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It wasn’t until she spotted the cluster of people congregating on the other side of the wonized the all too familiar toe of Rafe’s scuffed black boot, that she realized just how far he’d been thrown during i people out of her way, clawing past strangers who stood blocking her path She ignored the sharp looks and indignant mutters as she hurtled forward, desperate to reach hi her way to the center of the cro Her hands shook at her sides, and when she saw him sprawled in front of her, lifeless, she fell to her knees Above her, she could hear at least two people talking into their cell phones, reporting the incident and relaying the events of Rafe’s accident--and his injuries--to the authorities

She tried not to listen as words like unresponsive and labored breathing infiltrated her consciousness She dazedly watched as a woers to his wrist After a lanced up at a man on his cell phone and said the words thready pulse

"Rafe" Violet was now shaking all over, but she ignored the others, her voice tearing out of her in strident shreds "Rafe, can you hear me?" She wanted to reach for him, to wrap hi would be all right But seeing his splayed lied to touch So instead, she ran her fingertip along the bri it "Rafe," she uttered on a tortured sob

A hand gripped her shoulder "Young lady" The man on the cell phone stared down at her, the handset of his phone gripped firainst his jaw "Do you know him? Do you knoho he is?" he repeated

Violet nodded, unable to tear her gaze away fro in front of her

"What’s his na in harder this ti down her cheek and falling onto Rafe’s leather jacket as she bent over hi him to wake up, to open his eyes and tell her he was okay "His name is Rafe"

"And his last na as she willed herself to concentrate, willed herself to remember What was his last name? Had she ever even heard it before? Finally, she tore her eyes away from Rafe’s limp form and stared up at the man as she wiped her chin with her sleeve "I don’t know," she confessed hollowly

Chapter 13

THE EMERGENCY ROOM WAS CHAOTIC, EVEN ON a Saturday afternoon, practically co with echoes Violet huddled farther into her chair, trying her best to block out the rush of sensory inputs that were both real--those that everyone around her could sense, hter and of pain--and those that only she could distinguish

She hugged herself tighter, wishing once more that someone would just come out and tell her how Rafe was It had been hours already, and she just wanted to knoas going to be okay

She glanced at the clock on the wall above the admissions desk only to realize that barely five minutes had passed since the last ti here alone

The whoosh of the automatic doors drew her notice, as they had every time they opened to let someone in or out, but this time she jolted to her feet when she saho stepped inside She left the isolation of her seat in the corner to es" Violet fumbled over her words "It’s Rafe We were at The Meccait’s the café where the girl workedCasey Atkinsand ere leaving" Violet hesitated, not quite sure how to continue or how ive "I didn’t see it happen," she finally said, her vision blurring as she glanced at Sara Sara’s own eyes were ringed with dark shadows and her hair was ruh it ell past noon

"The woht at hi for Sara’s hand, not sure what she expected froers clutched hers in a viselike grip "Where is he now? Have you talked to anyone? How’s he doing?" Sara assaulted Violet with her trademark no-nonsense, rapid-fire questions

"Last I heard, they were taking hi else They’ll only talk to his family"

Sara released Violet’s hand She opened her s for so other than her work clothes before--suits, skirts, heels, starched shirts She took a moa pants and a gray pullover sweatshirt that was easily two sizes too big for her Sara found her wallet and pulled it from her purse as she strode toward the admissions desk, to the same stern-faced woman who’d denied Violet access just minutes earlier

"Do you kno to reach his parents?" Violet asked hopefully, following right on Sara’s heels Maybe now they could finally get some answers

Sara spoke in a clipped voice over her shoulder "Violet, you’ll have to wait out here" And then she dropped her driver’s license on the counter in front of the desk clerk "I need to speak to soht in" Violet wondered why she didn’t flash a badge or soet so wo attention to Violet "His name is Rafe Priest," she said "He’s my brother"