Winter's Storm: Retribution (Winter's Saga #2) by Karen Luellen Read Free Book Online Page B

good. Heart sounds good, lungs sound clear and pulse-ox good,” he said reading a print out from a machine beside mom’s bed. “Blood pressure, holding steady,” he said nodding to himself. “Excellent. Her jaw looks to be healing on schedule. I know it would be great to be able to talk, Margo,” he said to a sleeping patient.
    “ The kids would feel so much more assured if they could hear your voice,” the doctor’s hands gently touched mom’s face where bruises were beginning to fade. The tenderness was so clear I had to look away because watching seemed intrusive. You didn’t have to be an emotional superconductor like me to see he loved my mom deeply. Anyone with eyes could see she meant the world to him.
    “ Uneventful night?” he asked.
    “ Yep,” Evan answered for us.
    “ Good. Well, Alik and Cole are on the third floor doing their magic act for the kids. Do either of you want to go stand in the back of the room and make fun of them?” Dr. Andrews smiled mischievously.
    “ I’ll go. I’ve been cooped up since yesterday. Do you mind Meg?” Evan asked thoughtfully.
    “ Hum? Oh, no. I don’t mind at all, Ev. Have fun,” I said thinking I’d rather not see Cole right now. Good grief, I thought to myself. I know nothing about Creed, but here I am feeling guilty for having spoken with him. Well, that’s not exactly true. I feel guilty because of the attraction I have for him. Besides, I don’t even know if Creed is safe. What if he’s working for Williams? But, if he is, wouldn’t he have just kidnapped or killed me last night when he had the chance? I was completely unaware of him there in the shadows. He could have put a bullet right through me if he wanted to.
    This is crazy, I thought to myself. Let it go, Meg. You have enough to worry about. No time for a love life. Leave that mushy stuff to the normal girls out there.
    “ Would you mind hanging out for five minutes so I can take a fast shower, Dr. Andrews?” I asked. “I don’t like leaving mom unattended.”
    Maze whined.
    “ No offense, Maze. I just need someone who can speak English, just in case. Then there’s that opposable thumb thing,” I teased while patting his ample flank.
    “ Oh, sure, Meg. I have a phone call to make anyway,” he graciously added, reaching for the hospital phone on Margo’s bedside table.
    “ Great, thanks. I won’t be long,” I said hurrying to gather a fresh change of clothes.
    The moment I stepped under the streams of hot water, my mind wandered back in time. When I think back to that day at the Institute, I am still in awe we all survived. The media reported the event in all its television glory while the smoke was still billowing from the Institute. But once the ashes cooled, Dr. Andrews’ best friend and police detective, Greg Burns was able to keep all details out of the news.
    Dr. Williams fled the country the same night his Institute burned, so the authorities had a lot of questions for him, as well. Once the fire investigators released their report noting the cause of the fire and subsequent explosions was caused by arson, even more people wanted to talk with Dr. Williams. However, he was nowhere to be found.
    He was last seen boarding his personal jet, accompanied by a woman named Michelle Andrews. Their flight plan indicated a trip to the Cayman Islands, but there was no record they ever landed there and an escape to a completely different location is assumed.
    Dr. Andrews, when he found out Michelle had left him, was quiet and solemn. He never went into the particulars with us kids, but he mentioned in a small voice once, how upset he was with himself for “allowing that rebound marriage.” Something about his failed attempt of recreating what he lost when Jenna, Cole’s mom, died.
    Then when he found out Michelle was definitely conspiring with Dr. Williams, he blew his top. Who could blame him? Although I did try to warn him, I couldn’t bring myself to give him the infamous “I