Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 66503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
If I don’t get there in time, he might be gone before I know the truth.
C’mon, c’mon, c’mon!
I force my legs to go faster, despite the pain. The only thing keeping me going right now is pure adrenaline as I turn to the left and the clinic comes into view.
All I can think about is finding Beast.
The man whose name I don’t even know, but whose presence and power are still cemented in my mind. Because he was the only man who ever cared about me and chose my needs over himself. Over his own life.
And if there’s even a remote chance he might still be alive, I have to know.
I have to be there for him like he was for me.
I have to save him.
When I finally get to the building, I run through the front door and pause to look around. Some of the clinic’s employees stop to stare because I come running in so violently.
I adjust my posture, hide my hands in my pockets, and saunter to the front desk. “Hi.”
“Kan ik je helpen?” the lady says.
Oh shit, more Dutch people. Of course.
After all these years, I’m still not used to it.
But I guess that’s what you get when your father rarely lets you out.
“Uh … do you speak English?” I ask.
The lady smiles awkwardly. “Of course.”
I clear my throat and wait until the rest of the employees stop looking at me like I’m a threat.
“I’m looking for a patient. Wondering if he might be here.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “What’s the name?”
Oh. I hadn’t actually thought about this before I came here.
A blush creeps onto my cheeks. “People call him Beast.”
The lady in front of the desk makes a funny face. “Okay … and surname?”
“I don’t have any,” I reply.
I look around to make sure I don’t recognize anyone. I don’t want to get caught by Lex’s henchmen. Even though I know what I’m doing right now could get me into trouble.
She glares at me. “And what is yours then?”
Shit. Should I answer truthfully or make up a lie?
Then I remember … Lex. His wife’s name. I can use her.
“Anne,” I say. “Anne De Vos.”
The woman licks her lips and checks something on her computer.
Has Lex’s wife never come here?
I hope not, or she’ll surely know I’m not her.
“The man I’m looking for is kind of huge. He’s got a lot of scars,” I say, trying not to panic. “Hard to miss.”
It only makes her narrow her eyes even further. “Well, since you’re his wife,” she murmurs, rolling her eyes as she taps onto the keyboard. “I may be able to make an exception to our rules here.”
I’m amazed at my ability to lie as I smile through this awkward conversation. But the moment someone dressed in all black appears from a tiny hallway in the back, I panic and turn around to face the wall.
The woman looks at me like I’ve lost my mind while I’m sweating profusely as the guard walks by and heads out the door.
I blow out a sigh of relief when he’s gone.
“You okay, ma’am?”
“Yeah, yeah,” I muse. “I’m fine. Just a little nauseous.” I wave it off like it’s no big deal, throwing my hair back over my shoulder. “I can’t stand the look of my husband’s employees.”
She smiles awkwardly but still continues searching on her computer.
I don’t think my lie will hold much longer.
“Ah, I see it now.”
Those words make my eyes become almost glued to the screen.
“He’s here?” My heart skips a beat.
“Well, he was.”
The disappointment strikes almost instantly. “Oh …”
I feel like someone just ripped my heart out of my chest and stomped on it.
“I’ve seen him come in, but I never saw him leave,” she mutters. “Not on my schedule anyway. Must’ve been one of my coworkers at the desk then.”
I can’t stop myself from asking the one question that’s been on the tip of my tongue since I stepped foot inside this clinic. “Is he still alive?”
She throws me a bewildered look. “I don’t know.”
She checks the screen again, scrolling through the data.
My fingers dig into the counter until it almost feels like my nails pop off.
“He lost a ton of blood. Lots of doctors were involved. I wasn’t there myself, but from the looks of it … probably not.”
I want to scream at the top of my lungs.
Instead, all that leaves my mouth is a simple, devastating whimper.
“Can I see the room?” I ask, my voice fluctuating in tone as I attempt to keep the tears at bay.
“Sorry, lady, no can do,” she replies. “I know you said you’re De Vos’s wife, but this is above my pay grade.” She turns the monitor away and focuses on something else, signifying the end.
The end of our conversation.
The end of what little hope I had left.