SURVIVING SAVANNAH: GODS OF CHAOS MC (BOOK 16) by Honey Palomino (buy e reader TXT) 📕

He walked away before I could question him further. I wanted more details on exactly how they were treating her. I wanted to know what the plan was. I wanted to know what they expected, what they’d tried and what they could still do for her. Hell, they wouldn’t even let us look at her medical chart.

Something wasn’t right, and I was beginning to think it started with that sketchy doctor.

For the millionth time, I wished Doc was still with us. He’d have charmed the pants off the nurses and gotten the answers he needed right away.

I laughed to myself, thinking I might just have to employ some of his methods myself. While I didn’t plan on ending up in the supply closet with one of them, a little flirting might go a long way.

“I think we need to look into getting a second opinion on Cherry’s condition,” Hannah said.

“I agree,” I said.

“I’m going to call around and talk to some other doctors in the area,” she said.

I nodded in agreement. “Sounds good, I’m going to go check in with everyone. I’ll keep you posted.”

I hugged her and walked out of the hospital, leaving her to do what she’d been doing everyday — waiting for her sister to wake up.

Chapter 24

ROSE

“I don’t want to go!”

I stared at Maggie across the breakfast table, and it was like looking at myself twenty years ago. She was so beautiful, so willful, so exceedingly independent and stubborn.

I knew how that felt all too well.

“It’s not up to you, sweetheart,” I reminded her. “It’s a court ordered visit. And I’m sure your father has something cool planned. He’s going to pick you and Clem up after school today.”

“Oh, please! The only reason he bought that house by the water is so he could leave me there and think I had something to do. He’s not interested in spending time with me. He stays in his office, or he goes to the hospital at all hours of the night. Last time, he spent half an hour with me and Clem, and that was it.”

“Well, if you don’t go, I’ll get in trouble.”

“It’s not fair!”

“Well, life isn’t fair,” I said, cringing as the words passed my lips. I sounded like my mother. In fact, I’d had this exact exchange with her when Blade left town. I’d wanted so badly to go find him, and even though I was eighteen, my parents wouldn’t allow it. They’d said it wasn’t proper for a girl to go chasing some boy across the country.

I’d never understood why he left, or why I couldn’t go after him. To me, none of it was fair and my mother was quick to remind me that I would learn this lesson many times in life.

“And I have to be with him on my birthday, too, Mom? That’s not fair either! I want to hang out with my friends!”

“Maggie, you read the court order yourself. Every other weekend, and every other holiday or birthday. I had you for Christmas. This is just how it is now. You can plan something with your friends another time to make up for it.”

She glared at me, crossing her hands over her chest, and shaking her head.

“What?” I asked.

“This is all your fault.”

She flung the words at me like daggers. She was convinced I’d ruined her life, and maybe she was right, maybe I’d ruined all of our lives, but at least I wouldn’t have to spend another night under the same roof with Derek.

Was it too high a price to pay? I had no idea. Not yet, anyway.

“Look we’ll get used to all of this. It’s just new.”

“It’s not new, Mom, it’s fucked up!”

“Language!” I shouted, just as Maggie’s phone buzzed. She rolled her eyes and answered.

“Hey, Dad.”

As she listened, her face slowly lit up with happiness.

“Oh, you can’t? Aw, that’s too bad. Okay, yeah, sure another time. Sure, love you too.”

She hung up the phone and looked over at me smugly.

“He has to work all weekend covering for someone. I’m free!”

“What!” I cried. “That’s not allowed!”

“Not everyone follows the rules like you do, Mom.”

“Unbelievable!”

“Whatever, at least I don’t have to hang out with him,” she said. “Will you tell Clem? I’m picking up Tara before school.”

“Sure,” I said, shaking my head. “Although I should call and argue with him.”

“What good is that going to do? You always lose every fight with him.”

“That is not true!” I said.

“Sure, Mom.”

She rolled her eyes and stomped off, grabbing the keys of her way-too-expensive Land Rover, purchased by her rule-breaking father, and slamming the front door when she left.

I sighed and leaned against the kitchen counter, just as Clem emerged from her bedroom. She came right over and gave me a hug.

“Hi, sweetie,” I said.

“So, Dad’s not picking us up?”

“No, babe,” I said, grateful I still had my little girl who wanted to hang out with me and didn’t hate me. “You’re stuck with me this weekend, I’m afraid.”

She pulled away and looked up at me sheepishly. “Actually, I was hoping you’d let me go to Cassie’s for the weekend? Her Mom already said yes. She said I can go home with them after school today.”

I tried to ignore the little crack in my heart and smiled down at her. Maybe a little time alone would do me good. I probably wouldn’t see Maggie again until Sunday, knowing her. She spent all her time with Tara and her circle of friends now.

“Okay, babe,” I sighed. “Go pack and I’ll give you a ride.”

She did a little jump for joy and skipped to her room. I watched her glee with envy, trying to remember the last time I’d been that happy.

Chapter 25

MAGGIE

“It’s Friday,” Tara said. “Nobody will notice if we aren’t in class.”

I ignored the awful feeling in my stomach and put the Rover in gear. Tara had convinced me skipping school on a Friday was no big deal, but my body