Read Online Viper's Kiss by Shannon Curtis - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Shannon Curtis
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woman cares about anyone but herself.” He pulled out a packet of cigarettes and put one in his mouth before pulling out a book of matches.
Maggie’s eyes narrowed at the comment. They thought they knew her so well, but they had it totally wrong. They knew Viper, not Maggie Kincaid.
Luke frowned at his companion. “Hey, no smoking. We’re in a hospital, remember?”
The large man made a sound of annoyance, but withdrew his cigarette and placed it back in the packet. “It’s my last one.”
“You can thank us later,” said Green Eyes.
A ding sounded as the elevator reached the sixth floor and the doors slid open. The men exited, hesitating a moment to get their bearings before heading toward the nurses’ station. The large man threw his cigarette packet and box of matches into the trash can next to the elevators as he passed.
There was only a limited amount of time before Luke and his friends found her mother. She needed to be quick. Her fists tightened in frustration. She wouldn’t have enough time. They would catch her. She looked around. She needed a diversion.
She halted as a male nurse walked out of a room and nearly collided with her. The man smiled apologetically before stepping around her and continuing down the hall. Maggie quickly looked into the room as the door was closing. More supplies. Her hand shot out, preventing the door from closing completely. This room held gloves, bandages, cleaning equipment, other first aid supplies—and a newspaper? The nurse must use the room for unofficial breaks. She looked over her shoulder. Nobody paid her the slightest attention. She darted inside, nearly tripping over a bucket, and dragged the stand with her. She closed the door.
Inside, Maggie glanced around the shelves, rifling through some of the contents. What could she use? She looked at the cold packs neatly stacked on a shelf. She looked at the bucket. A small amount of water rested in the bottom. At least, she hoped it was water. An idea started to form. During high school she’d made extra money by tutoring Toby Sprockett. The boy needed all the help he could get, but she vaguely remembered a chemistry assignment she’d helped him with. Wedging the door open, she ran to the garbage can and snatched the cigarettes and matches Luke’s friend had tossed there.
Now she had the makings for a rudimentary smoke bomb.
She knew which room her mother was in. Earlier she’d used a payphone down the road and pretended to be Sister Mary Catherine enquiring after her good friend. She had a short window of time to get to her mother before Luke did.
She started to tear open the cold packs.
Luke nodded to the nurse at the station. “We’re here to see Mrs. Lillian Kincaid.”
The woman eyed him with open curiosity. “Are you family?” she asked gently.
“Yes,” Luke lied immediately. If visitors were restricted to family, then damn it, he was family.
The nurse didn’t blink. “And how are you related?”
“We’re her nephews,” Drew inserted, a charming smile on his face. Noah and Luke nodded.
“All of you?” the nurse asked, returning his smile.
He flashed his teeth at her. “Yes, ma’am. We’re real anxious to see Aunt Lillian.”
The nurse sobered. “Well, she’s really not fit for visitors.” She looked up and down the hall, and then leaned toward them. “You’re going to have to prepare yourselves for the worst, I’m afraid,” she said, her expression sympathetic. “Mrs. Kincaid is in a bad way. We don’t think she’ll make it through the night.” She spent the next few minutes updating them on her condition.
Luke looked at his colleagues. They hid their surprise well, as did he.
“Thanks for the warning. What room is she in?” he asked quietly.
“Oh, she’s in Room 621. Go down the hall, take the first turn to your left, and she’s at the end. You can’t miss it. There’s a police officer at her door.”
Luke nodded his thanks and turned to leave. He
Maggie’s eyes narrowed at the comment. They thought they knew her so well, but they had it totally wrong. They knew Viper, not Maggie Kincaid.
Luke frowned at his companion. “Hey, no smoking. We’re in a hospital, remember?”
The large man made a sound of annoyance, but withdrew his cigarette and placed it back in the packet. “It’s my last one.”
“You can thank us later,” said Green Eyes.
A ding sounded as the elevator reached the sixth floor and the doors slid open. The men exited, hesitating a moment to get their bearings before heading toward the nurses’ station. The large man threw his cigarette packet and box of matches into the trash can next to the elevators as he passed.
There was only a limited amount of time before Luke and his friends found her mother. She needed to be quick. Her fists tightened in frustration. She wouldn’t have enough time. They would catch her. She looked around. She needed a diversion.
She halted as a male nurse walked out of a room and nearly collided with her. The man smiled apologetically before stepping around her and continuing down the hall. Maggie quickly looked into the room as the door was closing. More supplies. Her hand shot out, preventing the door from closing completely. This room held gloves, bandages, cleaning equipment, other first aid supplies—and a newspaper? The nurse must use the room for unofficial breaks. She looked over her shoulder. Nobody paid her the slightest attention. She darted inside, nearly tripping over a bucket, and dragged the stand with her. She closed the door.
Inside, Maggie glanced around the shelves, rifling through some of the contents. What could she use? She looked at the cold packs neatly stacked on a shelf. She looked at the bucket. A small amount of water rested in the bottom. At least, she hoped it was water. An idea started to form. During high school she’d made extra money by tutoring Toby Sprockett. The boy needed all the help he could get, but she vaguely remembered a chemistry assignment she’d helped him with. Wedging the door open, she ran to the garbage can and snatched the cigarettes and matches Luke’s friend had tossed there.
Now she had the makings for a rudimentary smoke bomb.
She knew which room her mother was in. Earlier she’d used a payphone down the road and pretended to be Sister Mary Catherine enquiring after her good friend. She had a short window of time to get to her mother before Luke did.
She started to tear open the cold packs.
Luke nodded to the nurse at the station. “We’re here to see Mrs. Lillian Kincaid.”
The woman eyed him with open curiosity. “Are you family?” she asked gently.
“Yes,” Luke lied immediately. If visitors were restricted to family, then damn it, he was family.
The nurse didn’t blink. “And how are you related?”
“We’re her nephews,” Drew inserted, a charming smile on his face. Noah and Luke nodded.
“All of you?” the nurse asked, returning his smile.
He flashed his teeth at her. “Yes, ma’am. We’re real anxious to see Aunt Lillian.”
The nurse sobered. “Well, she’s really not fit for visitors.” She looked up and down the hall, and then leaned toward them. “You’re going to have to prepare yourselves for the worst, I’m afraid,” she said, her expression sympathetic. “Mrs. Kincaid is in a bad way. We don’t think she’ll make it through the night.” She spent the next few minutes updating them on her condition.
Luke looked at his colleagues. They hid their surprise well, as did he.
“Thanks for the warning. What room is she in?” he asked quietly.
“Oh, she’s in Room 621. Go down the hall, take the first turn to your left, and she’s at the end. You can’t miss it. There’s a police officer at her door.”
Luke nodded his thanks and turned to leave. He
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