Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 1172

"A couple days?" Whitney scoffed, rolling her eyes. "You'll be lucky if you're out of bed in two weeks, old man."

"I'm not gonna argue with you," the man replied through gritted teeth, his face pale with the effort. He'd already said more than he should have and was clearly drained. He waved her off, signaling her to leave.

Whitney had just stepped out into the hallway when Parker came rushing in, looking like he hadn't slept in days. "Whitney! Has Ludwik woken up after the surgery?"

"Parker."

Whitney had barely gotten his name out when Ludwik, sharp-eared as ever, caught the sound from inside the hospital room. His expression darkened, and he called out, forcing himself to sound stern, "Parker, get in here. Now!"

Parker shot Whitney a questioning glance. "He's already off the anesthesia? He can talk?"

"He's said plenty," Whitney said dryly. "Most of it useless banter, but yeah, he's talking. Felix took the bullets they pulled out of him to analyze. Ludwik's been grilling me about what's happening on Saltland Island with you."

Parker's brow furrowed at that, and Whitney felt a twinge of worry. Had things gone badly?

Parker could enter. "You tell

foot inside than Ludwik's icy stare pinned him. "Well? You chased

clenched. "They got

frustrated sigh. "My uncle called the President as soon as Bryce was busted out of jail. The President sent a squadron of Black Hawks

save their own

just wanna know who's pulling the strings behind

bold as hell-ignoring the President

grabbing Bryce,

He's half-dead, you chopped off his leg,

words out,

face was carved from stone, a storm brewing in his eyes. "The President got involved. That should've scared them off. There's no way this is just Bryce's

never had this kind of clout,"

wanted all