Chapter Nineteen
The harsh lightsof the ambulance hurt Elizabeth’s eyes, but the EMTs kept ordering her to stay awake and asking her questions. The vibrations of her vocal cords seemed to reverberate through herskull.
She couldn’t focus on anything but the pain and Alexander’s hand on her ankle. His hushed, clipped tones as he held a phone to his ear worried her, as did the occasional word she made out—security, armed,lawsuit.
The straps and blanket held her still, and she let her mind wander back to earlier in the evening when she’d been secure in Alexander’ssilks.
“She’s smiling,” Alexander said to Terrance. “Something’swrong.”
The harsh tone of his voice snapped her back to the present, and she tried to reassure him. “Fine. Thinking…aboutyou.”
She was tired of talking. Tired of fighting to stay awake. Tired of reciting baseball stats, basic mathematical equations, and names of movies she’d seen. Most of all, she was tired of seeing the fear in Alexander’s gaze. “I’m gonna be okay,” sheslurred.
“Yes, you’ll be fine,” he replied with a gentle smile. “Just stay awake for me. What was your favoriteDoctor Whoepisode?”
“Big Bang.” Elizabeth forced her eyes open again. “Or EleventhHour.”
The ambulance ground to a halt, and Elizabeth breathed a sigh of relief. But then the EMTs decided to break a land speed record getting her into a private room. Medical history, more tests to verify her mental state, X-rays, and scans followed at a dizzying pace. Finally in her bed some time later, she was rewarded with a shot for thepain.
She floated, not quite awake, but not allowed to sleep either. And to that end, Alexander kept up a constant stream of innocuousconversation.
“You’re so pretty,” she told him when she ran out of things to say. “Pretty and rich. Why are you here? I’m not rich. I shouldn’t behere.”
Alexander hushed her and lifted her hand to his lips. God, she wanted to kiss him. But she was too tired tomove.
“Will you kiss me? I like it when you kissme.”
He laughed and leaned close. “Where do you want me to kiss you?” Alexander skimmed a hand down the rough hospital gown. They’d taken her dress at some point. The diamonds too. She couldn’t rememberwhen.
“Elizabeth? Come back to me now. Tell me what you want. Anything at all.” Strain bracketed his lips. He’d asked her a question. Oh. Right.Kissing.
“I want you to hold me. I want to go back to your big, comfy bed and go to sleep. It’s too bright here. I hate hospitals. Take me out of here.” A tear burned at the corner of her eye, and Alexander made a low, strangled sound as he tried to dash the moistureaway.
“I can’t. Not yet. But as soon as you’re discharged, yes. I’m taking you home to my big bed, and we’llsleep.”
Even through the fog of the pain meds, Elizabeth knew she’d probably be dead if Alexander hadn’t broken down her door. Fear churned in her stomach. “Don’t want you to get hurt,” she murmured, her eyes fluttering closed. “They’re going to try to kill me again, aren’tthey?”
“Elizabeth, look atme.”
She complied, recognizing the tone he’d used with her earlier in thebedroom.
“There are two former Navy SEALs outside this door. At home, a four-man detail is already waiting, including a member of the Greek Special Forces and a former SAS man. No one will harm you again.” Alexander braced his hands on either side of her shoulders and held her gaze. “Ipromise.”
“Too much. I can’t repay you forthis.”
An odd smile curved his lips. “You don’t have to. I protect what’smine.”
He had to be nearly as exhausted as she was, but he still looked as handsome asever.
“What time is it?” she asked. Four hours after the attack—that’s when the doctors had said she could sleep. But Elizabeth’s room didn’t have a clock, not that she could keep track of time anyway as fuzzy as shefelt.
Alexander looked up from his phone. “Five-fifteen,chérie. Less than ten minutes since the last time you asked me that question. Do you have somewhere tobe?”
“I dunno. Too tired. I like looking at you.” Elizabeth rubbed her head, but as soon as she brushed the bandage covering the stitches, shewinced.
“You really do not do well on pain medicine, do you?” He chuckled, then skimmed a knuckle along herjaw.
Terrance knocked, saving her the effort of answering. “Good news, Elizabeth. All of your tests came back normal. We’re going to discharge you as long as Alexander agrees to wake you every two hours until tomorrow night and you tell him if you feel dizzy or if your headacheworsens.”
