Nightmares? What did that bastard do to her?Reece shoved his tongue against his clenched teeth and forced saliva into his dry mouth. “Dammit, Cody, I need to see her.” He sidestepped his brother and headed for the lift. Nothing would stop him from seeing Aria.
Cody’s firm grip on his forearm stalled his movement. He turned and looked at his brother, eyes pleading. “Please, Cody. I need to know she’s all right.” Reece groaned at the feebleness of his voice. Nauseated, he shook his head, squeezed his eyes shut and dragged in a long breath. He needed strength for Aria. There was so much more he could’ve done to prevent this shit from happening. But he hadn’t. He failed in his promise to keep her safe.
“And you will,” Cody’s whisper begged his patience. “She needs time to heal, and you need to calm down. You’re two floors away from her. Not an entire continent apart.”
The rushing noise in Reece’s ears slowly faded. His lungs pleaded release. When calmness filled his chaotic mind, he exhaled slowly and opened his eyes. The others watched him intently.
“Let me speak to her doctor, son, and see if he’ll allow you up.” Mr. Harman turned away and headed for the reception desk.
“Reece, you’ve got to hang in there for Aria’s sake,” Cody guided him back to the waiting area. “She’s hurt, but she’s alive, and that’s important.”
Reece sank on to one of the metal chairs and glanced up at his brother. “I wasn’t there when she needed me most.” He rested his elbows on his knees and dropped his head in his palms.
“You’re here now. I’m pretty sure Aria will understand,” Samantha consoled.
“I should’ve protected her.” Reece’s stomach tightened. Another wave of nausea stole his breath for a second as he tried imagining what Aria had gone through. He straightened and scanned the reception area for Samantha’s father. “Fuck, what’s taking so long?”
His brother returned from the vending machine. “Here, drink this. It’ll help.” Cody handed him a paper cup filled with black coffee.
“You need to eat something.” Samantha urged.
Food was the least of his worries. He wanted Aria—in his arms—where she belonged. Reece stared at the black liquid for a long moment before he took a sip then downed the contents. The bitter sludge someone labeled coffee, did little for his taste buds.
Samantha’s father returned. “The doctor agreed to your visit on the condition you don’t stay long and make no attempt to wake Aria.”
Reece jumped to his feet and squashed the cup. “Anythin’ to see her.”
Five minutes later, Reece stood outside Aria’s room. His hand on the handle, he took a deep breath then pushed the door. The soft beep of a monitor, the only sound in the dimly lit room, caught and held his attention for a few seconds before his gaze shifted to the bed. His feet heavy, he entered and let the door swing shut behind him. At the foot of her bed, he allowed his gaze to run slowly over her sleeping form. God, he’d missed her so much.
A drip lay attached to one hand while the other rested on the light blue blanket ending below her chest. Dark smudges beneath her lashes hinted at her lack of sleep. His gaze dropped to her bottom lip, discolored and tainted by a scar already healing.Jesus Christ.Anger spiraled slowly within. He clenched his hands. His nails bit down hard on his palms. Then his gaze shifted to her bruised jaw. He scanned the outline of what looked like blueish marks imprinted on the creamy smoothness of her neck and the discolored skin on her arms.Fucking hell.The fucker had hurt her badly. Reece ground his teeth in rage. He fought the compulsion to verbally launch into a series of cuss words he was sure would bring the entire hospital staff into the room.
Stifling his fury, he walked around the bed. Gently, he reached for Aria’s hand, traced a soft path along each finger, and stopped in the middle of her palm. He kissed the center then set her hand back in its resting place.
“I love you, Reece,” Aria’s soft moan startled him. He inhaled sharply.
Her lips widened in a slow smile. Whatever dream she floated in, he played a part there. The knowledge excited him. His thudding heart resembled the stomp of a bucking rodeo bull. God, the long-awaited words thrilled him. Despair, however, clouded his happiness briefly. If only she’d made the statement under better circumstances.‘She’s alive, and that’s important.’Cody’s earlier words played out in his head. Reece sighed.Yes, she’s alive.And he had no intention of leaving her alone again, ever.
“I love you too, babe,” he whispered.
“And you must be the impatient boyfriend.”
Reece looked up. A doctor, his sophisticated features highlighted by a warm smile, stood at the door.Boyfriend.Reece liked the sound of the word. He had a label now. Sadly, only Aria could confirm him worthy of the title. He sure as hell didn’t deserve it. “Something like that.”
“Dr. Maharaj.” The tall, wiry man walked forward and offered Reece a hand.
“Reece.” He shook the man’s hand.
“So, how’s our pretty little girl doing.” Dr. Maharaj skirted the bed and touched Aria’s forehead. “The fever’s down. Good.”
Reece balked. “Fever?”
The doctor stopped writing on Aria’s chart and glanced at Reece. “Yes, son. Courtesy of the gaping wound in her side.”
“Will she be okay?”
The doctor uttered a soft laugh. “What we have here is one heck of a woman. A fighter if you must. She’s lost a lot of blood, but nothing her body can’t handle.”
“What about the nightmares?”
