Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 95906 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95906 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
That the piece of shit had gotten my message to stay away from Micah loud and clear. But just to make sure, I leaned down and put my hands on the armrests of his wheelchair. The move had me practically nose to nose with the guy, but he was helpless to escape me. Instead, he turned his head to the side and looked down at the floor like some terrified animal submitting to its alpha.
“Everything okay, Ricky?” I asked easily.
Ricky swallowed hard and nodded his head. I was satisfied to see pain flash in his expression at the move. One of his legs was in a cast from thigh to ankle and he had one arm in a sling.
“That's good,” I said as I looked him up and down. “Wouldn't want you to suffer from any… complications,” I remarked. I had the satisfaction of watching Ricky go pale at the comment.
“That shouldn't be a problem, right, Ricky? Because you’re going to go home and take it easy. I'm sure this… accident was a wake-up call for you, huh?” I continued. I shot a glance at the transporter who seemed completely confused but not particularly disturbed by the strange conversation I was having with her charge.
Ricky nodded his head almost frantically.
“That's good,” I said as I dropped my right hand to Ricky’s shoulder, the one that was in the sling. Only he knew that the supposedly gentle squeeze I gave him was anything but. His muffled whimper was like a balm to my soul. I glanced at the transporter’s name tag and then said, “Take good care of my friend here, Amy,” though I kept my eyes on Ricky as I spoke. “We sure don't want him to be a repeat offender around here, do we?” I asked lightly.
Ricky went even whiter and something in the way Amy looked at us had me guessing she’d figured out that all was not quite as it seemed. She stood a little straighter and said, “Of course, sir.”
I leaned back and moved out of the way. Amy shot me a smile as she wheeled a now silent Ricky past me and toward the exit. I gave her a wink and waited until Ricky was out of sight before moving forward again.
The satisfaction of mentally torturing the fucker for a couple of minutes was short-lived as I began working my way back to Micah's room. I fully expected to see the young man asleep in bed when I rounded the corner, but it was quite the opposite. The bed was very much empty, sheets hastily thrown aside. A blur of white caught my attention, and I felt my heart leap to my throat as I realized Micah was on the floor next to the bed. I rushed into the room to a combination of gasps and sobs welling up from his throat.
“Micah,” I yelled as I hurried to his side and dropped to my knees next to him. He was frantically trying to push himself upright. I couldn't tell if he had fallen out of the bed or had fallen while trying to get out of the bed. Either way, he had a fresh cut on his temple, presumably from striking some part of the gurney as he went down.
“Ricky!” Micah gasped as his fingers curled around my arm.
Fear that Ricky had somehow followed us to the room rushed through me, but when I glanced over my shoulder, there was no one there. It was then that I realized Micah had probably seen Ricky being wheeled by his room and while Ricky hadn't noticed Micah, the young man had most definitely recognized Ricky.
His breathing was labored and I could hear the heart monitor racing. Somehow, the wires for the heart machine had managed to stay attached to Micah’s body but the IV had been ripped from his skin, though I had no way of knowing if it was accidentally or intentionally. I automatically put my thumb on the small hole that was seeping blood and added pressure.
“Ricky!” Micah shouted as best he could and then he was trying to scramble to his feet. “The kids!”
Despite his weakened state, the adrenaline Micah was experiencing gave him strength he shouldn't have had. Fortunately, I was stronger and I was able to keep him in place so he wouldn't do further harm to himself.
“The kids are safe, Micah! They’re with King. Ricky didn't see them, and he didn't see you!”
Micah shook his head violently. Tears were streaking down his face. “I have to protect them! I promised! I promised!”
“You did, you have!” I assured him but Micah just shook his head again. It was then that his eyes lifted to meet mine and I was slammed with the myriad of emotions I saw in them. Terror, pain, regret, uncertainty, confusion… they were all there in spades.