Page 68 of Stolen Salvation

“I hope so, Bás. I hope so.”

“Now get the fuck out of my car. I have work to do, and that doesn’t include being your fucking chauffeur.”

Bishop laughed but exited the car and headed inside, where Hurricane was waiting with a plate full of bacon, eggs, hash browns, beans, mushrooms, and tomatoes.

“Eat then shower. You fucking stink.”

Bishop grinned as he accepted the plate and fell on the food like a starving man.

“You need to take better care of yourself. You’re no good to Charlie if you’re exhausted.”

“Thanks, Mum.”

Hurricane shot him the middle finger and wandered back to the coffee pot and poured him a coffee. “Once you’ve had some sleep I’ll drive you back to the hospital.” He took the plate away and walked back to the sink.

“Where is everyone else?”

“Lotus and Titan are showing Andrea some basic self-defence moves.”

Bishop went to stand. “Is she ready for that?”

“She needs it, Bish. She’s frightened and giving her the tools to feel safe is what she needs more than rest.”

“What about Snow and Bein?”

“They headed back to Hereford to collate what we know and de-brief with Eidolon and Fortis.”

“I feel like I’m letting you all down.”

Hurricane frowned and he looked pissed. “Don’t make me hurt you, dickwad. You’re where you need to be so cut that shit out right now.”

“I know. I just feel helpless and useless.”

“There’ll be plenty of time for you to help out when Charlie wakes up.”

“I guess you’re right.”

“Of course I am. Now shower before we have to have the property fumigated.”

Bishop chuckled as he headed to the bedroom he’d last shared with Charlie a few days ago. Her scent clung to the sheets, and he sniffed like a freak before he headed for the shower, sleep, and then back to his wife.

Chapter 23

Images and sounds seeped into her consciousness. Bright lights and the darkness of an empty hallway. Cries and loud urgent words were begging her for something, but she couldn’t grasp what they wanted. A soft hand on her face, a flicker of awareness, and then nothing, blessed nothing.

Sounds were clearer now, her sister’s voice so clear it sounded like she was whispering in her ear. But that wasn’t right, her sister was lost, missing. Confusion battled with the terror that clawed at her chest. Noah, a man with a gun pointed at him, and then pain like nothing she’d ever felt before exploding in her head. Charlie fought to open her eyes to see, to find him in the thick fog of her mind but it was an impossible feat, and she fell back into an exhausted sleep.

A gasp for air had her eyes fluttering open and then closing quickly against the brightness of the light. Her limbs felt heavy and tired, her thoughts jumbled and confused as she tried to figure out what had happened.

“Charlie, baby, can you hear me?”

Opening her mouth she tried to respond to Noah’s whispered request and failed, the cotton drying out every last ounce of moisture until speech felt impossible. A damp, cool cloth was placed against her lips, and she struggled to find the energy to wet them.

“Here.”

A straw was held to her mouth, and she opened it on reflex as she sucked down the cool water. The pain in her sore throat instantly easing as she forced her brain to open her eyes again. This time the light was blocked by the face of the man she loved—her Noah.

“Noah?”