by Alexa Verde
“Julia, get that EpiPen. Hurry!” His voice was gruff, and then he disconnected.
Each breath costing her a gigantic effort, Julia forced herself to move forward. She couldn’t pass out. She wouldn’t pass out.
Dear Lord, I don’t want to die. Please save me. In Jesus’s holy name. Amen.
Finally, she made it to her bathroom. The room swirled in front of her. She opened the medicine cabinet.
Then she blinked. And blinked again.
The EpiPen was missing.
That couldn’t be right. She was sure she’d put it on the lower shelf of the medicine cabinet. She always kept it there.
But it wasn’t there now.
Julia couldn’t take her next breath. She had a backup EpiPen in her desk at work, but she’d never make it there in this condition. Her body went limp, and she slumped against the wall. She gathered what little strength she had left and typed a text message on her phone.
EpiPen gone.
Julia sent the text to Ivan, then slid down the wall, her legs not holding her any longer.
Sheer terror swallowed her whole.
If Ivan and the ambulance didn’t arrive quickly, she was going to die.
Chapter Six
His heart racing, Ivan turned on the siren. The deafening shrill echoed inside him as he ran the red light. Minutes ago, he’d received the news that the few ambulances of Rios Azules were attending other emergencies. It might take time for the ambulance from a neighboring city to make it to Julia’s place.
Her text message set his teeth on edge. With her EpiPen gone, she didn’t have time to wait for the ambulance. Every second without epinephrine put her life in more danger.
Sharp edges of worry for her sliced into him as he burned rubber, making a turn. Tires squealed, but he didn’t pay attention. He had to make it to Julia’s house before she succumbed completely to the allergic reaction.
He was grateful that, as a first responder, he carried a first-aid kit. He was especially grateful that the kit contained an adrenaline auto-injector. After several 911 calls with severe allergy reactions and the ambulances held up elsewhere, the county doctor had given the chief a prescription for EpiPens.
Ivan dashed along the streets while other cars made way, fear for Julia spurring him on. One of the cars stayed in his lane, and he had to slow down to pass it. As soon as he was in his lane again, he floored the gas pedal. His pulse thundered in his ears. The overwhelming degree of his reaction surprised him, considering that he couldn’t forget the words in Seth’s note.
Ivan turned to the right, tires protesting again amidst the blaring of sirens.
He knew one thing. He needed to make it to Julia before… He didn’t want to think of the alternative. He had to slow down as he turned into Julia’s neighborhood.
Was he mistaken, doubting Julia after Seth’s death? Many things had happened in a matter of a few days. A possible stalker. A break-in. A push down the stairs. A now a severe allergic reaction with her medicine mysteriously gone. Guilt squeezed his lungs. Had he let grief and hatred blind him? Had Julia been telling the truth all along?
Near her small cottage, he threw the car in Park, grabbed the first-aid kit, and bolted toward the front door.
“Julia, open up!” he yelled before he even reached the house.
But as he tried for the handle, it was locked. He hammered with the knocker, but there was no response from inside.
His gut twisted. Julia might have passed out.
Or worse.
He considered rounding the house to look through the glass back doors. But he couldn’t afford to lose precious minutes. The fastest way to enter the house would be to kick out the door. He’d replace the locks later.
Ivan stepped back, then rushed forward and slammed his shoulder into the door with all the strength he had. Pain ricocheted through his right shoulder. The lock gave in, and the door flung open.
Ivan rushed inside. The living room was empty, so he hurried to the bathroom. His breath hitched at the sight of Julia. She was slumped on the floor, her back against the wall and her eyes closed. Her skin looked blotched, probably due to anaphylaxis. Worst of all, she wasn’t moving and he couldn’t hear her breathe.
His heart sank.
Had she lost consciousness? He sat down near her and tapped on her shoulder.
Julia opened her eyes wearily, and he heaved a sigh of relief. She tried to speak, but no sound came out. She started wheezing.
It would be better to help her lie down, considering her blood pressure was probably very low. But the bathroom was too small for that, and he couldn’t waste another second by carrying her outside.
From the first-aid kit, he grabbed the EpiPen, removed it from its case, and pulled the yellow cap off.
“I’m going to give you an injection of adrenaline,” he said.
Julia didn’t say anything. He wasn’t sure she’d even heard him.
Ivan pushed the black tip of the injector into her outer thigh through the fabric of her jeans. A click confirmed the injection began. He slowly counted to ten, waiting for it to finish, then removed the empty EpiPen and placed it in a bag to hand it over to the EMTs.
He had the second adrenaline auto-injector in the kit, as well, just in case one more dose was necessary. He hoped it wouldn’t be needed.
“You’ll be all right. I won’t let anything happen to you.” A painful stab of guilt reminded him he’d already let bad things happen to her. Just like he’d let them happen to Seth and Jake.
His heart skipped a beat as he watched Julia closely, fear for her making his blood cold. Every second seemed to last an eternity, time stretching like one giant rubber band.
A need to pray stirred inside him, and he wished he could still pray.
Finally, her wheezing stopped. The victorious sound of her breathing, though rather shaky, nearly brought tears to his eyes. The swelling of her throat seemed to decrease, and the red raised rash on her face was clearing up.
Yes!
The shot worked!
Ivan let out air from his lungs and did a mental fist pump.
Sirens wailed in the distance. The ambulance should be here soon. Ivan wiped droplets of cold sweat from his brow.
He placed his fingers gently on the vein on Julia’s neck. Her pulse was rather high now, but this was normal after an adrenaline shot. He checked her blood pressure. Her BP was on the low side but not dangerously low.
Ivan tamped down his joy at hearing Julia breathe. She’d still have to be taken to the hospital. She’d need fluids, oxygen, or steroids, and hours of observation. There could be risks to her health as the epinephrine wore off.
The feeling of relief was short-lived.
As the blaring of sirens neared, he gave her a reassuring smile. “I’m going to guide the paramedics.” Though, with the door knocked out, they probably wouldn’t need that much guidance.
Julia’s lips moved, but no sounds came out. She mouthed the words, “Thank you.”
“I’m glad I could help.” He hurried outside.
She didn’t need to thank him. In fact, it was his fault she’d been alone when the anaphylaxis had happened. He should’ve stayed with her, like his instincts had told him to.
Ivan showed the paramedics the way to the bathroom, one of them being Ashley again. Her face drawn, Ashley rushed to her stepsister.
Soon Julia was examined and loaded on the gurney. He walked alongside her to the ambulance, looking at her with as much reassurance as he could muster, and explained the situation to Ashley as he handed her the bag with the EpiPen.
His mood was grim. Julia seemed to have been the object of several attacks already. Of course, the severe allergy could’ve looked like an accident, had her EpiPen not been stolen.
Ashley nodded to him as she navigated the gurney with a young male paramedic. “Thank you for helping my stepsister. I wonder what could’ve happened to her EpiPen. I’ve never known Julia to be absent-minded. I doubt she could’v
e misplaced it.”
“I agree.” Ivan didn’t like the idea of leaving Julia, but he had to process the crime scene and report to his boss.
Ashley seemed to guess his thoughts. “Don’t worry about Julia. We’ll take good care of her. She’s in stable condition now. You injected her with epinephrine just in time.”
“I’ll be with you as soon as I can.” Ivan touched Julia’s hand when she was about to be loaded inside the ambulance, her bright red hair a sharp contrast to her pale face.
“It’s okay,” she mouthed in response, her lips void of color.
As Ivan watched the doors of the ambulance being closed and the ambulance drive off, something inside him shattered. He’d let his grief affect his judgement, and this was the result. Julia had almost suffocated to death.
He had to remedy this. Ivan called the chief and explained the situation. “I request backup. And time off to protect Ms. Morrison.”
“I’ll give you backup. No time off.” The chief’s voice didn’t leave room for argument.
“With all due respect, I need it.”
“She had an allergic reaction and misplaced her EpiPen. Doesn’t mean she’s in danger, Vargas.”
“She claims it was stolen, and I believe her,” Ivan said firmly.
“You believe her? Since when?” His boss sighed. “This is not a good move on your part, Vargas.”
Ivan straightened his back. “I realize that, sir.”
“You’re not going to give up, are you? Fine. I’ll grant you the leave. But for three days only.”
“Thank you, Chief.”
Ivan disconnected and called the locksmith for the lock replacement. Then he interviewed the neighbors while he waited for his backup, Aidan Rowe. When Aidan showed up, Ivan gave him the information about the incident.
“I’ll take it from here.” Aidan nodded.
“Thanks.” Ivan headed to his car.
Aidan was a great, seasoned cop, and Ivan’s instincts told him he could count on Aidan. Rowe had also been a friend of the Danger Girls, to the point of almost marrying Lydia, until she’d broken off their engagement without any explanation. Aidan had rushed to Mari’s and Soledad’s sides when they’d needed help.
As Ivan hurried to the hospital, there were three important questions whirling in his head.
Who was trying to harm Julia?
Why?
And if Seth’s suicide was really a murder, had Ivan let his brother’s killer get away?
***
Hooked up to an IV, Julia stared at the gray wall, wishing to be somewhere other than the hospital room. The scents of medicine and disinfectants did nothing to improve her mood. She tried to wrap her mind around the missing EpiPen but had no logical explanation other than it had been stolen. Stolen by someone who knew her well and had access to her home.
Julia shuddered.
The door flung open, and Ivan rushed inside.
Her heartbeat increased, and she ran her hand through her tousled hair. It was ridiculous to worry that she looked like a mess. She shouldn’t want to look nice for Ivan. They had no future together. Who cared that she was pale, unkempt, and dressed in an ugly hospital gown? Apparently, she did.
Julia pulled up the blanket to her chin, even though she wasn’t cold, then scolded herself. Was she as superficial as everybody had accused her of being?
“How are you?” Ivan asked.
Her heart warmed at his obvious concern. But even if he stopped blaming her for Seth’s death, she was still a reminder of him losing his brother. And then there were other issues…
“Fine.” Her voice was slightly hoarse, but at least she could speak. That was a big improvement from several hours ago.
Ivan dropped on the chair near her. “Fine?”
“Okay, I’ve been better. But I need to find the positive in things. First, I’m alive. Second, I’ve never appreciated breathing as much as I do now. Third, you’re here with me. And I don’t see hatred in your eyes.”
Guilt flashed in his dark eyes. “I never hated you. I couldn’t. But I doubted you. At first, I believed the suicide note instead of you.”
“Don’t beat yourself up. You still helped me.”
His expression hardened. “Apparently, not enough. The severity of the attacks is escalating. I have to find out what’s going on.”
“That’s my intention, too.” She had prime interest in that. Whoever killed Seth could be after her now. She flinched. “Of course, as soon as I can get out of here.”
“I let my pain blind me. I should’ve looked more into Seth’s death. Now the trail is cold.” His voice was coated with regret.
“Don’t blame yourself. You acted according to the evidence you had at the time.”
Despite the hospital and the scary situations of the past days, euphoria filled her for several moments. Ivan had stopped doubting her!
“I’m supposed to be good at distinguishing between when people lie and when they don’t,” Ivan said. “Besides, I’ve known you forever.”
“At least you’re on my side now.”
With Ivan near her, she felt safe. But she couldn’t hide behind his broad back forever. He had a job he loved doing and parents who needed his help in their time of grief. She wouldn’t ask him to put those things on hold for her.
But for now, she was grateful. She was alive.
Thank You, Lord.
“You rescued me today.” Julia sent him a thankful glance.
“Don’t mention it.” His eyes darkened. “If I was wrong about Seth’s death… If he was murdered, I’ll do everything to find his killer.”
And he might need her to do that. Julia shifted on her pillows, moving away from Ivan. Was this the reason for his change in attitude? Anyway, she needed his protection, not his affection, so the reason shouldn’t matter to her.
“Are you moving away from me?” he asked.
“Of course not.” Julia shifted back.
“I’ve sent the cookies to the lab to see if there are any peanuts in them and dusted for fingerprints. But I don’t hold out much hope there. Even if the cookies contained peanuts, it might be an accident.”
She narrowed her eyes. Would she have to prove herself again? “The stolen EpiPen wasn’t.”
“True. Who could know about it and about your allergies?”
Julia sighed. “Everyone. After that incident at school when you had to inject me with adrenaline, it wasn’t much of a secret.”
A knock on the door stopped the conversation.
A nurse came in and checked Julia’s vital signs. As soon as the nurse was gone, Ivan leaned to Julia. “I’m sorry. I should’ve known you wouldn’t have lied to me.”
The clean scent of his aftershave reminded her of other times. Including when he’d kissed her... Her heart thudded in her chest now the same way it had done then. If he moved a little closer and she lifted on her pillows...
“What happened to us, Ivan? We used to get along so well.” She stared into his eyes. “We both lost someone we cared about deeply. I can only imagine how hard it’s been for you. We should’ve helped each other through grief.”
“We should have.” Ivan brushed hair away from her face, his fingertips lingering on her skin longer than necessary.
Her skin tingled at his touch, and a wave of apprehension went through her. Was he going to kiss her?
Ivan took her hand, but he didn’t move closer to her, didn’t say anything. Julia closed her eyes, waiting, waiting…
Either from being wiped out emotionally or from the medicine, Julia drifted off to sleep.
She came to with a start. It was dark outside, and the night light was on. Ivan’s hand wasn’t covering hers anymore, which gave her a strange sense of loss. Had he left? Julia lifted herself on the pillow and looked around the room.
Ivan was sitting with his eyes closed, leaning against the back of the chair, probably tired. A longing stirred inside her. He’d obviously dropped everything to keep watch by her
side.
She shifted in her bed.
He opened his eyes. “You’re awake. Lydia, Mari, Ronda, Ashley, and Barbara came by. But they left to let you sleep. I have good news and bad news. I talked to your doctor. Six hours have passed since you were admitted and everything looks fine. He agreed to release you.”
Julia perked up, eager to get out of the hospital. “Okay, that’s the good part. What’s the bad one?”
“The doctor will release you on the condition that you won’t be alone tonight. I don’t want you to go to your house, anyway. It’s not safe. I’d like to take you to the Rios Azules Inn and rent connecting rooms. That way I can be nearby if you need help. Unless you prefer to stay at Lydia’s or Mari’s?”
Julia chewed on her lip, considering the suggestion. “I’m sure Lydia or Mari would gladly open their doors to me. But I’ve put their lives in danger too much already.”
The thought that she couldn’t be safe even in her own home was like a kick in the stomach. She loved the little cozy cottage she’d inherited from her grandparents, even though it had felt empty without them.
“I know you want to go home. But I have to make sure you’re safe.” Ivan moved closer to her, as if sensing her distress.
The fresh scent of his aftershave invaded her nostrils again. Once, she’d associated this scent with safety and reliability. True friendship. Then she’d started to associate it with hopes for more once they’d started dating. Those hopes had been crushed when he’d decided to leave Rios Azules—and her—to join the army.
She hadn’t walked away from him completely, like his father had wanted her to. She’d even supported him in his decision about his career, but only as a friend. They could be friends again, but nothing more.
“What do you say?” Ivan’s question interrupted her troubled thoughts.
“Rios Azules Inn it is. I’ll call them to see if they have vacancies,” Julia said. With a scarce choice of hotels in Rios Azules, it wouldn’t be that hard for the perp to find her. But at least the locks and the security there were much better than at her own place.
“I already called and rented the rooms. Your doctor is working on your discharge papers.”
