Valentina now understood why Murroh cried so often over guilt. It’s the only thing she felt like doing. Her heart was in a vice. It hurt to breath. She felt like she was under water. And she was the healthy one. When she delivered Eli to the hospital in Rugby, the closest town she could navigate to in her panic, she immediately asked the nurses to call the police. Her clothes were still stained with mud and Eli’s blood. The nurses and doctors took Eli away while she was left trembling in the lobby. Of course, the police were sympathetic to her, and tried to make her as comfortable as possible, but it was hard to be comfortable when Eli might be dying. She tried to remain as calm as she gave her statement. Her hand was shaking as she signed the deposition. Twenty seven hours after the attack, Valentina went to a hotel room for a shower and to change her clothes before returning to the hospital to wait for news. After a few days, a doctor came out to tell Valentina that Eli was in stable condition. She requested that Eli be transferred to a hospital in London to be closer to home.
A week had passed since Valentina made it back to London, and Eli was admitted to a local hospital. He still hadn’t woken since Valentina had managed to coax him into the back of the Mercedes, and Eli wasn’t even truly awake then. She was sure of that. The only thing she’d liked about the hospital in Rugby was the updates. She might not have gotten to see him, but she still was kept up with Eli’s condition. However, back in London, it had been seven days with no news.
Just the same, here she was again in a hospital lobby, crying into a magazine. She’d only been back home to the carriage house twice – both times only to shower and change. There was no point in staying. There was no point in staying. Valentina was sure Leibe wasn’t returning. She felt like an island. She was alone. All Valentina wanted to do was to hold Eli and promise him he’d be okay. He was hurt, he could be dying and it was her fault. People were staring at the pretty girl in the expensive dress and heels, crying in a Swiss accent.
Through bleary eyes, Valentina swore Eli had just walked in to the hospital lobby. It couldn’t be Eli. Eli was up in his hospital bed. Fake Eli was in a red t shirt and a dirty pair of jeans, a leather bag slung over his shoulder. Valentina rubbed her eyes again.
“I’m here for Elijah Coates,” Fake Eli told someone at the nurses’ station. He turned while the nurses behind the counter went for the sign in clipboard, a pen and whatever else they needed to let this man up to see Eli. She wondered if he’d get turned away as coldly as she had been. Fake Eli looked tired, liked he’d been worried. “Valentina? Are you here to visit Eli too?” Fake Eli was actually Levi, Eli’s older brother. They really did look alike. Levi was just a bigger, more muscular Eli.
“Oh, hello Levi.” Valentina rushed to her feet. Levi caught her elbow to steady her, just like Eli would have done.
“Whoa, slow down! You look terrible, Valentina. Have you slept at all?” Levi was concerned for her. She could see it in his eyes.
“No, not really. I’ve just been waiting for news about Eli. They won’t let me see him.” Valentina’s voice waivered.
“C’mon. We’ll go see him now.” Levi said, giving her Eli’s smile. Valentina followed Levi as he started into an elevator. The more she saw of Eli in his brother, the more she missed Eli.
“Excuse me!” One of the nurses shouted after them. She tried to catch them. “Family only!”
“She is family!” Levi insisted as he hit the button to close the door. He took Valentina’s hand, sensing her insecurity. The elevator ride was tense. Levi filled the empty silence. “Don’t let those ladies down there push you around. If Eli was awake, he would have two requests: First, to have you by his side. Second, to request the fanciest hospital gown they had.” Valentina laughed through her worry.
YOU ARE READING
Looking For A Legend (Book 1)
Misteri / ThrillerA young telepath is unexpectedly left with leading his class when his teacher takes leave. One of Elijah's new students Valentina leads him down a path where mysteries only get more mysterious and nothing is as simple as it looks.
