VANESSA BELMONT
Spoiler alert: No one sedated me. The doctor gave me local anesthesia, but honestly, the bite and pull of the needle going in and out of my flesh still freaked me out.
Nathan let me squeeze his arm as hard as I wanted, and he didn't even flinch when I dug my nails into his skin.
"Almost done, Mrs. Jang," the doctor murmured, tugging the thread through my skin like he was sewing a damn quilt. The doctor snipped the final thread and stepped back. "All set. You'll need to keep it clean—"
"Yeah, yeah, no swimming in sewage. Got it." I swung my legs off the table, ignoring the way the room wobbled. "Let's go see Carver."
"You should rest."
"Just let me see him, Nathan. He's my friend." I stood—too fast—and my knees buckled. Nathan caught me. He stared into my eyes for a long moment.
Nathan turned to the doctor. "Take us to Haynes."
The doctor hesitated. "He's in recovery. Family only—"
"I own this hospital," Nathan said, voice low.
