Page 6 of Her Passionate Hero

“I intended to.”

“Oh.”

“You didn’t think I was just going to leave you stranded, did you?”

“Well, yes.”

He gave her an odd look. “They probably won’t let you out of here for another hour.”

“I can’t afford to wait that long. I have somewhere to be.” She started to hop off the bed, and Officer Robinson was immediately at her side helping her.

“You’re an independent thing, aren’t you?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Aliana spied her purse on a chair in the corner of the room and grabbed it. “Do you know who I need to talk to get released? I already provided my insurance card.”

“I would assume the doctor who treated you.”

Aliana pulled the curtain open and glanced into the room for her doctor. “Hello,” she called out when she spotted the man. “I need to leave. Can I go now?” He looked up from a chart he was reading. He looked harried. A nurse came up to talk to him at the same time somebody else yelled his name. He started to walk away without answering Aliana’s question.

“Doctor. May I leave?” Aliana repeated more loudly.

He looked over his shoulder. “Yes. Go talk to the nurse at the front desk.” Thank God for overcrowded hospitals.

She winced when she tied the sash tighter on her coat.

“Let me help.” Officer Robinson knotted her coat so that it didn’t bind as much. “I hope you’re planning on going home.”

“I told you, I have somewhere to be.”

“Don’t you need to change your clothes?”

Aliana dipped her chin to check the front of her coat, she saw the blood that stained the front. Sakra. Maybe they wouldn’t notice at the nursing home. She had to get there.

“This is not really your concern.”

She watched as he pulled out his phone. “Hi, this is Ernie. I’m taking a long lunch. I’ll call you when I’m back on duty.”

Why did he do that? “Does this mean you can’t take me to my car?”

“This means I’m going to take you to your appointment, then I’m taking you to your car, then I’m following to your house and making sure you get in safely.”

“Townhome.”

“What?”

“I live in a townhome,” she explained.

“Whatever. You need a keeper, and right now, I’m it.”

He was mistaken. Very mistaken. The last thing she needed was someone to take care of her. She’d learned a long time ago there was nobody she could trust, and this man wasn’t going to change her mind.

Chapter Two

“Mama, how are you tonight?” Aliana asked in Czech. She looked down at the shrunken figure in the bed, hoping against hope tonight might be one of the nights that her mother recognized her. She just laid there, seemingly frozen in her own world. Aliana picked up her hand and gently rubbed in some of the vanilla scented lotion. “Doesn’t that smell good?” she asked. Maybe she should have chosen the tube of rose scented lotion her mom liked. She’d used that scent exclusively when Aliana was growing up, but to this day Aliana gagged whenever she smelled it. It brought back too many bad memories. Nope, vanilla was the way to go.

“How’s Mizz Dee doing tonight?” Shorinda asked as she came into the room.

“Quiet. Can’t get a word out of her.”