CHAPTER THIRTY SIX
Avery awoke in a hospital bed, groggy with a very dry and painful sore throat. Everything in her body ached, as if she’d had all of her blood flushed out and replaced with some kind of heavy, toxic fluid. An IV bag was hooked up to her arm. A heart monitor bleeped from somewhere outside of her view.
The room was filled with balloons and flowers.
On a chair beside her, slumped over in sleep, was Ramirez. He was just as relaxed and perfectly dressed as the first day they’d met. A shiny blue suit adorned his form; the white shirt was bright and highlighted his tan and his slicked-back dark hair.
A nurse walked in.
“You’re awake,” she noted in surprise.
Avery opened her mouth.
“Don’t try to speak just yet,” the nurse said. “I’ll call the doctor. You must be hungry. Le
