Li Jing looked at Sky, then over to me and shook her head. Bridgette took me out to the waiting room and I sat on the couch between Crystal and Galyna. Kat and Beryan had come along behind us in another car and both went into the operating room with Li Jing. I just sat staring, then began shaking. Bridgette quickly came and gave me something to calm me down.

I did not even feel the needle. I was just numb. How could I lose Sky? I still kept shaking. Crystal grabbed me. “Steve, look at me,” and she turned my head toward her, “stop now or I am going to slap you!” It sounded just like Sky talking, that is what she always says to me. A little while later Bridgette came back out to check on me and I was sleeping peacefully on the couch between Crystal and Galyna.

“What did you give Steve?” asked Crystal, “it knocked him out.” “There was not enough in that needle to put him to sleep,” she replied, “must have just been his nerves reacted strongly to it.” “I say, never underestimate the power of a woman,” said Galyna smiling. “Hey, you told me to do it,” said Crystal, “I was just following orders.” “I obviously missed something,” said Bridgette, “anyone care to clue me in?”

“No,” said Crystal, and she looked at Galyna. “I never said anything,” she said. Mandar had decided to fly his own doctor in to look at Sky, it was the quickest way to do things, and he just arrived. That night they put Reggie in the detention house. He had not broken during their questioning that day, but tomorrow they would get more persuasive.

The leader of Team 5 locked him up and Reggie said it was stuffy in there and asked for the window to be opened. It had heavy iron bars on the window so Brad, the leader, said to open it. “But Reggie is a high priority prisoner,” said Amber, who is also with Team 5. “Do you really think he can bend those iron bars and get away?” asked Brad, rolling his eyes.

“No, but it would still be safer to keep the window closed,” said Amber. “Do you wish to file an official complaint?” asked Brad sarcastically. “I want it on record that I was not in favor of keeping the window open,” she said firmly. “Fine,” said Brad angrily, “it has been noted.” It went straight to Annelie and she saw it right away.

“Trouble outside,” she said. Dawn and Kera heard her and went to take a look, and Mac decided to go with them when he saw them go out. “I am putting you in for a transfer to Brazil Amber,” said Brad, “we will see how you enjoy that!” “And why would you do that Brad?” asked Dawn. “This is Team 5 business,” he said, almost yelling at her, “so keep to yourself Miss Sunshine!”

At that Mac, who had come up behind Brad, grabbed him, turned him around and with one punch knocked Brad to the ground. Brad put his hand on his gun, but then saw it was Mac, and he knew better than to tangle with him. Mac grabbed him and put him on his knees in front of Dawn. “Now, apologize to Dawn,” he said, “and do so nicely.”

Brad did so, then got up to go, but Matt was now there and he is in charge of security right now, Teams 5 and 6 answer to him. He called Amber over closer and asked what it was all about. “Nothing important Sir,” she said, “I, I, spoke out of line I guess, I am sorry for causing trouble.” Matt was about to ask Brad next, but Dawn interrupted and shone her flashlight over at Amber.

Amber quickly turned away. Dawn and Kera went over to her and found her crying. Then they brought her to Matt. He took one look at the big bruise on her cheek and he too, took one punch at Brad knocking him down. “You are fired,” he said firmly, “but tonight you spend in the detention house. I will deal with you in the morning.”

Dawn and Kera took Amber inside to clean her up. Back to the clinic. By the time Mandar’s doctor arrived, Sky was already doing much better, which he found quite amazing. The bullet just grazed her head and looked much worse than it was.

One bullet hit her leg, but the worst was one bullet went through her vest and punctured her lung. When the doctor arrived though, her lung was functioning normally again. I stayed there that night with Crystal, Kat, and Beryan as my bodyguards. And Muffin too, of course.

Meanwhile in Sweden, everyone had been told about Sky. Rock was so angry he wanted to come back right away and have a “talk” with Reggie. Aari was angry too and decided to try a different approach with Dolph and Cenn.

He went back in to the room with Cenn, and brought John and Miles with him. He went straight to Cenn who was sitting on the edge of his bed and slapped him hard. “What do you know about Angelica?!” he ordered. Cenn looked genuinely terrified. “Angelica!” he responded, “You know about her?”

To Be Continued.

©2023 Steve McLeod.