Marked By Pain (The Marked #2)(24)

“So speechless that you can only say my name? I like that look on you,” he grins and makes me chuckle a little as he pulls away, but stays by my side. He pulls his phone out, texting away as I begin to ask questions.

“Where is Kelly, is she okay?”

“Recovering still, but awake and demanding to see you,” he says, “Ryan has practically locked her in the room until the healers say it’s safe for her to get up.” I smile at the idea of anyone stopping Kelly from seeing me, much like I want to see her, and would if every part of my body didn’t hurt. I actually don't think I could get up off the bed without face planting the floor.

“And Verity?” I ask, hoping that she hasn't just gotten away with it. Enzo's face clouds over in anger as he spits out.

“Locked up, and she won't be getting out anytime soon.”

“Miss Crowe,” Mr Daniels breathes out in relief when he slams into the room. He doesn't look any better than Enzo does, with his rumpled clothes and pale face. His hair is messy, but it’s still a sexy mess, and he doesn't move as he stares at me.

“Mr Daniels,” I say softly, and Enzo looks between us before standing up. Enzo leans over me, kissing me lightly before whispering.

“I'm going to find you some food and you two should get rid of all the secrets. Talk about why he protects Verity,” he says, shocking me into silence. He leans away and walks out the room, patting Mr Daniels’ shoulder and the two of them seem to have some kind of silent conversation. Mr Daniels shuts the door behind Enzo and walks over to me as I pull myself up on the bed a little.

“Do you want a drink, Miss Crowe?” he asks me and I nod.

“I asked you to call me Kenzie,” I say as I watch him pour me a glass of water and bring it over, sitting on the edge of the bed.

“I remember, I don't think I will ever forget when you asked me that,” he says as I take a deep drink, and then place the glass on the side.

“How are you feeling?” he asks me, his green eyes seem to be accessing my every move.

“Honestly, a little sore, but I’m more worried about Kelly, and I’m feeling like I never want to see Verity again or I'm going to try and kill her,” I tell him honestly, and he looks down at the ground. I expected him to argue with me, try and convince me she’s all rainbows and sunshine but he doesn't.

“Did you know we had two dads? I believe Verity is my half-sister, but as you know in our world, that means very little,” he tells me.

“Same with me and Ryan, I don't think he is Alaric’s son. He has my other dad's eyes, and he doesn't look much like me or him,” I reply.

“I agree,” Mr Daniels replies.

“You’re still trying to save your sister, aren't you?” I ask him.

“I'm trying to save the little girl I remember. The girl who played with dolls, who loved dogs, and who I used to watch movies with every Sunday after dinner,” he replies sadly.

“That isn't her anymore,” I say gently. “She isn't that sweet girl, she’s pure evil now.”

“I know,” he says, and I reach up to place my hand on his arm. He catches it, bringing it to his lips, and kissing the back of it slowly before looking up at me.

“At some point, I realised I had lost her, but I still couldn't admit it to myself. I just kept repeating the same thing in my head, that she will choose to be good in the end. That she won't betray me...but then she hurt you. The woman she knows how much I fucking care about...and she still did that. Even if you were a stranger, she shouldn't have done that,” he says angrily, and kissing my hand once more.

“She didn't care when she hurt me and Kelly, she liked the power,” I tell him, remembering the look in her eyes.

“I didn't know how far gone she was until I saw you in here, and her smiling when I visited her just now. She isn't sorry, not one part of her is,” he says.

“I'm sorry, and I'm sorry that you can’t save her. Just like I don't know if I can save Ryan, I think Verity may have changed him too much,” I admit, biting my lip.

“I'm losing everything, first my parents, now my sister and—” he starts to list but I lift my hand out of his and place a finger against his lips.

“You won't lose me,” I say and move my hand as he goes to say something else, but the door is opened.

“Mackenzie, how good it is to see you awake,” Alaric says as he walks into the room, pausing to look between me and Mr Daniels.

“Daniels, you are needed in room sixteen,” he snaps out.

“Of course I am,” he replies as he stands. He heads for the door and turns looking at me over his shoulder. “I will come see you later, Kenzie.”

“I'll see you later then,” I reply, giving an awkward half-wave. Turning to Alaric I narrow my eyes. “What do you want?”

“Is that any way to greet your father, Mackenzie?” he asks.

“Not really, it's a good thing the three of them aren't here,” I retort.

“None of them are your actual father though, are they?” he questions.

“They all are. Leave me alone,” I snap.

“And here I was thinking you were finally coming around,” he drawls, stepping around the bed to look at my chart.