His words bring me up short. “You know Ella?”
“I’m Alec, Zahra’s boyfriend. Ella was living with us before she moved in with you.”
I look over him again, and recognition clicks into place. Of course. I’ve seen a photo of the handsome, African American doctor with Zahra.
“I’m the resident on her case. The head of her case, Dr. Wong, will speak more with you. She’s with Ella now.”
I rush to Ella’s side once we reach the room. She’s asleep, hooked up to an IV and monitors, and has oxygen tubes in her nose. I pull a chair next to her bed and sit down, taking her hand in mine. Both relief and dread fill me. Seeing her alive and in recovery is everything I want, but knowing she’s been through this because of my enemies chills my blood. Ella, the one thing I’ve come to care about more than anything else in the world, was targeted and poisoned just to send me a fucking message.
I lift her hand to my mouth and press a kiss to it, wishing the apology in my kiss was enough.
Dr. Wong comes to stand next to me and gives me more details about Ella’s treatment and prognosis.
When she’s done, she gives me a concerned look. “Do you have any information on how this happened? A poisoning like this is obviously very rare. We had very little to go on when she was brought in.”
“It seems some enemies of mine targeted her to get to me,” I say before thinking. I probably shouldn’t have told her that. But then again, she and Alec are her doctors, they need to know the truth. “A letter addressed to her was laced with the poison.Needless to say, her mail will be destroyed before it ever gets to her from now on. And I’ll be upping her security.”
“That is good. I’m very sorry this happened, Mr. Langford.”
“How long will she be out for?”
“We’re keeping her sedated for the next twenty-four hours to let her organs rest. We’ll be checking her labs every few hours to keep tabs on their functions.”
I thank Dr. Wong and the other team members for what they’ve done for Ella. Then all of them but Alec leave.
“Ella doesn’t have anyone listed as an emergency contact since she was unconscious when she was brought in,” he says, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder, “but I know her mother, Maya, Zahra, and Lucy would be beside themselves if they knew what happened and weren’t informed. I can’t call them without Ella’s permission, but I think they’d all appreciate it if you did.”
I nod to him as he leaves. Of course I should inform Ella’s loved ones of what happened. I stupidly didn’t even think about it until now since all I could think about was her condition. I take out my phone but don’t let go of Ella’s hand as I dial. Not touching her is unthinkable right now.
I make four fuck-awful phone calls.
Bright light slicesacross the dark room, stirring me from my half-asleep state in the lounger in the corner of Ella’s room.
Robert enters. “Boss, we’ve got to go, and we’ve got to get Ella out of here. Now.”
“What’s going on?” My voice is gruff from lack of sleep.
“I have my eyes and ears out searching for threats, and they’ve found one. News has quietly traveled that Ella’s in the hospital and that you’re here with her. I just got a report that Antonov’s men are on their way here to corner you while Ella’slaid up. It’s not safe to stay. We need to get you both back to your penthouse.”
“Goddammit. Grab Alec—Dr. Williams.”
Five minutes later, Alec enters the room, brows raised.
“What’s going on?”
“My team picked up a threat,” Robert explains. “There are very dangerous men headed this way to get to Ms. Hale and Mr. Langford while they’re vulnerable.”
Alec’s professional, detached manner drops. “Shit.”
“We need to remove Ms. Hale from the hospital for her safety and the safety of every other patient.”
“Where will you take her? She’s still not out of the woods yet.”
“Back to my penthouse,” I say. “They can’t breach the security there. And you’re coming with.”
“I . . . still have a few hours on my shift.”
“You don’t anymore. I’ll inform the head of the hospital. I’ll call whoever I need to call. I’m taking Ella, and you’re coming with to make sure she’s okay.”
