Page 61 of Alex

Chapter Twenty-Eight

The warmthof familiar arms around her, the scent of him surrounding her as he held her was the first thing Evelyn noticed as she came around. Safe. She was safe! Evelyn took a moment to enjoy that feeling, relishing in it even. Taking a tentative breath, she realised that her ribs didn’t hurt as much as she thought they would. Despite her delirium at the end of her kidnapping she remembered everything that had been done to her. She probably would for years to come.

Her hand snaked up over her belly touching the gauze that covered the cuts on her ribcage. Little reminders of a man she’d thought was her friend, a man she had loved but had turned out to be nothing but a criminal and a sick man that tried to justify what he had done. Good men that did terrible things, she understood that. But Arthur—or David—as she thought of him, was evil.

Raising her head slightly she glanced around her surroundings. The room she was in was like a hotel suite. She was in a double bed and a thick quilt covered her instead of sheets. There were flowers on a nightstand, and a small sofa and table with magazines on them, but it was clean and sterile. Probably a private hospital she guessed.

She was laying on her back with Alex on his side facing her, his one hand placed gently over her tummy, the tips of his fingers curving around her hip, his other arm was under her neck, her head resting on his bicep, as if he was scared to let her out of his arms. As she turned her head, she saw his long lashes lying against his cheeks as he slept. Dark shadows underneath were evidence of the fear and sleeplessness he had suffered in her absence.

Lifting her arm, she ran her hand over the scruff on his cheek, the stubble catching on the pads of her fingers. His hair was standing up as if he had run his hands through it time and again. His eyes fluttered open and she smiled and then winced slightly at the pain in her cheek.

“Hey,” she said softly as he looked at her with so much love in his eyes.

“Hey, you.” His smile made tears prick her eyes. She had wondered when Osiris had her if she would ever see that smile again. Alex sat up at the sight of her tears. “What’s this?” He swept the tears away with his thumbs before gently cupping her face.

“I thought I would never see you again.” She wept as he took her in his arms and held her tightly with her head on his chest, his strong arms around her body.

“I will always come for you, mi nena,” he vowed while she cried in his arms until there were no tears left to cry and finally her emotions were under control.

“What happened?” She lifted her head and met his eyes.

“You have bruised ribs and a broken cheekbone. The cuts on your torso were infected so they gave you a huge dose of antibiotics when you came in and put you on IV fluids for dehydration. It will all heal but it will take time and rest. Can you remember what happened?” She could sense the abject fear in his voice when he asked the question.

“Yes, one of the guards—an Irishman I think—beat me, but I think he was holding back for some reason.”

“If what he did to you is holding back, he better hope I never find him,” Alex said savagely as he caressed her face.

“I bet I look a sight.” She lifted a hand to her face, lightly touching what she knew were bruises.

“Most beautiful woman in the world.” Alex grinned and she knew he meant every word, but she still laughed lightly causing a twinge in her ribs.

“Who cut you?”

“A man named Nick. He was scrawny and seemed young, but he was dead inside. Alex, I have never seen such dead eyes.”

“Did anyone…” Alex stumbled over his words.

“No.” She rushed to reassure him, knowing what he feared and wanting to reassure him straight away.

“Thank God,” he said on a loud exhale.

“Did they get away?”

Osiris and the Irishman you describe did. Nick, and I’m assuming it was Nick, was killed along with the rest of his men on the island.

“Were any of our guys hurt? I saw Gunner fall into the sea…” She let her words trail off. The gentle giant who looked like a Viking had been so sweet to her and she didn’t want to think he was hurt, or worse.

“Gunner took a round to the shoulder, but he’s fine if a little bit of a grump. Reid took a knife slash to the gut, but he’s more pissed about it ruining his ink than hurt.”

“So, what happens now?”

“Well, I gave the data that Booth stole back to the head of security at the Palace who flew in specially. The hit has been officially called off and you’re no longer a suspect.”

“Do we know how Simon knew about Princess Caitlin not being Royal?”

“We understand he was sleeping with one of the maids at Kensington and she told him there had been rumours. We assume the rest he found out on his own. He had access to the Palace and the people so it’s not much of a jump.”

“And Booth now?” she asked knowing there was more to this story but already feeling exhaustion pulling at her.