“You’re going to have to leave,” the doctor said, ushering me out.
“But my mother!”
“We’ll do all we can for her.” She pushed me out the door.
Chapter Four
Talon
In a daze, Jade stumbled back into the waiting room. I stood and rushed to her.
“What’s wrong?”
“My mom is crashing. Or something. They wouldn’t tell me. Her monitors started blaring. I don’t know.”
I crushed her to me. I wanted to hold her and protect her from all that was wrong in this cruel world. I hadn’t been able to protect myself, but goddamnit, I would protect her from the evil and cruelty that surrounded all of us.
But I couldn’t. I had no control over what happened to her mother. I hadn’t been able to save my own mother, and I couldn’t save hers either.
She wilted against me, and I helped her sit down. All we could do now was wait.
A half hour later, the female doctor came out.
Jade stood. “My mother?”
“She’s stable,” the doctor said. “For now.”
“Thank God.” Jade wilted back into her chair.
“You need to get some sleep, Ms. Roberts. You’re no good to your mother like this. Go home. I promise we’ll call you if there are any changes.”
“She’s right,” I said.
“No.” Jade shook her head. “I don’t want to go.”
“Then let’s at least get a room nearby for the night.”
She sniffed. “All right. But I don’t want to be more than a couple blocks away.”
“We can handle that, blue eyes.” I turned to the doctor. “Thank you for your help. Do you have our contact information?”
“Just leave it at the front desk when you go.”
I nodded and walked Jade to the elevator.
It was going to be a long night.
* * *
“Two rooms,” I said to the guy at the front desk of the Carlton.
Jade held on to my arm, her eyes glazed over. I handed the guy my credit card, signed, and took the key cards.
Both on the fifth floor. Good. “Okay, come on, blue eyes.” I led her to the elevator and pushed five. When we stepped out, I turned right to the first room. I slid the key in the slot and opened the door.
“Here you go. This is your room,” I said.
She turned. “What do you mean, my room?”