Illicit Captor by Maggie Cole

14

Aidan

Time moves slowly. Every second Scarlet's in surgery, I hate. I want her safe and healthy, yet I also gave the hospital an alias, claiming I lost our identification cards. They couldn't refuse us, and so far, it appears that no one knows who we really are, but I'm not resting easy.

At any moment, Tommy and his men could catch wind that we are here. We're almost two hours away from the cottage in the mountains that we broke into, and I can't stop debating about what to do.

It might not be safe to return to the cottage. Scarlet was right. Somebody could have found out that we broke in. Plus, I left all of our stuff there, which could give Tommy a heads-up that we're not too far away.

I turn on my phone and search for what's in the town that we're in. There's not much. It's small, like the previous one we stayed in. But that's the thing about small towns. They have locals, and locals talk—especially if someone threatens them the way that Tommy and his men will if they come here.

I finally cave, realizing I need a different plan. I can't do this alone. Not now, with Scarlet in the shape she's in. So I call my brother.

Devin answers, "Did ya come to your senses?"

"I didn't call to talk about that. I have a situation." I grind my molars.

"What's happened?" he questions.

"Scarlet's appendix almost burst. We're at the hospital, and she's in surgery."

The line goes quiet. Devin finally states, "That's a dangerous position to be in."

"Aye, I know. That's why I'm calling. I need ya to find me a new location, and no one's to know, not even Tynan. And I expect ya to keep your word this time. Do ya understand?"

Devin groans. "This isn't anything to mess around with, Aidan. Ya should hand her over to her sister."

"No, and that conversation's over. Can I trust ya to do this favor for me and have my back or not?" I spout.

He grunts then affirms, "Aye, of course, ya can."

"Text me when ya have the new location." I hang up, not wanting to discuss or argue any further about what he thinks I should be doing.

I'm not turning Scarlet over to Alaina.

I pace the hospital floor as time slowly crawls by. The doctor finally appears. He scratches his bald head, informing me, "She's out of surgery and did great."

Relief fills me.

Then the doctor states, "She's going to need to stay for a few days."

The hairs on my arms rise. I shake my head. "Yea, we can't do that. So what's the option to release her sooner?"

He furrows his brows, his eyelids turning to slits. He scolds, "She's just had a major operation. She needs to be monitored. Ya have no choice. She's here for at least two days, possibly three, depending on her recovery."

I cross my arms. There's no way we can do that. But there's also no point arguing with him. He's never going to see it my way. It's better to keep my mouth shut until I know how to get her out of here without causing a stir.

The doctor adds, "She can return to her normal activities within a few weeks, but she needs lots of rest. It might take a while for her to get back to her normal energy level. But we did the surgery laparoscopically, so she'll likely recover quicker."

"Good to know," I say.

The doctor peers up at me and hesitates. Then he continues, "It's really important that she gets her rest and is monitored. Don't try anything stupid."

"Did I say I would?" I ask.

He arches his eyebrows, declaring, "I know your type."

Insulted, I ask, "What type is that?"

"The type that's going to do whatever ya want, and ya could put her life in danger, so don't do it," he warns.

I stay quiet, clenching my jaw, not tearing my gaze off his.

He adds, "They're trying to wake her up now."

"When can I see her?" I ask.

"After the nurse finishes, you'll be able to go in. Shouldn't be too much longer." He spins and walks away.

My anxiety starts to increase again. I walk over to her room and stare through the window at the nurse trying to wake her up.

I ignore the doctor's orders, bust through the door, and pull a chair up to the other side of the bed.

The nurse's eyes widen. She declares, "Ya can't be in here while I'm doing this."

"I promised her I'd be here when she wakes up. She'll freak out if I'm not," I insist.

"Do I need to call security?" the nurse threatens.

I shoot her my most intimidating look, asking, "Do ya really want to do that? Do ya think it's smart?"

She lifts her chin, glaring at me.

I put my palm on Scarlet's cheek and wrap my fingers over her hand, softly stating, "Petal, it's time to wake up. Come on, lass."

She stirs. Her lips slightly part.

I keep stroking her cheek, pushing, "Come on. Wake up."

She blinks.

I praise, "That's a good lass. Ya can do it."

She finally opens her eyes and then her face turns green. She squeezes them shut, moaning.

The nurse shoots something into her IV, ordering, "Easy there."

"What did ya give her?" I ask.

"Anti-nausea medicine."

Scarlet's face returns to a normal color. She takes a deep breath. She closes her eyes again.

I add, "You're going to be okay, petal. Ya did well." I pick up her hand and kiss it.

She opens her eyes again, mumbling, "My stomach hurts," and tries to sit up.

"Whoa," the nurse says, holding her down to the bed. "No fast movements. Ya don't want to rip your stitches."

"It hurts," Scarlet admits.

The nurse nods. "Yea, you'll be sore for a while, but every day you'll improve. If ya need anything, just push that button."

She gives me another disapproving look, leaves the room, and shuts the door.

Scarlet turns to me, swallowing hard. "We can't be here, can we, Aidan?"

"Ya don't need to worry about anything. We're fine."

"What if..." She swallows hard, continuing, "What if they know we're here?"

"They don't. Now let me worry about things. Just close your eyes and rest some more."

"But, Aidan—"

I put my finger over her lips, ordering, "Shh, close your eyes, petal."

She's still worried, but she finally drifts off.

A text comes in from Devin with a new location. A bit of relief fills me that one problem is solved. Then I pace the room again, knowing our time is running out. The longer we stay here, the more we put ourselves at risk.

But I'm also worried about Scarlet. I know the doctor's not totally wrong. It is a risk for me to move her. Yet we don't have any other options.

I research everything I can on appendicitis recovery. Then I send my brother another text.

Me: Bring our doctor to the new location and whatever meds she'll need. Hurry.

It takes a moment before I get a reply.

Devin: Three hours.

I glance at my watch. Three hours pass, but it's not until close to midnight when I finally decide it's quiet enough in the hospital and safe enough to move her without causing any commotion.

I wake her up, kissing her forehead. Her green eyes flutter open, glowing in the dark. She asks, "Is everything okay?"

"Shh, it's fine, petal. But it's time to leave."

"Why, what's happened?" she says worriedly.

I shake my head adamantly. "Nothing's happened. But we need to be cautious."

She tries to move, but I hold her down. "Whoa, lass, ya heard the nurse. No sudden movements."

"But I have to get up if we're going to go."

"No, ya don't. I'll carry ya. Now listen, I'm going to put the blanket over ya. Ya stay quiet in my arms. Okay?"

She gives me a look.

I don't know how to take it. But I kiss her forehead again, then glance one more time out the door. The hallway's clear. I scoop Scarlet up in my arms, then wrap the blanket around her.

She winces slightly.

"I'm sorry," I murmur.

She curls into me, and I tug the blanket to cover her head. Then I go to the doorway and wait until the nurse turns the corner.

I quietly step out, carry her down the hall, and open the staircase exit door. I carefully move down the five flights of stairs, and when I reach the exit, I crack open the door, glancing around my surroundings. When one of the security guards turns and walks the other way, I leave the staircase and exit the first door to the outside.

I step into the back lot. The area is barely lit, and I stay in the shadows as I carry her around the building until I get to our vehicle.

I place her into the car, put the seat back, and get her settled.

She reaches for my cheeks.

I kiss her on the lips, reassuring her, "Everything's fine."

She wrinkles her forehead. "Where are we going? Back to the same place?"

I shake my head. "No, a new place."

"Where?" she asks.

"A place my brother secured for us, and our family doctor from Belfast will be with him too. Don't worry, I just need ya to rest on the way there, okay?"

She slowly nods her head.

"That's a good lass," I praise. I kiss her again, then secure her seat belt across her.

She winces, and I decide it's better to leave it off, as much as I don't want to.

I shut the door, go to the driver's side, and turn on the engine. I pull up directions in my phone to the place that Devin secured.

It's another hour and a half out of town, and the roads aren't well lit. There's barely any traffic, but I stay vigilant, ensuring nobody's following us.

It's the most paranoid I've been in a while. Word might get out about us being at the hospital. I hope it doesn't. I don't need Tommy anywhere up here.

I curse myself for leaving everything in the cottage. I call Devin.

He answers, "Where are ya?"

I reply, "We're just leaving. I left our stuff at the last cottage. I need ya to go get it so we don't leave a trail."

"Where's the cottage at?" he asks.

"I'll send ya the coordinates. We broke in, so you'll have to look for a place with fresh tracks in the snow and broken glass."

He groans. "Ya got to be kidding me."

"No, I'm not," I reply and hang up.

I pull over to the side of the road, shoot him the location, then return to driving.

I continuously watch my rearview mirror to ensure that it's us and only us going to the new place. A few times, some cars pull in behind me. It puts me in a predicament with Scarlet in the state she's in and no seat belt secured around her.

I don't want to speed up, so I slow down both times, waiting for them to pass, and eventually, they do. By the time I get to the new cottage, Scarlet's asleep. She's been out for a long time, and I don't wake her. I slide my arms under her and carry her into the house.

She stirs.

"Hey, we're here, petal. Everything's okay," I assure her, kissing her on the forehead.

The doctor opens the door, and I nod at him as I step into the new place. He shuts and locks the door and then points toward the bedroom.

I carry Scarlet inside and put her on the bed. I sit next to her and push her locks behind her ear. "This is Dr. Murphy. He's been in our family for years. He'll take good care of ya."

She grabs my shirt. "Aidan, don't leave me."

"I'm not leaving ya, lass," I reassure. "I'm just going to step to the side, okay?"

She grips me tighter, begging, "Just stay here."

"It's okay. He won't hurt ya," I assert, stroking her cheek.

"I can come on this side of the bed," the doctor offers.

Scarlet turns her face toward him, and fear overtakes her expression.

I repeat, "Ya don't need to be scared, lass."

She looks at me, takes a deep breath, and winces.

"Careful there. No sudden movements. Ya got a lot of stitches there. Do ya mind if I look?" Dr. Murphy asks.

More anxiety riddles her face. She shakes her head. "No, I'm okay. I don't need any help or anything. I just need to rest."

"Scarlet, ya got to let the doctor look at ya. I'm right here. Everything's fine."

She squeezes her eyes shut.

"I'm going to lift your gown now," the doctor states.

She squeezes my hand tighter.

He lifts it and pulls the dressings off her wound. "They did a good job. Do ya want to see your scar?"

She swallows hard, slowly opens her eyes, and looks down at her stomach. "Will it disappear?"

He answers, "Eh, there will probably be a little one. It'll start to fade though."

She bites her lip.

He says, "Everything looks fine. I'm going to clean it to keep it sanitized and then put another dressing over it, okay, lass?"

She releases an anxiety-filled breath, stating, "Okay."

I stay close to her, stroking her forehead.

He covers it, then pulls some pills out of his bag. "This is for pain. It'll also help ya sleep. I'll leave the directions with Aidan, but I think right now everything is fine. I'll stay here for a few days during your recovery, if you're okay with that?" He glances at me.

"Aye. Please," I reply, wanting to have medical attention for Scarlet should she need it.

He rises and hands me the pill bottle. "Let me get a glass of water. She should take one right now." He leaves the room.

"See, he's nice. Ya don't have to worry about anything."

"He won't tell anyone we're here?" she frets.

"No, like I said, he's been our family doctor in Belfast forever," I insist.

She bites her lip, scrunching her face.

Dr. Murphy returns to the room with a glass of water and hands it to me.

I hold the glass to her lips, and she drinks the water.

Then I hold the pill to her mouth. "Here, lass."

She allows me to put it in and she swallows it.

The doctor says, "I'll be in the other room if ya need me." He leaves.

I lie beside Scarlet, putting my arm around her shoulders, and she rests her head on my chest.

It doesn't take long before she's asleep again.

I study her sleeping form, glad we're out of the hospital and that the doctor is here, but I can't relax. Every part of my instincts says that Tommy's coming and we can't stay here long.

Yet I don't know where we'll go once we have to move again. I'm running out of hiding places, and Ireland has never felt smaller.