“About the same,” I said, clearing my throat.
Claire handed me a stack of folded clothes. “Change first. We’ll talk about it when you’re back.”
I glanced at Jack, then my father, then nodded to my sister before leaving for the closest bathroom. I pulled open the door and let it close behind me, gripping the sink and staring into the mirror. Everything Jack had said would happen, happened. I was distracted and that put Nina in danger. I shifted, letting my jacket fall off my shoulders and to the floor. I reached back and peeled off my shirt. Nina’s blood had soaked through my shirt to my skin, and a pattern of crimson was left behind.
I closed my eyes, feeling that she was still lost under a cloud of anesthesia, her skin, tissue, and nerves crying out. She couldn’t hear them, but I could. They were tending to the bleeding first, and they’d just finished removing her spleen like I’d suspected they would. It was what they began separating from her body next that stunned me.
I splashed water on my face, my chest, and then pulled dozens of paper towels out of the dispenser to dry off, feeling my knees weaken. I fell back against the door and slid down the wood until I was sitting on the bleach-washed tile, covering my face with my hands. My one job was to protect her, and she was on the opposite end of the hall, pieces of her being cut away to save her life.
Claire knocked on the door twice. “Jared?”
“Not now.” I stood up and changed into a white T-shirt and jeans, letting my forehead fall to the door. I couldn’t face Jack and Cynthia. They had preached separation for years, and the first time I disobeyed, their greatest fear came true.
The lock was picked, and Claire slowly pushed on the door. When she saw me, she pulled me in tight. “What is it? What’s happening back there?”
I had to lean over, but I buried my face into the crook of her neck, shaking my head. “She’s still bleeding?”
“Can they stop it?”
“Maybe. They’re performing a hysterectomy right now.”
Claire stiffened, but then relaxed. “Jared? Jared, listen to me. They’re going to stop the bleeding, patch her up, and you’ll have saved her life.”
“I should’ve seen it coming,” I cried. “I didn’t see it coming.”
Claire grabbed my face with both hands and forced me to look down at her. “Is He perfect, or not? Are we made in His image, or not? Are our choices part of His plan, or not? Answer me, Jared.”
“We’re Hybrids, Claire. We’re part of a long line of punishment.”
“Or a long line of lessons. This means something. I don’t know how it could have ended up differently, but whatever that was, wasn’t meant for you or her. Do you hear me?” When I didn’t answer, she slapped me once—hard. “Suck it up, buttercup. Your Taleh is in the operating room. We have enemies looming. You good?”
I sniffed once and stood tall, nodding.
“You good?” she repeated, this time firmer.
“Yes,” I said, clearing my throat.
“Fix your face. I’ll meet you out there.”
She left me alone, and I splashed more water on my face, feeling supernaturally exhausted. I took a few deep breaths and rejoined my family. Now Nina’s roommate Beth, Kim, Ryan, Tucker, Josh, and another friend, Chad, were there, too.
Beth stood when she saw me and threw her arms around my neck.
“Thank you,” she said with a Southern twang. “Thank you for saving her life.” She held me at arm’s length. “Kim told us what you did, and had you not been in that cab with her, had you not used your body to shield her, had you not shot the driver of the other car who was still coming after her … she wouldn’t have a chance. I don’t … I don’t know who you are or what’s going on, but she’s still here fighting because of you.” Her eyes filled with tears that toppled over and down her cheeks. “Thank you for giving my friend that chance.”
Beth turned on her heels and sat between Kim and Chad. Chad hooked his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to his side.
“She’s right, you know,” Bex said, looking up at me with his big blue eyes. “I know you must feel awful, but this isn’t your fault.”
“It’s mine,” Jack said, walking toward us.
“It’s ours,” my father said, standing behind him. “We took the book. We set all this in motion.” He turned to look at Kim, who was glaring at him.
“We’re returning it tonight, and if they won’t back down, we’re going to end this,” my father said.
Jack’s eyes lost focus. “They’re lucky we’re going to offer them a deal.”
“What they’re attempting disturbs The Balance,” my father said.
“If they don’t agree to a cease-fire, how do we end this?” I asked.
“We’re not going to wait,” Cynthia said. “It ends tonight.”
“Cynthia,” Jack said.
“They came after my baby girl, and I have it on good authority they’ll keep coming after her.”
“From who?” Jack asked.
“Someone we haven’t met yet,” Cynthia said, her expression softening. She patted her husband on the shoulder. This ends tonight.” Her heels clicked across the waiting room floor and down the hall.
Bex frowned. “She’s not supposed to get involved, right? That’s her one rule, right?”
“Technically, she’s Cambion. She’s still part human,” Jack said.
“But,” Claire shook her head, “she’s a Queen of Hell. She’s the Queen of Hell. Even Lucifer is afraid of Lilith. That’s why he put her on this plane to become Cynthia. To soften her with motherhood and a human life.”
Lillian blew out a laugh. “Motherhood doesn’t soften a woman. Becoming a mother only makes you fiercer. They don’t know what they’ve done.”
“Should we…?” my father asked.
Jack shook his head and stared down the hall where Cynthia had gone. “She doesn’t need our help. That woman doesn’t need anyone’s help.”
I sighed, feeling Nina’s vitals improve. “They’ve stopped the bleeding,” I said, relieved.
Jack’s eyes filled with tears, and he grabbed my arm. “So, she’s going to be okay?”
“She’s got a long way to go, but she’s fighting.”
Jack put both hands on top of his head and walked away, taking in deep breaths to fight the sobs caught in his throat.
Claire put her arms around my waist and locked her fingers. Ryan tried stealing a glance at her, quickly looking away when he realized I’d caught him.
Two hours passed, and then a third. After five hours, the nurse came to update us. She had several breaks, including a fractured pelvis. They’d stopped the bleeding, and her heart was strong. After another two hours, they’d closed her up ,and she was in recovery. The surgeons, Dr. Gregory and Dr. Milacek, arrived to update us again.