Their Reign (The Rite Trilogy 3)

“Surgery. Surgery rooms six and seven.”

“Mr. De La Rosa.” I turn to find Dr. Barnes hurrying in through the sliding glass doors. He gives the woman at the desk a nod and takes my arm. “Come with me. I’ll take you where we can wait.”

“My sister. She’s on her way.”

He turns to the woman at the desk. “Make sure Mrs. Montgomery is taken to waiting room one.”

Mrs. Montgomery. She has barely been that for a few minutes. Will she be a widow already?

Jesus Christ.

“Sir, let’s go. I can check in and let you know what’s going on in surgery.”

I nod and let him lead me to a waiting room that is meant to be comfortable and welcoming. I doubt it provides either comfort or welcome to those who must wait here, though. And tonight, it’s all pacing and watching that damn screen with information that never seems to fucking update. I remember the last time I sat in this waiting room and watched the same board for news on Ivy. When I was sure I’d lost her.

Fate has been ugly to us.

“Santi?” Mercedes’s choked voice breaks into my dark reverie. I turn to see her still in her dress, blood still smeared on her face, dark across the chest of the crimson dress, the swell of her stomach. Her makeup is smeared, and she’s crying.

I go to her, take her in my arms and hold her tight as her body is wracked by sobs too violent for any human being to bear.