They spent the rest of the evening getting to know Casey’s parents again. And them learning all the struggles Casey had gone through to become the man he was now. Evelyn was so proud of the way he’d accepted the two back into his life.
If she were given half a chance to see her mom or meet her dad, she’d take it in a flash. Watching the way they interacted had her yearning for that connection. She would even take Lacey’s attitude to have family around.
After his parents had left late the night before, Casey seemed somewhat centered about life. There was a weight lifted off his shoulders he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. They’d talked for a while about how he felt with them making this sudden appearance and coming with shocking news.
This morning Case had told her he was looking for her sister, exhausting all outlets he could. She hadn’t shown up in hospitals, morgues, or jail cells. Ev was torn between relief and dread. Glad Lacey wasn’t hurt or arrested, but fearful that she could be in a ditch, or Andy was left on his own.
She was supposed to go have a girl’s day with Dee and Pixie in the afternoon, but she’d begged off. Between her sister’s disappearance and the fear of the news she might one day get, her stomach was in knots, and now, not able to keep anything down, she was just not feeling well.
Casey was at the main house with Dom still searching, calling everyone they could, but it was no use. She knew that unless Lacey wanted to be found, they wouldn’t.
Deciding she needed to move around and try to get rid of whatever bug she had gotten, she went outside only to see Ace pulling up. “Hey sugar, how are you?” he called climbing from his SUV.
“Good. The guys are at the main house, though.”
“Walk with me, I’ve got some news,” he told her.
Silently making their way to Dom’s, Casey was opening the door just as they walked up the back steps. “Hey man, what’s up?” he asked Ace, pulling Ev into his arms.
“Great, look, I haven’t got much time. I’m leaving to my cousin’s in Canada tonight. Luckily, I found Lacey.” Relief had her body sagging.
“Where?” She let out a queasy breath. “I’m gonna be sick.” She ran into the house, just barely making the garbage can before she tossed the contents of her stomach. Casey’s warm hand rubbed up and down her back as a cool cloth was placed on the back of her neck.
Embarrassed, she took a moment longer to gain her composure. “Sorry,” she mumbled, “I’ve been worrying myself sick.”
“Take your time, sugar.” Ace handed her a glass of water while Casey helped her up.
“Where is she?” Case asked him.
“Admitted to Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis. Someone beat the hell out of her.” He seemed pissed about it.
Drawing in a sharp breath at the news, she would like to think it couldn’t be her sister, but she knew the life she led. “Where’s Andy?”
“Still at the hospital. She was only admitted this morning. Nurses were waiting on records to find next of kin so you might be getting a call.”
Looking up to Casey, she didn’t even have to ask him. “Let’s go.” He was pulling her behind him while calling to Dom and Ace. “Good luck with the cousin, Ace, and thanks for the help, guys!”
The drive there was quiet as she bounced with nerves. Sitting still was more difficult than she imagined. Casey tried to comfort her by holding her hand or massaging her leg, but she was a giant ball of stress.
Forty minutes, a near-miss speeding ticket, and bad parking later, and she was running into the almost empty emergency room, asking the nurse, “Where’s Lacey Moore?”
“Who are you, miss?” Her bored tone almost pissed Ev off.
“I’m her sister,” was her quick response.
Clicking on the keyboard, she finally responded, “This way, please.”
“Calm down, Ev,” Casey whispered in her ear. She wanted to throttle the man.
Ignoring him, she followed as the nurse turned the corner at the end of the hall, passed several exam rooms and, walked through a set of double doors. “Put these on, please.” The nurse handed them both booties and a mask from a bin to the side of the room.
Having to put these types of items on, Ev was frightened of what was to come. What had happened to her sister that she had to wear them?
Walking into the room, the nurse moved aside to check the machines Lacey had been hooked up to, and she nearly collapsed in devastation from the sight before her. Lacey was unrecognizable with so many tubes hooked up to her chest and face. IVs in both hands. One leg was in a cast, blood coated her hair, and her face was so bruised her eyes were swollen shut.
“What happened to her?” she cried silently.
“We don’t know. A little boy was found crying outside an apartment building, and when the police were c