A frown gathered between his brows. “Those aren’t allowed at this facility.”
“The sender was given special dispensation,” she explained. “This was one of two arrangements that arrived. I would have come sooner so as not to disturb your rest, but security held them for testing. The balloons are starting to droop, so I brought yours the second it was deemed safe.”
“Pass me the card.” His hand shot out, and the nurse flinched as if expecting a blow to land. “I won’t hurt you.” He forced calm into his voice. “Just give me the card, please.”
Scurrying over to the plush bear, she lifted the card and placed it on his palm. “Do you want me to open it for you?”
His flat stare told her his body might be flagging, but his mental facilities were humming along just fine. “I can take things from here.”
“Yes. Of course.” Her gaze touched on the door. “If you’re sure you’re okay…?”
The envelope held his complete attention, but he assumed by the squeak of her Crocs that she had let herself out. Jabbing his thumb under the flap, he ripped it open and tugged out a white card inked with calligraphic loops and whirls that read “Feeling yucky and not so ducky?” Smiling, he cracked it open and kept reading. “Listen to the rubber ducky, and ignore your quack doctor. I’m cleared to visit Dad tomorrow. I arranged to see you while I’m there. Be a good patient, and I’ll bring ice cream. The good stuff.”
Adam lowered the card until he made eye contact with the BDSM bear who was not the promised rubber ducky.
Clearly something had been lost in translation when Luce placed her order.
Standing under his own power wasn’t going to happen. His lower legs had gone numb while he knelt, and the color in his feet was off thanks to poor circulation from the neurotoxin. His wings were out of commission for the same reason, not that they would be much help in an enclosed space.
Forced to grip the metal railing and hoist himself up onto the bed, he panted through the effort as he settled in on his back. The IV was a tangle under his hip, as were the other tubes and cords. Once he caught his breath, he tucked the card under his pillowcase and mashed the call button.
“How can I be of assistance?” a chirpy woman answered.
“My IV seems to have fallen out,” he said flatly. “Can you send someone to restart it?”
“Oh, Mr. Wu.” A keyboard clacked in the background. “Mr. Kapoor told us you —”
“He misunderstood.” Adam settled against his pillows, eyes fixed on the drooping balloons, fingers twitching with curiosity over the plush bear’s texture. He battled the impulse to position it in bed next to him, covers pooled around its pudgy waist, when Luce came for her visit. He imagined the rush of blood heating her cheeks when she beheld her gift and mortification set in. Such a human emotion. On her, it pleased him. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Not until she visited him. After that…
Word of Famine’s capture would reach his father’s ears all too soon, and his interest heralded deadly consequences for them both. Adam had come too far, risked too much, to lose her now.
Especially to her precious Ezra.
The adventure continues in the next book in Hailey Edwards’ bestselling The Foundling series…
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