Blood Trouble

by Connie Suttle

  "All right," I nodded.

  "Sign the form," Susan pushed a release in my direction. I signed. What else could I do?

  "She's going into surgery now. Did she eat lunch?"

  "No, and only picked at breakfast around three hours ago," I said. "She really hasn't felt good since yesterday."

  "We'll get on this, and I'll have someone update you," the surgeon promised before hurrying away.

  I still held Kathleen's designer purse in my arms, so I pulled out her cellphone and went looking for her husband and oldest son's phone number. No surprise, I couldn't reach either of them. I left messages—both verbal and texts, telling them what had happened, where Kathleen was and then went to sit in a nearby waiting room.

  * * *

  "Mr. Rome, we're only questioning witnesses. Can you explain why you were at that demonstration?" The detective lifted an eyebrow at Jayson. The girl had been rushed to the hospital with severe burns covering her body, and Jayson realized she likely wouldn't survive. How had Breanne known? At the time, he'd blown off her worries. He'd seen all of it come true the moment he and Hank walked into the Los Angeles dungeon.

  "I run a magazine. This was a tip on a possible article," Jason breathed a worried sigh. "I had no idea this might happen."

  "You know how dangerous this can be?" the detective asked, making notes.

  "Yes, that's why I wanted to do an article. If it looked viable, I intended to put a staff writer on it."

  "I see," the detective nodded. Jayson took in the man's appearance—he was in his forties and looked competent.

  "This is my bodyguard," Jayson nodded toward Hank, who stood nearby. "When will we be allowed to leave?"

  "After we question the others. Have a seat outside, and keep your cellphone turned off."

  "Thank you, detective."

  * * *

  Breanne's Journal

  Graegar told me that any power expended to Change What Was could alert the enemy to my presence, so I held that in reserve and tried a different tactic. I didn't know I could do it until I was forced to do it, either. I placed Kathleen Rome in a short, temporary stasis too many times to count so the surgeon and his staff could save her life. I had to do it remotely, too, as my physical body sat in a cold waiting room, seemingly anticipating an update on Kathleen's condition. The poor girl who got burned was dying, too. Should I save her if I could? It was her fault she'd been injured, but then people make dumb mistakes all the time.

  I learned that I could juggle several balls at once. Between Kathleen's stasis treatment, I bent power similar to that of a Larentii toward a burned girl in another hospital, repairing charred and damaged tissue. I did what I considered the important things first, lessening the injury and giving her a fighting chance before going back to Kathleen and what she needed to survive.

  Yes, I'd expended power to save four million people. I was still weary and in need of rest from that. Graegar had said it would take weeks to recuperate; I'd taken only a few days. By the time I knew the burned girl would live and Kathleen would survive and have no lasting damage to her heart, I was worn out. The sun dipped below the horizon when I rose to lean against the window frame and stare out at the Pacific in the distance.

  * * *

  "You can go. You may want to find someone more competent next time, if you really want to do an article on this sort of thing," the detective was back and giving Jayson and Hank permission to leave.

  "I'll have them vetted, first, and will likely send a research writer out," Jayson rose to his feet. "Thank you detective. Do you know the status of the victim?"

  "I just heard that the doctors are more optimistic now than they were when she was taken to the hospital. Next few days will tell."

  "Let's go." Hank walked in front of Jayson toward the front door of the police station. Jayson turned on his phone to call a cab—the car he'd driven was still at the venue.

  "What the hell?" Jayson stared at three texts from Breanne. "Holy fuck. No, no, no," Jayson moaned.

  "What?" Hank came over to look.

  "Mom's in the hospital. She had a heart attack. We have to go."

  Chapter 14

  Breanne's Journal

  "She'll be out of it for a while, and that's not a bad thing," the doctor assured me. We stood outside Kathleen's room in the coronary care unit. Numbness permeated my body and at times, I wasn't really sure where I was. I was just going through the required motions and listening carefully to what doctors and nurses told me, hoping it would be retained in my memory in case I needed it again.

  "The surgery went as well as we could expect, given the severity of the situation," he added.

  "Thank you." I remembered my manners, at least.

  "You'll be allowed to visit periodically, and there's coffee and a soft drink machine in the lounge," he said. I nodded.

  "Bree? Thank God," Jayson was almost running, with Hank right behind him.

  "Doctor, this is Jayson Rome, Kathleen's youngest son," I made introductions as Jayson slid to a stop and stared at the physician. "Your mother is fine, now. She's sleeping after the surgery."

  I walked toward the wide, double doors leading to the CCU. I almost made it.

  * * *

  "She's just tired," Hank waved away the doctor. "She had to take care of all this herself, when she couldn't reach anybody else."

  "I would still prefer to have her examined," the physician huffed.

  "I'll take care of it," Hank mumbled. "I used to be a paramedic."

  "If there are any unusual signs," the doctor began.

  "I'll handle it. Take care of Mrs. Rome." Hank carried Breanne into the hall and toward the elevators.

  * * *

  Breanne's Journal

  "Baby, how do you feel?" Hank's hands were on my forehead and my heart.

  "Crappy," I mumbled. I hadn't opened my eyes, after waking from an apparent faint.

  "We're in Jayson's car in the parking lot," Hank sighed. "Jayson's with his mother."

  "Where he should have been for the past four hours," I tried to sit up—I'd wakened with my head in Hank's lap in the back seat of a new Cadillac.

  "Stay down for a little while." Hank kept his hand on my forehead and didn't let me move.

  "Is the girl still alive?"

  "You know about that?"

  "I know lots of things."

  "I imagine you do."

  "I feel cold."

  "Hot chocolate?"

  "With whipped cream?"

  "My baby wants whipped cream?" I blinked up into a dazzling smile. "I think there's a coffee shop across the street. Want me to carry you?"

  "I can wait here."

  "You think I'll let you out of my sight after that stunt?"

  "That wasn't a stunt. It certainly wasn't planned."

  "I know. You think they sell jackets at the coffee shop? You need to be warmer."

  "Hank, was it as awful as the vision I got? With that girl?"

  He thought for a moment before making a reply. "It was pretty bad. Jayson was really shaken. As a medic, in and out of the military, I've seen people wounded before, so I knew what was happening and how it would look afterward. Jayson doesn't have that experience. It may be a while before he wants to see this again."

  "If she'd just used common sense and stayed away from the tanning bed," I sighed. Hank helped me sit up. I felt a little dizzy, but that's it.

  "If she'd just washed off the lotion," Hank rumbled. "Come on, I have to get my girl warmed up with hot chocolate."

  * * *

  "Hank?" Jayson's voice sounded over Hank's cellphone.

  "What is it, buddy?" Hank asked.

  "You across the street at the coffee shop?"

  "Yeah."

  "Will you order a capp for me?"

  "Sure thing. We can bring it up in a minute."

  "No, stay there. I finally got hold of Jamie, and he and Laurel are on their way. Mom is still unconscious and doesn't know I'm here. I can't reach Dad anyw
here. Maybe I need that stalker app on my family. Jamie was out on a boat trip and didn't have service until he reached land again. I'll be there in a minute." Jayson hung up.

  "Jayson's coming," Hank shoved the cellphone in his pocket.

  "What does he want?" I asked.

  "Cappuccino," Hank replied.

  "I'll get it," I shuffled to my feet.

  "No, stay put, shortness," he said. "I've got this."

  If I weren't so weary, I would have enjoyed the sight of Hank walking away. As it was, I wanted to close my eyes and sleep for a week. I did close my eyes and didn't open them again until Jayson settled on the seat next to mine.

  "Bree?" Jayson cupped my face in his hands. "Are you all right?"

  "Tired." I closed my eyes again.

  "Cappuccino with hazelnut," Hank set a cup in front of Jayson.

  "Thanks," Jayson sighed, taking his hands away from my face. "Man, what a fucked up day."

  "Agreed," I said, my eyes still closed. I thought about laying my head on the table and sleeping there.

  "Little girl, I owe you," Jayson pulled me against him with one hand and lifted the cup to his lips with the other.

  "I did it for your mom."

  "I know. That doesn't discharge the debt."

  "Sure. Find me a place to sleep and we'll call it even."

  "Jayson?" James Rome Jr., followed by his wife Laurel, walked into the coffee shop.

  "Want coffee?" Jayson stood and hugged his brother, then leaned in to give Laurel a peck.

  "Hank?" I handed Hank my credit-card as Jamie and Laurel decided what they wanted.

  "How's Mom?" Jamie asked as he got Laurel seated before pulling in another chair for himself.

  "She's fine. The doctor says there were a few scary moments during surgery, but he said Mom kept pulling out of them. Looks like a full recovery—the graft went well and he says she'll be back to normal in no time. I can't find Dad," Jayson added.

  "I tried, too. Got nothing. I put in a call to Bob, though, and got his voice mail. They may be together."

  "Again?" Laurel whined. "At his age he's doing this?"

  Now I knew why Kathleen didn't like shopping with Laurel. Judiciously I kept that information to myself.

  "You're Breanne?" I realized I'd never really met Jayson's brother. He'd been in a conference with Jayson during the anniversary party, and hadn't shown up for Jayson's birthday. I had three guesses why, and all of them started with the letter L.

  "Yes."

  "Thanks for the messages."

  "You're welcome."

  "Where were you, bro, that your girl had to pick up the slack?" Jamie turned to Jayson.

  "Researching an article. Bree stayed home with Mom, and it's a good thing she did."

  "I hear that," Jamie nodded. "Are you staying for a few days?"

  "Looks like it. At least until Wednesday. I have a staff meeting on Thursday, so I'll probably leave Wednesday night."

  "I have to get back," Hank pointed out as he set drinks on the table for Jamie and Laurel.

  "Hank, we keep missing each other," Jamie said, extending his hand.

  "True." Hank smiled politely and shook.

  "Bree, are you staying?" Jayson lifted an eyebrow at me.

  "Huh?" I hadn't considered it, since Jayson's brother had showed up for moral support. If Bill Jennings hadn't called at that moment, I might have been stuck with Jayson for three more days.

  "Bill?" I said when I stood and answered his call.

  "Breanne, we need your help in Austin," Bill said. "We've lost six girls already."

  "When?" I asked. Hank's eyes clouded with concern as I stepped away from the table.

  "Tonight or tomorrow, if you can."

  "I'm in L.A. right now," I said.

  "I'll find a plane to get you here. I already have a hotel set up."

  "Okay. I don't have much in the way of clothing," I said. "I only came down for the weekend."

  "Have jeans and boots?"

  "Yeah. One set," I said.

  "Good enough. Opal knows your size. She can go out and pick stuff up while you're in the air."

  "Opal's there?"

  "Yeah. Is that a problem?"

  "No. I like Opal a lot."

  "Good. Be at the airport in two hours, sweetheart. I'll have a ticket waiting."

  "Okay." I ended the call and blinked at Hank, who appeared to be simmering with anger, now.

  "I have to be at the airport in two hours," I said.

  "Why?" Jayson didn't look happy, either.

  "I sort of got volunteered to help a few government agencies. Barry Stokes seems to be my pimp," I said. He was—he'd given full permission for Bill to poach my services whenever I wasn't needed for Mercy Crossings.

  "You really speak most languages?" Laurel was being Laurel again—her voice revealing her skepticism.

  "Mimi kuzungumza lugha zaidi," I replied. "That translates to I speak more languages. In Swahili," I said. "I'll get a cab back to the house. I need my bag."

  "I'll take you," Hank said and scooted his chair back. Joy. I was planning to mist back to the house. Now I'd have Hank grumpy Bell as a companion.

  "Hey," Jayson pulled me down to whisper in my ear. "I want to swat you again," his breath was warm. "We'll talk when you get back. Don't be gone long," he added when I leaned away and frowned at him. "Hank, take the car," Jayson tossed keys in Hank's direction. "Jamie will give me a ride home later."

  "Oh, don't you worry," I said. "And we will talk." If his answer to everything he didn't like was swats, we didn't belong together. I walked out the coffee shop door, Hank right behind me.

  "What did he say?" Hank demanded.

  "That he wanted to swat me again. I save his mother and he wants to hit me."

  "Baby, spanking is generally the way to say we don't necessarily agree with your choices. Sometimes it means we care. With Jayson, it could be either."

  "Well, we're done, then, if that's his reaction to everything."

  "Do like he says and talk when you get back. Work this out. He's not gonna hurt you."

  "It's demeaning."

  "I understand. He doesn't see it that way."

  "Come on, he doesn't think he's superior in some way?"

  "He treats everybody like that. He's a Rome."

  "And I'm the Vhanaraszh. Want to see who might come out on top in that contest?"

  "Baby, you'll have to explain that to me someday," Hank sighed. "Right now, we have to haul ass if we're gonna make it to the house, get your bag and then get to the airport in two hours."

  "I hear that. And is that the ass Jayson wants to swat?"

  "Yeah."

  "The breakup will commence as planned. I don't need a ride back to the house, Hank."

  "Bree," he warned.

  "Really, Hank? Tell Jayson he'll have more luck kissing my ass." I disappeared right in front of Hank Bell.

  * * *

  Tears had to be wiped away before I could see to pack my bag. It wouldn't do to show up at the airport crying, either, because that would be disastrous. I'd exhausted myself saving Kathleen Rome and her son wanted to hit me. Fuck him. This would never work and because of that, I'd just revealed myself to Hank Bell. Well, fuck both of them, and not in any nice way. Slamming my bag shut, I zipped it and misted toward the airport.

  * * *

  "Bree, this is stupid. Fuck," Hank hissed as he stood beside the Cadillac. "Rome, as soon as your mother is better, I'll strangle you."

  * * *

  "She just picked up her ticket. She'll be here in five hours," Bill said, taking a seat at Opal's table in the hotel restaurant.

  "Good. I'm hitting a dead end, and there's no pun intended, there," Opal said.

  * * *

  Lissa's Journal

  "Daddy says Breanne saved Grey House's ass. He didn't say it exactly like that," Nissa grinned, "but it's the same thing."

  "Your father told me," I nodded. Nissa and I were having tea in the arboretum while To
ff, Yoff and Trik practiced rusty sword skills with Drake and Drew.

  "I can't believe I have an aunt. I wish I'd met her. Daddy says she's pretty, but she has dark hair."

  "I know. The only images we have here at the palace are those before she was turned, and that includes the vid from the Skel Hawer beating. Those aren't pretty, but she was disfigured before that. Nobody knows why that is."

  "This is so weird," Nissa said. "I tried to talk to Gav about it, but he just refuses to talk. He saw her more than anybody else outside the palace."

  "Gavril is in enough trouble, as is his father," I snorted. "They should have realized something was wrong, yet they did nothing about it."

  "I don't understand mind clouds," Nissa blew out a breath. "At all. Why did it only affect Gavin, Gavril and Cheedas?"

  "No idea."

  "Lissa, you'd better come—we're calling an emergency Council meeting," Rigo came to a halt beside our table.

  "What happened?" I stood quickly.

  "Evensun has been emptied. Not a single prisoner is left, and there's sand everywhere."

  "Oh, no."

  * * *

  Breanne's Journal

  Bill hadn't been able to get a first-class ticket for me this time. He'd barely managed to find a seat for me at all—all the flights were full or nearly so. I sat between a teen girl and a real-estate agent. The agent, after learning I lived in San Francisco, immediately gave her card, explained that her company had a branch office in my area and told me to call if I had any housing needs. Taking the card, I shoved it in my purse and didn't tell her that I'd recently made a purchase, thank you.

  The teen girl was busy reading manga on her e-reader. I didn't disturb her. After the real estate agent ran down, I closed my eyes and attempted to sleep. That didn't happen. I'd messed up, leaving Hank like I did. He knew for sure I was weird, now, and I had nobody to blame except myself.

  The uneasy feeling that I'd have a multitude of angry emails or texts when I reached Austin didn't help, either. Hank would likely be demanding some kind of explanation and Jayson, if he even bothered to send anything, would probably just be pissed.

  There was a stopover in Vegas before going on to Austin, but I didn't change planes. I left my cellphone off, hoping for peace and a cessation of worry while watching both my seatmates leave and getting two new ones for the continuing flight.