can I do?

“Is Stella here?” I ask, having a vague memory of her voice tonight.

“Yeah, baby. She’s safe.”

I want to ask if she’d go and get Mum, or even Maria, but my eyes get too heavy and I drift off before I manage to form any words.

* * *

The first thing I notice when the fog begins to lift once more is that the heat of Toby’s body is still warming mine, and his fingers are still tightly twisted with those of my free hand.

I was sure that he’d have been given little choice but to get down by now. But then, I guess it’s easy when we’re in our little bubble to forget who he is and the kind of power he holds over this part of the city. I’m sure demanding he gets to stay by my side while I’m resting is nothing in the grand scheme of things.

A whimper across the room catches my attention, and I force my eyes open.

“Mum,” I croak, seeing her sitting there, catching her tears with what looks like an already-sodden tissue.

“Jodie,” she gasps, jumping out of the chair faster than I’m sure she has in years.

I try to pull my hand from Toby’s so I can hold her, but I find it locked in his grasp. When I glance over, I find he’s out cold beside me.

Lifting the hand with the cannula in, I pull the mask from my face so Mum can hear me.

“I’m so sorry,” I breathe, my eyes burning once more.

“Oh baby, it’s not your fault. You couldn’t have known.” She takes my face in her hands.

I shake my head. “I know. But getting that call… you must have been terrified.”

“You’re okay. You’re here and you’re going to be fine.”

“Do you know anything about Sara?”