Alina's POV
I changed in the bathroom, washing the blood from my hands and arms but unable to get it out from under my nails.
When I returned to the waiting room, both Jaxon and Ronan were there, along with several other Serpents. Blade, Ghost, even Viper had shown up, all of them looking uncomfortable in the hospital environment but present nonetheless.
“Any news?” Ghost asked.
I shook my head, unable to speak past the lump in my throat.
Three hours became four. Four became five. Jaxon tried to get me to eat, but food tasted like ash. Ronan attempted to distract me with updates about Hart’s arrest, the media coverage, the political fallout. I heard the words without processing them.
Finally, after an eternity, the surgical doors swung open, and a doctor stepped out. He was older, w
