Page 11 of We The Depraved

“I’ll check in later,” she smiles.

God don’t bother me tonight, I think.

Grabbing my keys from the back office, I pause and then grab the stupid fucking card with the monster’s name on it. I don’t know why. I just do it and try not to analyze all the reasons behind it.

When I get to the hospital, I finally find the room and I’m forced to wait outside. The doctors are running tests. Reese comes out with her three kids, all under five.

She offers me a tense smile. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

She lets out a breath and I nod.

“Can I see her?” I ask, just about to go into my grandmother’ room. Before Reese answers, my grandmother is being rolled out by a few nurses and attendants.

“Where are they taking her?”

“More tests,” Reese nods and then takes a seat.

She looks exhausted and one of her kids looks like a sassy pig tailed nightmare.

“Cameron get over here,” she says to her daughter who turns around and sticks her tongue out at her mother.

Reese closes her eyes. I bend down to Cameron who has to be the oldest. “You should listen to your mother because if not you’ll come home with me.”

Cameron’s eyes go wide.

“You won’t like home with me,” I tell her and watch her eyes go even bigger.

Reese gives a laugh and her daughter comes back over and sits down in one of the chairs next to her brother and the hidden child in the car seat that’s squirming for dear life.

I take a seat as well and it’s quiet. The nurses at the station nearby work with as little noise as possible. At some point all I can hear is the videos on Reese’s phone entertaining her kids.

“I’m really glad you answered,” Reese finally says cutting through my thoughts.

“Anything for Iris,” I offer a smile.

This is the most conversation we’ve probably had in two years.

“How’s the club doing?” She moves from beside her children and comes to sit beside me.

Fuck,I think.Now I have to keep up a conversation.

“Dancers are dancing,” I say.

“But not you, not anymore?”

I guess it has been a while since we’ve talked. I’ve owned my share of The Crescent for the last three years.

“No,” I reply wishing this would end.

I feel something touch my hand, and look down. Reese’s hand has covered my own, the warmth from her cinnamon toast colored hand touching me. “I…I was sorry to hear about the Judge.”

Snatching my hand away, I stand.

“He’s in hell where he deserves to be,” I tell her. “Tell Nana, I’ll be back in the morning.”

Reese goes to speak but stops. She knows better than to get in my way.

I storm away, unsure of where the exit is. When I know I’m out of Reese’s range, I lean against the wall of the hospital finding support. I take a million deep breaths watching a few people in scrubs and white coats go by. An elevator dings nearby, and I take it to finally escape this building.