The soar in my pulse Fien’s comment caused nosedives past my toes. I didn’t mean to snap at her like my father always did. It just truly isn’t the time for this conversation. Last update I was given, Dimitri was being transported to Ravenshoe Private Hospital. Theater is prepped and ready, and thanks to Isaac Holt, Dimitri’s name is at the very top of the list. It gives us a few hours to work my plan through the grinder to smooth out any hidden skeletons my panic has me overlooking, but time won’t get Dimitri out of the woods. The resilience of his team without its leader is all he has to count on.
I really fucking hope I don’t let him down.
9
Roxanne
“Are you ready?”
Strands of thick, dark hair fall into my eyes when I bob my head to Rocco’s question. I look nothing like me, but the warrior inside of me can’t be concealed by a wig, contacts, and an outfit that aged me by a decade without the need for makeup. “I was born ready.”
Rocco’s smile is the first one I’ve seen the past thirty-six hours. Dimitri’s team haven’t stopped since he was admitted to Ravenshoe Private Hospital under a guarded watch. The Bureau believes he is so dangerous, even his thirteen-hour long surgery was viewed by three agents.
In a way, I’m grateful for the Bureau’s panic. Their inability to trust means I didn’t have to watch proceedings unfold from the outside in. I was a part of Dimitri’s operation even with us being miles apart.
I didn’t watch him be operated on because I’m a weirdo who gets her kicks from blood and gore. I did it because he’d know I was watching. You don’t have to see someone directly in front of you to know they’re there. You can sense them. No one is ever truly alone. You just have to close your eyes, and everyone you’ve ever loved is right there in front of you.
Rocco thrusts a blueprint of Ravenshoe Private Hospital to my side of the van Smith is commanding. Its quality has improved from the vehicle he had when Dimitri arrived at the prison Claudia was incarcerated at, but its outer shell gives no indication to the value of the equipment hiding inside of it. “Do you want to do a final once over before you head in?”
I shake my head. “It’s all in here.” I tap my temple to get across my point.
“All right,” Rocco replies, a little uneased. “In and out as fast as you can. Henry’s men are waiting in the service elevator, so all you need to do is get him in the elevator.”
I swallow the lump in my throat before nodding again. “In and out. Got it.”
Before the nerves in my stomach have the chance to announce their arrival, I lock my eyes with Smith’s in the rearview mirror, wordlessly thank him for his assistance before leaning into Rocco’s side. Since our embrace has nothing to do with riling Dimitri, it’s quick. However, it is also filled with emotion. If I hadn’t bestowed Estelle with the title of being my best friend when we were teens, I would have granted it to Rocco years ago. He truly is one of my best friends, and I’d be lost without him.
“Go get our man, Roxie,” he whispers in my ear, doubling the courage surging through my veins. “Bring him home to his babies.”
Home. Such a simple word but oh-so-accurate to describe our unique pairing.
“Stop here,” I request to Smith. He’s far enough back the security guards on the front entrance of the hospital won’t see the head of surgery clambering out the back of a rusty old van. It would look mighty suspicious if Dr. Jae rocked up to work in a shit-box when Isaac Holt pays her millions per year to head his privately funded hospital.
When Smith does as requested, I return his stare in the rearview mirror. “I’ll meet you at the docks.”
He can’t guide my steps today. The Bureau left nothing to chance. If Dimitri’s team wants to break him out, they have to go against the full force of the Bureau without any radio equipment.
I’m willing.
Are you?
Confident a thirty-four-year-old medical prodigy would have confidence by the bucketloads, I walk straight for the front entrance of the hospital without the slightest wobble to my stride.
It’s hard to keep my expression stonewalled when I dash right past security without having my credentials scrutinized. Regretfully, the rookie agents manning the elevator that goes to the floor Dimitri is a patient at aren’t as eager to let me slide by. They stop me by gripping the arm I spent two hours rubbing self-tanning lotion into this morning. Dr. Jae ‘supposedly’ return from a holiday at the Caribbean early for an undisclosed patient. Since there’s no way my morning-sickness-primed pregnancy glow could compete with her beautiful sun-kissed skin, I got inventive. “This floor is off limits to anyone but the surgical team.”
“I’m well aware of that.” If Smith could hear me now, he’d be rolling his eyes. Dr. Jae’s accent is as unique as his, and I did a shit job reenacting it. “I’m the head of surgery, and late for my rounds.” I click my fingers at them like they’re bellboys and my Chanel bags were just dumped at their feet. “So be a good lad and hit the buzzer, will you.”
Knucklehead number two peers at me as if he thinks I’m cute. The man on his left response is nowhere near as friendly. “Identification card and license.”
While grumbling how I’ll have his badge if one of my patients dies because he delayed my arrival, I hand him the identification he requested. You didn’t really think we’d be so stupid not to consider all obstacles we could face before implementing our ruse, did you? Even my eyes have Dr. Jae’s beautiful oval shaping. It’s amazing how different someone can look when they learn how to contour.
“Have a pleasant day, Dr…”
I steal his words by snatching Dr. Jae’s stolen identification cards out of his hand. I act as if I’m pissed he wasted my time where, in reality, I’m doing everything in my power to stop him from seeing the relief darting through my eyes. Dr. Jae is a knockout. I am not. I was certain our ruse would fail the instant Rocco suggested for me to pretend I am her.
The drawbacks of being popular is showcased in the worst light when I make my way down the corridor of the surgical unit of Ravenshoe Private Hospital. Most people I pass greet me politely, but the instant I reply, their pleasantries switch to suspicion. Even though they don’t approach me, I’m confident rumors will circle the water cooler by the end of today that Dr. Jae’s Caribbean holiday was a guise for a facelift in Thailand.
“Chop, chop, get to work!” I snap out, preferring they think I’m a bitch than unmask me in front of two men standing guard at a door partway down.
Since the Feds are keeping Dimitri’s admission under wraps, I wasn’t aware which room was his until now. They may be plain-clothed, but I can sniff out an agent even better than Rocco.
After snatching up a random patient chart from a door halfway down, I increase the length of my strides. Henry Gottle runs his entity like a captain. If I’m one second late, his ship will sail without Dimitri, our children, and me aboard. I can’t let that happen. This is my chance to prove to Dimitri he chose right when he spared my life all those years ago.
Our children own his heart, but only I have the key to unlock it.