Love Beyond the Mask novel Chapter 1173

Parker never imagined that what should’ve been a simple prison break was starting to spiral out of control.

“Well, I guess it makes sense,” he muttered. “Those mercenaries were no joke. Even you got hit twice. I heard there’s a pretty infamous private military contractor in Eurovoria—big shots hire them for... you know, the dirty work.”

As Parker spoke, Whitney, who’d been listening at the doorway, suddenly glanced away as someone approached her.

It was Erik—tall, broad-shouldered, impossible to miss.

Whitney blinked, thrown off. “Erik? What are you doing here? Did something happen to my mom?”

She sounded genuinely anxious.

Erik shook his head, waving off her worry. “Ms. Valentine, your mother is fine. She sent me to get you—Phineas got in touch with some news. She wants to see both you and Mr. Lippert. There are things you two need to know.”

Whitney frowned. Did her mom already hear about Bryce’s jailbreak? Did she… know something more?

Erik glanced into the hospital room. “How’s Mr. Lippert doing? If he’s too banged up to leave bed, maybe you should go alone.”

Whitney looked over at Ludwik.

Ludwik had seen Erik and caught the gist of the conversation. His eyes glinted, unreadable, as he raised his hand toward Whitney. “Your mom wouldn’t call us in for nothing. Actually, I’ve got a few questions for Ms. Tennyson myself. You and Parker, help me out of bed.”

“Ludwik, come on!” Parker protested. “You just had abdominal surgery—are you trying to put yourself back under the knife?”

Ludwik paused for half a second, then shot him a frosty glare. “What do you mean, I ‘can’t’? I can do anything. Say that ‘crippled’ word again and I swear—just help me up, dammit!”

Parker immediately got it—Ludwik was acting like someone had just stomped on his pride.

But even the doctor, when he came in and caught Ludwik’s steely glare, hesitated. “Mr. Lippert, there’s a real risk your wound could reopen. How about this: I’ll get you a gurney. We’ll wheel you over. That way, you won’t have to walk.”

The image of being rolled down hospital corridors like a corpse did not sit well with Ludwik—his face went stone cold.

Parker barely managed to stifle a snicker.

Ludwik shot him a look that could kill. “What are you standing there for? Go get the damn gurney!”

“Alright, alright!” Parker scurried off.

Whitney looked at Ludwik, somewhere between irritated and amused. “Seriously, if it’s that big a deal, I can just go see my mom and come back to fill you in. It’s not like you have to be there in person.”

“It’s not the same,” Ludwik said, locking eyes with her. His voice dropped, serious. “Your dad never liked me much. I finally helped you find your mom, she’s warming up to me. Now she wants a face-to-face—I don’t care if I have to be rolled in there, I’m going. Besides, I’ve got a feeling she wants to talk to me, not just you.”