Page 5 of Retribution

For the cops to question me.

For information on how Blake is.

For a call from Shade.

It’s like years have passed in the space of hours.

I stand on the street opposite the smoking wreck of Wrath, trying to figure out what happened. How it happened. Why it happened. I errantly wonder if I’m in shock.

The detective who took over for Black after he was knifed in this very alley is here, too. I can’t remember her name, but her suspicious eyes follow me like I’m the fucker who set off the bomb that has hurt me and the people I care about most inthe world…and then, in her mind, I just stayed here to watch the drama unfold at the scene, I guess.

Wasit him? The stalker? Did he do this? Is he watching all this right now like the psycho the detective thinksI am?

I glance around, but I can’t see anyone bar the emergency services and some neighborhood rubber-neckers beyond the crime tape. None of them seem out of the ordinary, and none have the blond hair from the grainy video we were able to get, but he could still be here.

My phone beeps.

Shade. He found her.

One of the KIP guys, Jayce, is close by. He’s waiting by the curb down the block with his car, watching me and the scene with scared eyes.

I run toward him. ‘Take me to Richmond Memorial.’

He nods, but before I can get in, that motherfucking detective is in my way. Two uniformed officers flank her.

‘Where are you going, Mr. Shaw? We have questions for you.’

‘Am I under arrest?’

Her eyes narrow. ‘Not yet.’

I barely look at her. ‘Then I’ll be at Richmond Memorial if you want to find me.’

‘Don’t leave town.’

I nod curtly and get in the car, not sparing her, the officers, or the still glowing shell of the club another glance.

The hospital is just on the outskirts of town, so it only takes a few minutes to get there. As soon as we pull up, I tell Jayce to go back to campus, and I’ll call him when I have news.

He looks uncertain, but he leaves and I go inside, messaging Shade as I walk.

Where are you?

ICU

I ask at the front desk and am directed down several hallways.I find the unit and see Shade sitting in a hard plastic chair in the hall.

I rush over to him.

‘Where is she? Is she okay?’

‘Head injury.’ He points to a door. ‘We aren’t allowed in. They won’t tell me anything.’

‘What?’

He sighs heavily, rubbing his face, and smearing some of the dirt and grime around.

‘They let me be with her at first, but as soon as I gave my name, they clammed up. Made me leave the room. Her medical records saysomething, I guess…like her file on campus did. They’ve called my father. Herguardian,’ he spits, eyes flashing.