I walked a few paces backwards and fel against the seat. The gravity of the situation pressed down on me with renewed strength. The danger, my fear, and the confusion about what I’d seen—what Jared was capable of—were swimming around in my mind. I should have been insane with anxiety but I felt the same sense of calm I’d felt on the side of the road the night before last. Ryan was going to be al right, my hand was stil firmly attached to my wrist, and Jack’s gift was safely around my finger.
I felt a twinge of shame as I realized none of those things were the reason for my frame of mind. My lips stil tingled from the warmth of Jared’s kiss.
I melted into the sofa, turning my head to press my cheek against the cushion for support. I was so fatigued it felt like work just to breathe.
My heavy eyes rose to the wal of windows along the waiting room. Cynthia’s heels were quickly clicking down the hal .
Chapter Five
Disclosure
“Nina! For the love of Christ, why didn’t you cal me?”
“I’m fine, Mom. I wasn’t hurt,” I said, swaying as she tugged and pul ed on me to look me over.
She clutched me into her arms tightly. “Nina Elizabeth Grey, if anything had happened to you, I swear to God… I swear to God, I would have never forgiven him.”
“I’m pretty sure those men wouldn’t have cared if you forgave them or not, Mom.”
She gave me a wry look and hugged me again. “Wel , it doesn’t matter now. You’re safe, that is what’s important.”
“Did Beth cal you?” I asked, trying to keep my eyes open.
“What do you mean did Beth cal me?” Her voice raised an octave. “I’m not al owed to see for myself that my only child is safe after she is…is attacked in the street by some junkie? Nina, you infuriate me sometimes! What were you doing at a bar, anyway? On that side of town, no less, you could have been kil ed! And you have the audacity to ask—”
“Okay, Mom! Okay! I’m sorry!” I pul ed her to me. She was very near hysterics. Usual y my mother didn’t go to such extremes, but she had enough to agonize over without me being assaulted in dark al eys.
Cynthia pul ed away and held me at arm’s length. “Wel , that’s enough of that,” she sighed, her typical poker face back into play. “Come, Dear. I’l send someone for your car.”
I shook my head. “I’m going to stay here and wait for Ryan to wake up.”
“But you’re exhausted,” she argued in vain. We both knew I wouldn’t change my mind.
Cynthia patted my knee and stood. “I expect you to be in your bed resting in four hours. No excuses, young lady.”
I nodded as she clicked down the hal way. I rubbed my eyes and leaned back against my seat. The television was on a medical channel, something about insurance and prescriptions. It didn’t take me long to lose interest.
Three hours later, the ICU nurse stood at my side. “Nina?”
“Yes?” I sat up and blinked my eyes.
“My name is Jenny. I’m Ryan’s nurse,” she smiled. “He’s awake. He’s asking for you.”
I stood up and walked with her to the double doors. Before we made it through, a disheveled woman scampered down the hal toward us. She wore a brown waitress’ uniform and her frizzy black hair failed miserably at staying in the messy bun she’d fashioned.
“I’m looking for Ryan Scott! I was told he’s in ICU?” she puffed.
Jenny looked at me and then back to her. “Are you his…?”
“Mother! I’m his mom. He’s here? Is he okay?” she said, breathless. “I’m Cal ie Scott. I’d like to see him, please.”
Jenny extended an apologetic smile and then turned to Cal ie. “He’s here, Ms. Scott. I’l show you to his room.”
I trudged back to my seat, glancing at my watch. According to Cynthia, I had less than an hour to make my way home to rest. Unable to comply, I pul ed my phone from my pocket to cal in an explanation.
As I dialed, Jenny poked her head into the waiting room doorway. “Nina?”
“Yes?”
She smiled. “He would stil like to see you.”
“Oh!” I said, surprised. I fol owed quickly behind her through the double doors and we stopped three rooms down. When she pul ed back the heavy curtain, the rings grated across the metal bar.
She smiled to her left. “I found her. She didn’t leave.”
I peered into the room and inwardly cringed at the tubes and wires leading from Ryan’s body.
“Hey, Nigh,” he rasped.
I managed a half grin. “Today is the only day I’l let you get away with that.”
Ryan laughed and then winced.
“Take it easy, Baby,” Cal ie said, searching for a place to touch him that wasn’t attached to a monitor or IV pump. She settled on brushing back his hair.
“Mom, don’t fuss,” he whispered, leaning away from her nervous stroking.
“Chad, Beth and Josh were here earlier; they’l be back,” I said, touching his foot.
Ryan nodded. “Is Jared stil here?”
I shook my head, making the corners of Ryan’s mouth turn up. I wasn’t sure how much he had seen, or how much he remembered.
“It’s a good thing he’s stalking you.”
I rol ed my eyes. “He’s not stalking me.”
“How else do you explain him showing up out of nowhere?” Ryan pressed.
“Who’s stalking you? Is this the man that attacked my son?” Cal ie’s face compressed with concern.
“No, Mom. He’s the guy that kept us al from getting kil ed,” Ryan said, watching my face.
Cal ie looked to me, stil wanting answers.
I fidgeted under her stare. “He’s a friend of mine that came just in time.”
“As usual,” Ryan frowned. “You look like hel . Get some sleep.”
“I can sleep later,” I argued. Of course he would be worried about me while he was lying in a hospital bed.
“You can sleep now. My mom’s here, I don’t need both of you whining over every little thing.”
“I don’t whine,” I said, feigning insult.
“You can be kinda whiny,” he smiled and tapped his cheek. I maneuvered around the tubes and wires to kiss the spot he had indicated. Being this close to someone covered in hospital paraphernalia caused my ribs to wrench in an al too familiar way. I bit my lip with apprehension.
“Hey,” he reached up an arm to brush my cheek with the back of his fingers. “I’m going to be fine. I’d do it again if I had to.”
My face fel at his words. I knew how he felt about me, and how it would end. I couldn’t stand it if I ever hurt Ryan enough for him to hate me.
My hands grabbed his. “You just concentrate on getting wel before you start planning more knife fights, al right?”
He grinned. “Sweet dreams, Nina.”
I walked into the dark, curtains drawn and al bulbs extinguished. Beth was stil cocooned inside her comforter breathing heavily. I peeled off my coat and fel face down onto my bed.
I tried to lay as stil as possible; I didn’t want to let my mind wander. Al owing thoughts would mean envisioning the attack, the blood, the eyes of the man that would cut off my hand to take my ring; the chil ing sound of Ryan’s cry when he was impaled and Kim’s horrified expression in the car. I didn’t even want to dwel on Jared’s lips. I just wanted to sleep.