The Thief (Black Dagger Brotherhood #16)(53)

“Yup, I gotta. Unless you’d prefer to continue to enjoy our luxurious five-star accommodations here?”

“Fine.” Assail crossed his arms over his chest. “I shall welcome you with bated breath.”

“That’s the spirit.”

When the medical staff stepped out to arrange for an ambulance—or whatever, maybe that Range Rover—Sola excused herself.

“I’ll be right back,” she said to Assail.

Out in the hall, she called after Dr. Manello. “I’m sorry, can I grab you for a second?”

The man turned around and smiled. “What can I do you for?”

“You’re sure this is okay?”

“Yes, I am. We can get there fast if something happens, and the brain scans are looking good. You’re going to be there with his cousins, and they can control him until we arrive.”

Ask him, she thought. Ask him for all the ugly details of the diagnosis and treatment.

And then she should raise the truly awful questions that gave her the most anxiety: How long does Assail have? Is the end going to be bad? Are you certain you’ve done everything you can?

Dr. Manello put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “It’s going to be okay. Besides, getting him out of here will do him good. Ehlena’s calling Ehric right now, and as soon as he finds an escort in, they’ll be here.”

Sola refocused, moving away from what terrified her to the things she could control. There would be time, when she was stronger, for the hard conversations. Get him home and settled, she told herself.

“You’ll give me his prescriptions?” She cleared the lump in her throat. “Or do I have to go to a CVS or something?”

“We’ll give you everything. Not to worry.”



* * *



—

The doctor was true to his word. Within half an hour, Ehric arrived in the Range Rover and Sola got a goody bag of pills with detailed instructions and all kinds of telephone numbers to call. And then Assail walked out of the facility on his own, refusing assistance from the medical staff, his cousin, even her.

It was clearly a matter of pride, and as he struggled with his head held high and his jaw tight with effort and concentration, she had to blink away tears. But he made it all the way to the parking area and into the back of the SUV without a slip, fall, or help-me.

The big blond man was once again their escort, and as Sola settled into her rear seat next to Assail, he smiled at her from the front. “Nice to see you again. Glad it’s under these circumstances.”

“Me, too.” She glanced at Assail and tried not to worry over how pale and exhausted he seemed. “It’s good to go home.”

And then they were heading out. She didn’t pay much attention to the gating systems or that strange fog this time. She was too busy watching Assail.

After a short recovery time from his exertion, he began to glow with happiness as he looked out the window—and she tried to get in touch with that emotion. The sad truth that they were bringing him home to die, however, was too overwhelming for her—to the point where she almost wished they could turn around and go back to the clinic.

This resurrection of his was but a flare, not a true fire source.

God, the seesawing was exhausting, she thought. One minute she couldn’t wait to get him home; now she wanted to return to the hospital…heaven knew what she would be feeling or thinking next.

“Look at the snow,” Assail said as they emerged onto the country road. “So much of it has fallen.”

His face was full of wonder, as if he were a child, and he sat forward in his seat, focusing on the headlights and the road. When he reached behind himself and started patting around, she wasn’t sure what he was doing—until their hands brushed and he held on to hers.

Closing her eyes, she rested her head back and felt the subtle bumps of the ride, the heater blowing on her ankles, the warmth of his palm against hers.

I don’t know how to do this, she thought. I don’t know how to…

“We’re here!”

Sola jerked herself awake and looked around. They were on Assail’s long driveway, his glass house glowing with light up ahead—like it recognized its owner was finally back home.

As they came around to the garages, the door in the middle trundled up, and Ehric pulled them inside. No one moved until the panels were lowered back into place—and the instant those heavy sections landed, everybody got out at once.

Evale threw open the way into the mansion, the man’s face both tense and hopeful.

Assail refused help and did not stop smiling as he shuffled over to his cousin. “Miss me?”

Evale went down the shallow steps and closed in, his arms stretching out and embracing his family. Quiet words were spoken and Sola looked away to give them privacy.

“Oh, man, who is cooking in there?” Rhage said.

Sola took a deep inhale and, sure enough, caught all kinds of her grandmother’s magic. “My vovó,” she replied. “That’s who’s at the stove.”

“She’s obviously a genius.”

“I would agree,” Sola said as Assail motioned for her to come in with him.

Hand in hand, they walked through the mudroom and then they were in the kitchen. Her grandmother didn’t look up from the skillet she was using.