Hook (A Hitman's Bait 2)

Chapter 12

“Sullivan,pacingisn’tgoing to help, and you’re just getting in everyone’s way. For the love of god, please sit.”

I spun around to Liam, my hand raised. Why did he interrupt the one thing I could do while the doctors worked to save Kit from a ketamine overdose? One look at his white face, serious eyes, and pursed lips, and my anger dissolved. I dropped my arm. He was just as worried about Kit as I was.

“It feels like we’ve been here for hours, Liam.” I sat on one of the chairs in the waiting room with my arms propped up on my knees. “Why aren’t they telling us anything? If it was good news, they would have said something, right?”

“We don’t know that. Stop assuming.” He drew his chair closer to me so our shoulders touched. “I’m sure we’ll hear something soon.”

But all I could see was Kit convulsing and jerking in the car. When I told the doctor this—and that Kit had vomited as well—I could tell from the look on the doctor’s face those weren’t good symptoms to have at all.

“How the hell did I let this happen, Liam?” I ran my fingers through my hair. “He was right there under my nose, and someone was able to get to him.”

“I don’t know exactly what went down, but you can’t blame anyone but that asshole for what happened.” He covered his mouth with his hand as he leaned in closer. “By the way, I had a cleaner take care of it, so you just concentrate on Kit waking up and telling you himself that he’s fine.”

Please be right.

Losing Kit was simply not an option. How could life go on without him? He was the one who breathed life into me and everything he touched.

“Did you tell Tack?” I asked.

“Yes, he wanted to come, but I told him not right now.”

“Thank you.” Liam was the only one I wanted to be around at the moment.

It took another hour and another round of pacing before Dr. Innes walked toward us. I rushed to him and would have grabbed the front of his coat if Liam hadn’t stopped me.

“Mr. Matthews, I’m sorry for the—”

“How is he, Doctor? Is he okay?”

“We have him stable right now, which is a miracle given the seizures he’s had,” Dr. Innes said. “Thankfully, you knew what he was on, so we could work much faster to mitigate the symptoms. They’d injected the substance into his system, which could have been fatal with how fast acting this drug is. Your boyfriend is very lucky to be alive, Mr. Matthews.”

“What happens now? Can I see him?”

“He’s on a ventilator to help with his breathing, and we’ve slowed down his seizures.”

“He’s still having them?”

“They’re farther apart and less severe, which is good, given the condition he arrived in.”

A shiver ran through me. “What about lasting effects?”

“We won’t know for sure until he wakes up. Short-term memory loss is common, so he might not recall what happened tonight. Most importantly, he’ll need a support system and some form of trauma-based therapy to cope with what happened to him.”

I swallowed hard. “What about… Was he…”

“No, there’s no sign of penetration. Luckily, you and your friend got to him just in time.”

I closed my eyes. Relief flowed through me. Kit will be all right. “Can I see him now?”

“Certainly, but we’ll recommend one person at a time right now, as we’re monitoring him closely for any changes. You’ll notice he’s in an isolated area, as our treatment involves the removal of sensory stimulation. Don’t be alarmed if he appears to be in a state of delirium or has hallucinations. The effects should wear off with time.”

Liam placed a hand on my shoulder. “Go on. I’ll wait out here.”

I nodded and followed the doctor. He stopped at a door at the end of the hall and opened it.

“I’ll give you a few minutes alone with him. Talking to him right now may not do much, but it’s important he feels safe. Try not to do or say anything that might upset him.”