by Juniper Hart
“Well, friends aren’t allowed in here, either.”
“I don’t know him. Did he leave his name?”
The nurse eyed her warily. “Are you sure? He came in asking for you by name. Seemed very concerned.”
A shiver slithered down Briar’s spine. “I’m sure,” she replied. “I would remember a man who looked like that.”
The nurse grinned and winked. “I hear that, honey.” Then he frowned. “In that case, he was probably a reporter. The damned media are like little termites getting in anywhere they can. Sorry he snuck by. It won’t happen again.” He turned away.
“Wait!” Briar called after him.
“Hm?”
“If… if he comes back, can you get his name at least?”
The nurse grinned. “Sure, honey. Aren’t you going to ask mine?”
Embarrassed, Briar looked down.
“Sorry,” she muttered. “Of course I want to know yours, too.”
“Dan.” They smiled at each other. “Rest now, Briar. You’re going to need it.”
The effects of the morphine were kicking in, and Briar felt her eyes growing heavy.
“I suppose you’re right,” she agreed softly. “I’m going to need all my strength for the upcoming days, aren’t I?”
Dan chuckled softly, compassion lighting his eyes. “Don’t worry, Briar. Things always work out in the end, don’t they?”
The sentiment didn’t comfort Briar in the least. Maybe things always work out for you, Dan, but not for me. Never for me.
Briar drifted off amidst the anxiety mounting in her gut, not to be woken until someone gently pushed upon her shoulder. “Briar? Can you open your eyes for a minute?”
She reluctantly did as she was told and stared up into a pair of pale blue irises. It didn’t take her as long to regain her bearings as it had the last time she had woken in the hospital bed.
“I’m Dr. Locke-Syme. Do you know where you are?” the woman asked, peering into her eyes with an otoscope.
“The hospital,” Briar offered. “I’m not sure which one. I didn’t ask.”
“Jackson Memorial,” Dr. Locke-Syme offered. “Do you know what happened?”
“I was in a car accident,” Briar replied, slowly sitting up. It didn’t seem to take the same effort it had earlier, either.
Maybe I’m not as badly hurt as I thought, she thought, and the notion filled her with hope. If she wasn’t that bad, she could get back to work.
“I really need to touch base with my job,” Briar told the doctor nervously. “I should have called them already.”
“I just need to ask you some questions first,” Dr. Locke-Syme replied smoothly. “Work will understand, I’m sure.”
Briar grimaced. She was getting annoyed with all these people making assumptions that she wasn’t going to be fired. She wished she could share their optimism. Still, she didn’t argue.
“All right.”
“Great,” the physician smiled. “Now, can you tell me how old you are?”
“Twenty-eight.”
“And when’s your birthday?”
Briar’s brow knit. “Didn’t you find my ID in the crash?”
“Yes, but these questions are to gauge your memory,” Dr. Syme explained. “Could you humor me?”
“Oh. Uh, yeah. February ninth.”
“Perfect. Do you remember the accident?” Guilt flooded through Briar, and she nodded, hanging her head in shame.
“Yes,” she mumbled. “I caused it.” Dr. Locke-Syme’s mouth became a firm line.
“This is not meant to assess blame, Briar,” she explained quietly. “They are investigating what happened, but until they do, I wouldn’t go around volunteering any information like that.”
Briar’s face burned. “Yes, ma’am.”
The doctor reclaimed her smile. “Why don’t you sit up for me? I want to take a look at these broken ribs, all right?”
“Broken ribs?” Briar sighed. “How many?”
“Three. You also sprained your ankle and wrist, not to mention the abrasions on your face and back. You were lucky. It could have been much—” Dr. Syme stopped speaking and peered more closely into Briar’s face. She looked to her tablet and back at Briar.
“What’s wrong?” Briar asked with alarm. “What happened?”
“No, nothing. The facial contusions are not documented accurately,” the doctor explained.
“I don’t understand.”
“Oh,” she laughed. “My records are showing that you have injuries where you clearly don’t have any. It’s a good thing.”
Briar wanted to take that as a happy sign, but the look on Dr. Locke-Syme’s face told her that something wasn’t quite right.
“I’m just going to feel around your ribcage. Please let me know if there’s any discomfort, all right?”
“Sure.” Briar extended her torso and again realized how much better she felt than she had earlier. That morphine did the trick.
“What the…?”
“What?” Briar asked, staring at the doctor. “What’s wrong now?”
Dr. Locke-Syme laughed shortly and shook her head. “Your ribs,” she muttered. “They feel fine. Does this hurt?”
“No… Is this bad? Am I going to need surgery or something?”
“You’re going to need another x-ray,” the doctor grunted. “Someone messed up. You’re not nearly as hurt as the ER doctors claim.”
“Really?” It was the first piece of decent news Briar had heard in days.
“Well, let’s double check, but it looks that way. You shouldn’t even be in a bed. I would have discharged you right away if I was in the ER.”
Briar exhaled with happiness. “Oh, thank you!” she gushed. “Now can you tell me that my van isn’t trashed?”
Dr. Locke-Syme snickered.
“I’m afraid that’s out of my jurisdiction, Briar.” The blonde smiled warmly at the doctor. “I’ll have another x-ray done of you, full body, but I think you’re going to be okay to leave here in a few hours.”
“That’s excellent,” Briar sighed. “I just need to call work now.”
“Maybe you can get your husband to call for you? He’s waiting outside. I’ll let him know.” Dr. Locke-Syme disappeared, leaving Briar gaping after her in shock.
He’s still out there? Who the hell is that guy, and what does he want from me?
Briar realized that she wasn’t annoyed in the least. She hoped he would wait until she was discharged so she could ask him face to face.
6
After his chat with Raven, Alec turned off his phone, fearful that she would trace it to the hospital, but as he waited to overhear word on how Briar was doing, he longed to turn it on. He desperately needed something to occupy his mind and hands as he waited by her bedside.
The woman lying pale and injured on the bed was nothing like Alec had expected. There was nothing that screamed “hardened criminal” about her. Quite the contrary, in fact. She looked vulnerable, innocent, and in need of protection. The connection he felt toward her as he held vigil over her bed was almost palpable, and Alec knew that he had been drawn to her for a reason.
She’s a thief, he reminded himself. She and her friends held you at gunpoint and stole from you. Whatever you think you’re feeling for her is false.
But rationale had no place in Alec’s thoughts. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from Briar’s fair face. Silently, he willed her to wake up.
He knew the accident had broken her body in various places, and he waited to learn how long she would have to spend in the hospital. The longer she remained there, the easier it would be for Drake and Raven to find her.
It was out of character for him to behave the way he was, and Alec also realized that if he wasn’t easily reached, others would be sought, but all he could do was wait for news on Briar and hope she would be released soon. And then what would he do with her?
“You!” He turned and looked at the nurse who had caught him lying. “You c
an’t be here, buddy. You need to get out of here before I call security.”
“I’m just worried about Briar,” Alec replied calmly. “I’m not in the room.”
“She doesn’t know you. Are you a reporter?”
Alec laughed. “No. I’m not a reporter.”
“Well, whoever you are, you can’t sit around stalking an accident victim.” Alec took offense to the characterization.
“I’m not stalking her,” he snapped. “I’m just making sure she’s okay.”
“She doesn’t want you here,” the nurse insisted, and Alec could see that fighting with the man was getting him nowhere.
“I’m going,” the dragon muttered, rising from his spot in the waiting area.
“I don’t want to see you around again,” the medical worker told him firmly. “You’re making me uncomfortable. I can’t even imagine what you’re doing to the patient.”
Alec opened his mouth to protest, but he thought better of it. For his part, he didn’t think he was making Briar uncomfortable at all. There was something about the way she looked at him which told him that she would not have cast him out if the nurse hadn’t done so.
I can’t leave. Not yet.
He would just have to make himself less obvious.
Alec found a payphone and called the house. Alicia answered immediately.
“Why is your cell off?” the housekeeper demanded. “The landline is going crazy.”
“I’m just checking in,” Alec told her without answering her question. “Who called?”
“Everyone on the Council of Seven. Raven at least four times. You better get in touch with everyone. They’re starting to sound pissed off. Where are you?”
“I’ll be home later. If anyone calls back, don’t tell them you’ve heard from me, okay?”
“Alec, what is happening? You’re acting really odd, even for you.”
“Alicia, don’t tell anyone I called. I mean it.” She sighed deeply, but Alec knew she would obey his instruction.
“How long before you’re home? The office called, too. You have a meeting scheduled with the developers in Jacksonville tomorrow.” Alec cringed at the reminder. “Alec?”
“Yeah, I’m still here. I’ll deal with that, too.” He wasn’t sure when he was going to make time for that. It depended on when Briar was released from the hospital. “I’ll see you later. Not a word, Alicia.”
“Yeah, yeah, I heard you.”
He hung up the payphone and turned away from the bank. The little grey light that the day had tried to produce on the horizon was fading, and the rain no longer fell in droves, but the drizzle was constant. Alec took it as a good omen after a tumultuous day.
A quick look at his Rolex told him that it was almost eight o’clock. Visiting hours would be over soon, and he would officially be the man creeping about the hospital, but where else could he go?
I could go back to her brother’s place. The accident took place in Overtown. There’s a good chance that’s where she’s staying. What if she didn’t return there, though?
It was a risk he was going to have to take before the nurse called the authorities on him. The last thing Alec needed was to bring attention to himself. He moved toward the elevators, casting one last look toward the hall where Briar’s room was, as though he was silently willing her to walk out. That was ridiculous. She was far too injured to go anywhere that night.
The elevator doors opened, and a man hurried out of the lift, his blue eyes wild and worried as he ran toward the reception desk. Alec found himself watching after him. There was something familiar about the young man.
“Briar Baker!” he barked at the nurse on duty. “Where is she?”
The woman behind the desk peered at him skeptically. “And you are?”
“Her brother. I heard she was in an accident. I need to see her!”
“Okay…” The woman behind the desk punched something into the computer and nodded, directing the agitated young man toward Briar’s room. “She’s actually about to be discharged,” the nurse told him, and his face relaxed in relief.
“Really?” he choked. “Already?”
“It looks like her injuries weren’t as serious as we originally thought,” she conceded, smiling. “Just down the hall.”
He bolted away, and Alec remained rooted in place, gnawing on the insides of his cheeks.
She looked really banged up when I saw her, he thought, his brow crinkling. They’re letting her go already?
He watched as the man he assumed was Colton Baker rushed down the hall and looked around nervously. There was a danger to remaining on the floor where the nurse might see him again, but he couldn’t just walk away now that Briar might be leaving the hospital.
If I tracked Briar down to Colton’s address, it won’t take much for Raven and Drake to find her there, either.
On a whim, he shuffled back toward the payphone, but when he reached for the phonebook, he realized that he didn’t know what he was looking for. His intention was to call Briar’s ex and see if the demons had approached him, but he didn’t know enough about Jack to find his home number.
I only have the address and the man’s first name, he thought. I need a reverse lookup. He’d need a computer for that. Or my cell, but I’m not risking turning it on. His emerald eyes darted back toward the hall, and he made a quick decision.
“Excuse me?” he said to the nurse on duty. “Is there anywhere I might use a public computer nearby?”
She eyed him warily. “This is a hospital, sir,” she replied crisply. “Not an internet café.”
“Yes,” Alec agreed. “That’s why I’m asking you if there is one nearby.”
She scowled. “I’m very busy, sir. I’m sure your emails can wait until you get home.” She rose from her swivel chair and left Alec to stare after her in frustration. Before he could think of anything else to do, he saw the movement of people approaching down the hall.
“—so worried. I have no idea why it took so long for them to find me,” Briar’s brother was gushing. Alec’s head whipped up to watch as the siblings shuffled toward him. “I mean, I’m sorry it took so long for me to get here.”
“It doesn’t matter, Colton,” Briar sighed, and Alec gasped aloud when he saw her face. There was no sign of any bruising or contusions he had seen earlier, no marks or scars.
What the hell?
“I guess the van is a write-off, huh?” Colton sighed. Briar paused and glared at him.
“Is that your main concern?” she snapped. “You won’t have a vehicle to steal?” A look of contrition passed over his face.
“Of course not!” he protested. “I’m just saying…”
“I have no way of getting to work, Colton. James came by today. You know what he said, don’t you?”
“Okay, Briar, okay,” Colton said, trying to sound placating, but his face showed panic. “Let’s not do this here. Let’s get you home and—”
“A home we’re not going to have in a week!” Briar barked. “What did you do with the rent money? I know the check bounced!”
“Excuse me!” A doctor rounded the corner and glared at the pair. “This is hardly the place to have a fight.”
Briar looked apologetic and hung her head, the matted blonde strands falling over her face.
“Colton, just go home,” she mumbled. “I can’t deal with you right now.”
“Go home?” her brother echoed. “Where are you going to go?”
“I just need to call work and figure out what happened to my van.”
“I know you’re mad about last night, Briar, but—”
“Seriously, I don’t want to do this right now. Just go.”
Colton paused and stared at her. Alec got a peculiar feeling of disgust in the pit of his stomach as he sensed the next words about to spring from Colton’s lips.
“Listen,” he muttered. “I used all my money to get here. Any chance you have a few bucks to get me home?”
Was this guy for rea
l? Alec was suddenly getting a really good picture of the family dynamic and why Briar had been involved in such a heist the previous night. There was a good chance her brother was also.
“You’re unbelievable, you know that?” Briar hissed, wrenching open her purse. “First you steal my car, you squander our rent, and then you have the balls to ask me for money?”
“I took the van for a good reason last night,” Colton muttered. “I was going to tell you about it before you left, but—”
“Just stop talking, Colton. This is my last five bucks. Take it and get out of my face. Please.”
“Briar—”
“Go before I really freak out.”
Her brother stared at her for a long moment, but to Alec’s dismay, he took the bill out of her hand and turned away. “I’ll pay you back.”
“Oh, my God, Colton, just GO!” He seemed to understand she was at her breaking point and sauntered away. Briar stood in the corridor, a slightly dazed expression on her face, until slowly, she lifted her head to look directly at Alec. Her blue eyes widened in shock, and she blinked as though she thought him to be an apparition.
“What are you still doing here?” she murmured.
“Waiting for you,” Alec replied. “Should we get out of here?”
Without hesitation, she nodded. “Yes, please.”
7
What am I doing here?
It was a natural question, but one Briar didn’t ask aloud, even though it was burning through the roof of her mouth as she buckled herself into the car at the stranger’s side.
“I’m surprised they released you already,” he said, eyeing her as he pulled out of the parking lot. “But you look a lot better than you did when I first saw you.”
“I feel a lot better,” she confessed, studying his face in the darkness. “Do you have a name?”
A wry smile touched his lips. “Alec. Alec Petlier.”
Her eyes widened in recognition. “The real estate developer?”
He shot her a look and nodded slowly. “The very same.”
