“Good point.” She worries her lip. “Maybe I should take you.”
“And risk a seizure, or worse? Plus you’re way doped up right now.”
She blows a raspberry until her attention is diverted. “Your phone.”
I answer the number I don’t recognize and put the phone to my ear. “Hello?”
“It’s me, Loki. You asked me to call?”
I blow out a breath and smile at my sister who looks as relieved as I feel. “Can you take me to the hospital? It’s kind of an emergency.”
Loki came and drove me to the hospital in near silence. He asked me what happened, but I didn’t tell him, I almost feel ashamed to admit that I slashed Nok’s tires last night. Also, I’m worried he’ll throw me out of his car and never talk to me again.
He did tell me how bad my head looks though. So nice of him. He made it a point to tell me I look like a zombie.
“Can she pay cash?” Loki asks the receptionist as I sit in the corner and rest my eyes. “She doesn’t have health insurance and her mom has gone away.”
“I’d have to speak to the doctor,” the receptionist replies, and I drift away for a bit, listening to the radio in the background.
“Another victim has been found but sources can’t confirm if this death is linked in any way to the deaths of the three young men from surrounding states.”
“It’s terrifying, Cheryl, could this be the work of the person in question? If we can call them a person… Will the police ever notify us if it is?”
“Probably not, though I’ll be telling my loved ones to stay safe and avoid strangers at all costs.”
I shut off and fight the urge to vomit.
“Miss Deville?”
“Come on,” Loki takes my arm and helps me to my feet.
I walk unsteadily towards the kind-looking male doctor.
“That’s a nasty bump you’ve had there,” he comments softly and sits me on the bed in the sterile room. He presses it with two fingers and shines a light in my eyes. We go through my symptoms and he clucks with displeasure. “You should have called an ambulance and come in immediately.”
“Is it bad?” Loki asks, looking more concerned than I feel.
“I suspect it’s just a concussion, nothing too major but if you’d tell me how it occurred and on what object I might get a better idea.”
Sighing, I finally admit, “I was in the back of a friend’s truck last night when he decided to take me on a bumpy ride. I hit my head against the inside of the truck bed.”
“Nok?” Loki grits and shakes his head. “I told you he was dangerous.”
“I slashed his tires, it’s all good,” I reply and look at the doctor who only raises his brows at my admission of guilt. “What drugs will I need?”
“I’d like to send you for a CT scan, just to rule out any brain bleeds. I’m sure you’re fine, you’re responsive and your eyes look great, but it would make me feel more comfortable.”
I pinch my lips together. “How much are they? I only have cash.”
“We’ll worry about that later.”
I nod and rest back, feeling woozy. “I feel sick.”
“You’ve got a definite concussion, let’s hope that’s all it is.”
“How long will the results be?”
“A few days, like I said, I’m not too worried.”
I blow out a breath. “And it’s necessary?”
“Definitely. My professional opinion says so. In fact, if you agree to one, I’ll cut the price in half.”
Narrowing my eyes, I ask sardonically, “I thought you weren’t worried.”
“I’m not, but I do like to be sure.”
“She’ll have it done,” Loki replies for me, his dark blue eyes round with concern. “And what do we do about her concussion in the meantime?”
“Rest, plenty of it, and keep yourself hydrated,” he explains and starts to scribble on a piece of paper. “I’ll prescribe you something for the pain.”
“Thank you,” Loki says on my behalf and takes the prescription note.
“Plenty of rest, you need at least a week.”
I smile a flat-lipped smile but don’t confirm that I’ll do that. I don’t have fucking time to do that. I’ve got to take care of my sister.
I’ll sleep today and maybe all day tomorrow, but after that, I’m done.
We leave two hours later, after a CT scan that didn’t take long but the wait for it was ridiculous. My wallet is a lot lighter than it was, but it wasn’t as expensive as I thought it might be. I’m just glad to be rid of that place.
“Can we take a detour?” I ask Loki who looks at me incredulously. “I just want to go to Sander’s garage real quick.”
“Are you serious?”
“Please?”
He bites his tongue and takes me where I asked to go.
I instantly spy Nok’s truck when we pull in and so does Loki. Hopefully Nok isn’t anywhere in sight. My head is hurting too much to handle him yelling at me today.
“What are you doing?” Loki asks as I make my way to Joseph’s father who sold me the part I needed to fix my bike not long ago.
“How much do you think two new truck tires cost?” I ask him, ignoring his gaping stare.
“Are you fucking serious? You just paid over a thousand dollars for an injury he caused.”
“I know, it doesn’t make sense,” I say and smile at Joseph’s dad. He looks at my bruised face and his smile fades. “Mr. Sanders.”
“Lilith, been keeping out of trouble?”
I shrug. “Nope.”
He smiles again but it’s cautious. “Joseph said you had a bit of a run-in with Nokosi?”
“He did that to her face,” Loki snitches and my eyes fly to him, telling him to shut his mouth. “Well, he did, and now she wants to pay for his tires, even though she’s a grand out of pocket for her hospital bill.”
Mr. Sanders isn’t smiling anymore. “Nokosi hit you?”
“No. It was a misunderstanding.”
“You’re defending him?”
“Loki, please, your voice is pissing me off.” I pull out my wallet and start counting bills. “How much are the tires costing him?”
Sanders doesn’t know what to do, he looks torn but when I ask again and explain that I need rest, he shows me the invoice and I pay it in full.
“Now we can go.”
“I can’t believe you just did that.”
I stop and look at Loki. “I’m grateful for what you’ve done today but stop. What I do and why I do it is none of your business. I know you don’t understand, and I know you never will, but it’s done. Now drop it.”
He looks like he wants to argue some more but then his eyes drift to my temple and he resigns himself to the silence I’ve asked for. We make the journey back to my house and I leave a hundred on the seat before he walks me to my door.
“Thanks for being there today.”
“It’s no problem. Truth be told it’s not even because I like you. It’s because I’m nosy.”