Long Road Home Read Free Page B

don’t hate you, Jules. Christ, I’ve dreamed of little else other than seeing you again. Hoping against hope you weren’t dead. Nothing could make me hate you.”
    His green eyes probed her intently, his eyebrows furrowed in grave determination. He looked older, and she wondered if she was the cause of the lines around his eyes. Yet another thing to add to her growing pile of guilt. If only she had never gone to France. If only. There were so many if onlys.
    Nothing could make me hate you. He had no idea the things she had done. Would he really say that if he knew?
    She was tired, so damn tired. She closed her eyes wearily and leaned back against her pillow. When she opened them again, she saw concern flare in Manny’s eyes.
    “I’m going to have the nurse give you a sleeping pill. You need to rest. You’ll be transferring in a few hours.”
    Alarm shot through her. She couldn’t go with Manny. Couldn’t place him in danger. Northstar wouldn’t hesitate to kill anyone who got in his way. Until she could find a way to be free of the bastard, no one close to her would ever be safe.
    Her mind whirling, she nodded slowly. She still had the pill she’d been given earlier. She hadn’t wanted anything that would dull her senses. Coupled with the one she would be given now, it might be enough to put Manny to sleep.
    When he rose to consult the nurse, she slipped her hand under her pillow and pulled out the pill she had hidden there.
    A few seconds later, a cheerful younger woman walked in carrying a tray. “I brought you another cup of coffee,” she said to Manny.
    “Thanks.” He took the cup from her with an expression akin to extreme relief.
    She directed her attention to Jules and gave her the same option she had earlier. “Can you swallow another pill or shall I give you an injection?”
    “I can swallow it,” Jules said in a low voice.
    The nurse poured a glass of water, and Manny took it and the pill from her. He walked to the side of the bed and helped Jules sit forward with his free arm. Jules took the pill with the hand she’d palmed the other pill with and quickly shoved both in her mouth. She took a sip of water and made a show of swallowing, but she rolled the pills under her tongue. She’d have to hurry before they dissolved.
    “I’ll be back to check on you a little later,” the nurse said before leaving.
    “Thank you,” Jules murmured.
    As soon as the nurse walked out, Jules glanced over at Manny, who had sat down with his cup of coffee. “Can I have a sip?”
    He lifted an eyebrow. “I didn’t realize you drank coffee. You always hated it before.”
    “I don’t really, but I remember you always drank it. The smell reminds me of you.”
    He smiled and handed her the cup. “Careful you don’t burn yourself.”
    As she put the cup to her lips, her stomach lurched at the idea of ingesting the nasty brew, but she tilted it back, shoving the pills from her mouth into the steaming liquid.
    She held onto it for a moment, giving the pills time to dissolve before she handed it back to Manny. Hopefully she wouldn’t have to wait long. She didn’t have much time before he transferred her out.
    Knowing she had to be convincing, she settled back with a yawn and closed her eyes. The temptation to give in to sleep was strong. She was tired, more tired than she’d ever been in her life. She focused on the faces of her parents, anything to give her a sense of purpose. Then her thoughts drifted to Manny. She couldn’t lose him too. Even if it meant remaining as far away from him as possible.
    After what seemed an interminable amount of time, she cracked open one eye and peeked over at Manny. He was yawning broadly and was slouched in his chair. He looked at the coffee in disgust, as if wondering why it wasn’t keeping him awake, then impatiently drained the last sip.
    A twinge of guilt nipped at her. She was betraying him in the worst way. He would be hurt and not understand why she’d left. But