He flicked a switch, flooding the doorway with light, and led me into the alcove just inside. Under the glow of the light bulb, Royal ran his hands over my body.
“I'm okay,” I offered weakly.
“You're not okay.” His voice was brusque, but his hands were gentle. “You're covered in blood. We need to get you to the hospital.”
“J.T.—”
“The paramedics are working on him. As soon as we get you checked out, we can focus on J.T.”
That gave me something to hold on to. “Okay, then take me to the hospital.”
“I'm on it. Stay right here.” Holding my arms, he lowered me to sit on the steps and disappeared again. This time I didn't panic. Much. Royal was back a minute later. “One of the deputies is going to give us a ride. We'll get there the same time as J.T. You ready?”
I started to nod, then stopped at the pain in my neck and head. “Ready.” A deputy I didn't recognize led us to his vehicle at the end of the alley, and we slid in the back.
I stared blindly out of the window facing the alley, watching as two paramedics jogged beside a stretcher, rolling it to the ambulance.
J.T.
If they were jogging, he was still alive to save.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Daisy
We pulled onto Main Street ahead of the ambulance and Royal picked up his phone.
“Griffen. I need a favor. Vanessa attacked Daisy and J.T. We're on the way to the hospital. Can you come get her keys and then go by Daisy's place and get her a change of clothes?”
“My bags are packed,” I whispered. “On my bed. He can just grab them and I can find something.”
Royal's grin flashed for a second, and I knew exactly where he planned to bring my stuff after all of this was done. I didn't have it in me to argue. I was too tired, too scared, and most of all, I wanted to be with Royal.
Wherever he was, that's where I'd be. In the end, it was that simple.
“She seems okay,” Royal said to Griffen, “but I want to get her checked out, and Griffen—Vanessa stabbed J.T. She told Daisy she was trying to kill me. Daisy had my car. Vanessa must have thought J.T. was me in the dark. She's in custody, but be careful.”
He hung up. I rested my hand over his, squeezing his fingers in mine. I didn't have the energy to sit up, but I had to tell him. “It's not your fault. You know that, right? What Vanessa did isn't your fault.”
“She was after me,” he said, his voice rough. “J.T. was in the wrong place—”
“Not your fault,” I repeated. “She said someone told her to kill you.” I tried to remember her exact words, but it was a blur. “She said he told her to get rid of you and she'd be free.”
“Did she say who 'he' was?” Royal's voice was tight, his muscles stiff.
“No. She was rambling, and I was trying to fight her off, so I didn't hear everything.”
“It's okay. You're alive. That's all that matters.”
“And J.T.,” I said, unable to erase the picture of him, blood everywhere, eyes closed. He'd been so still.
“And J.T.,” Royal agreed.
We were at the hospital sooner than I expected. Those flashing lights on top of the car really cut down the travel time. The deputy escorted us into the ER, taking the lead at the front desk.
“I have a witness to a crime here. I need her in a room. I'll be on the door. She's with the victim, he's right behind us in the ambulance.”
The twin doors crashed open and J.T. was wheeled through, the paramedics on either side met by people in scrubs, the paramedics shouting things I didn't understand. All I knew was that if they were rushing, J.T. was still alive.
It was a slow night in the ER. The nurse had us in a curtained-off room a moment later, the deputy standing outside. Royal didn't want to wait for the nurse to come back and check me out. He grabbed a handful of paper towels from the sink and wet them before he got to work cleaning me up.
I reached for them, mumbling, “I can do it,” but Royal waved me off.
“No, you can't. Just sit there and let me take care of you.”
I didn't fight him. I was covered in drying blood, and I hurt all over. I wanted a hot bath and to know J.T. was going to be okay. For the moment, I wasn't going to get either of those things.
Royal didn't get very far cleaning me up before a nurse hustled in and pushed him aside. Griffen poked his head in while the nurse was making noises over the scrapes on the back of my wrists.
Royal stepped out for a minute. I could hear them talking in low voices on the other side of the curtain, but I missed what they said. It didn't matter. Royal would tell me later if it was important.