Page 135 of Cemetery Boys

“Don’t worry about your friend,” a nurse said with a smile. Julian growled at him. The smile quickly vanished.

One of the machines he was hooked up started to beep wildly as Julian made to stand up. If they weren’t going to tell him, then he’d figure it out himself. Another icy sensation tingled through his arm and suddenly he was sunk into the bed again, conscious but impossibly groggy.

“Tranquilo,” another nurse said gently, softly brushing gloved fingers over his sweaty forehead. “You assholes,” he slurred. All he could do was lie there as they went to work.

Too much time had passed. He’d been lying in bed, staring blankly at the TV on the wall as it showed an onslaught of infomercials. He was ready to lose it. He couldn’t stand being cooped up in this room, trapped in bed with nothing to do but obsess over whether Yadriel was all right. His body felt stiff and heavy. His stomach twisted with worry. The wait was killing him.

The only thing keeping him from storming down the hallway and demanding answers was whatever sedative they’d given him. There was a thick fog in his head, dulling his senses. Familiar voices came from the hallway and he turned to the door, chasing the sound.

A second later, the door swung open.

“Jules?”

Rio. Relief crashed through Julian. His pulse thudded in his temples as he tried to sit up.

“Christ, Jules,” said an irritated voice. A strong hand pushed his shoulder, holding him down. Julian tried to fight it, but he was far too weak.

“Stop,” the voice ordered, giving Julian a small shake that sent his head spinning.

Rio’s tense face swam into focus above him. His jaw was clenched, worry sparking in his sharp eyes.

“Rio?” he croaked groggily, latching on to his brother’s arm with feeble hands.

“You’re hooked up to a bunch of shit. If you keep fighting, you’re going to pop your stitches,” Rio told him sternly. “So quit it.”

Julian’s head rolled to the side and he blinked hard, trying to focus.

His friends stood huddled by his bed. Omar’s eyes were bloodshot and he looked pissed. Rocky was pale, and there were tears freely running from Flaca’s puffy eyes. Luca openly gaped like he was staring at a ghost.

“Are you guys okay?” Julian asked the first question that popped into his head.

“We’re supposed to ask you that, dumbass,” Omar growled.

“The cops said you got kidnapped by a cult,” Luca piped in.

“It wasn’t a cult,” Rocky corrected, looking annoyed. “It was just one guy.”

“They found you and three other people in a murder dungeon,” Luca continued, like he hadn’t heard her.

“He was about to kill all four of you,” Flaca said through tears, her fingers pressed to her lips.

“But Maritza and Yadriel found you,” Luca added.

Julian sucked in a breath. “Yadriel?” When he tried to sit up, he was hit was a violent ache in his chest, eliciting a groan.

“Julian,” Rio warned.

“Is Yadriel okay?” he demanded, trying to push his brother’s arm away.

“He’s okay,” Luca told him. “I asked one of his relatives. There’s a whole bunch of them in the waiting room.”

“Where is he?” Julian wasn’t going to take anyone’s word for it. The only way he’d believe Yadriel was okay was if he saw him with his own eyes. He wasn’t safe until Julian could speak to him and touch him, until he knew for certain. “I gotta see him—” Julian tried to get up again, even though every muscle in his body screamed at him to stop.

Rio pushed him back down with ease.

Julian glowered.

“You got stabbed, Jules,” Rio said.