by Kayla Grey
“No worries, it happens all the time.” He says with a soft chuckle. “She should be waking up any moment. If you would like you can come see her now.”
“Yes.” I turn to Mark, who’s now standing next to me. “I’ll be back.”
With a curt nod, he returns to his section and continues working. Turning my attention back to Dr. Morris, I follow him past the stations swinging doors, stopping in front of a single bed room. “We ran several blood tests. Did a chest X-ray. As well as a pulse oximetry, which is where we attach a small probe to an extremity to determine how much oxygen is in the blood. We are waiting for the results.”
He opens the door without giving me a moment to process or ask questions. The sight of Autumn lying there asleep churns my stomach. Dr. Morris hasn’t said anything was wrong beyond potential repercussions.
Not a moment too soon, her eyes flutter open. She looks around the room taking in Dr. Morris first before her hazy gaze lands on me. Taking her hand in mine, I smile and kiss each knuckle. “Hey, baby.”
A void expands in my chest when she jerks back slightly. I swallow past the knot in my throat. Her beautiful green eyes are cloudy with fear and confusion. When she snatches her hand away and looks to Dr. Morris I feel as if I’ve been kicked in the gut.
“This is your fiancé.” Dr. Morris says motioning his hand toward me.
Her gaze darts to mine, searching my face. But after a moment there is no recollection. I feel my world start to crumble. “What’s wrong with her?”
“I told you there could be repercussions depending on how much smoke she inhaled and the damage it did to her. The lack of oxygen to her brain must have brought on a case of amnesia.” Dr. Morris states looking over her chart.
“Is it permanent?” I gaze at her feeling helpless, my heart breaking. I want to hold her. Take her in my arms and let her know it’s going to be okay.
“Hard to say. Most likely she will remember in a couple days. But amnesia is a fragile thing. You can’t do anything that will shock her brain into remembering. It has to connect everything on its own or it can be damaging to the brain.” He takes out a small pen light from his pocket and uses it to check her eyes.
“Shouldn’t you do small things to help her connect?”
“No, no. That is the worst thing you can do.” He tells me, his tone light. I’m getting awfully tired of his blasé attitude.
Biting back the anger boiling inside me, I force myself to stay calm for her sake. “What am I supposed to do? I can’t just leave her here!”
“Well, you can’t take her.”
“This is ridiculous. She’s Autumn! You can’t keep her from me.” I snap clenching my jaw.
The heart rate monitor starts beeping quickly pulling my attention to Autumn. She’s fine, besides the tears streaming down her face and the look of fear in her eyes. Her gaze drops to her hand studying the solitary diamond engagement ring finished in rose gold. I reach out to take her hand, just barely grazing her fingers before she snatches her hand away again. Another swift kick to the gut.
“You said you would do anything to help her.” Dr. Morris snatches her hand and nearly rips the engagement ring off her finger. He studies it a moment then shoves it out to me urging me to take it. “You need to leave.”
“What? You have to be joking.” I say with wide eyes and surprise clear in my voice.
He shakes his head. “No. You need to leave now before you cause her more damage. We will keep you updated on her progress and hopefully you can come back in a day or two.”
My gaze narrows on Dr. Morris. “I’m not leaving her, especially for that long.”
I catch that slight grin again before he composes himself. “You don’t have a choice. I’m her attending physician and this is what’s best for my patient. Now if you would.” He lifts his hand toward the door where two officers are waiting patiently.
“You can’t keep her away from me. I will be back tomorrow, with a lawyer if I have to.” I glare at Dr. Morris a moment before gazing back at Autumn. Brushing her espresso hair away from her face I press a kiss to her forehead, and whisper “I love you.”
“Sir, that is enough. You need to leave now.” Dr. Morris says in a curt, nasally tone.
Movement by the door catches my attention as one of the officers takes a step just inside the room, his hand resting on the butt of his holstered gun. Head hung low, I walk out of the room leaving Autumn behind.
Mark stands at the swinging doors the moment I enter the waiting room, a grim look on his face. Looking back toward the doors, I see the two officer standing there keeping their gaze trained on me. The two young nurses, who have to be doing their residency, are still giggling away at the side. The blonde nurse comes up to me with a blushing smile and tries to hand me a piece of paper. I don’t need to take it to know its her phone number. Without taking it, I walk past her and out the hospital doors. My body is too hot, and I can’t breathe.
The cool dry night air touches my skin the moment the doors open. But it’s not enough to cool the fury and fear boiling deep inside me. Mark walks up opening the car door in silence. My dark gaze connects with his. “Something isn’t right here. I want her under surveillance.”
“Do you think there is foul play?”
“I’m not sure yet. Something is definitely amiss. Check out Dr. Morris.” Something in my gut tells me things are about to get a lot worse before they get better. I get in the car and wait for Mark to join.
“Where to sir?” He asks shutting the door and turning the car on.
“Somewhere close. I want to come back in a few hours.” I pause looking back at the hospital bay doors and the two officers still standing guard. I tell Mark in a clipped tone, “Get her under surveillance tonight.”
“Right away, sir.”
We pull away, leaving the hospital and Autumn behind. As my mind replays everything that has happened my heart sinks. Not only did I lose her family, I lost mine as well. No. I’m not going to let that happen. I will come every day if it means sparking even the smallest recollection in her mind. I can’t lose her. I won’t lose her.
CHAPTER FIVE
“WHAT? THAT’S NOT possible!” Mark shouts, jolting me awake. My gaze snapping to him pacing the room just as he rakes his fingers through his dusty blond hair. “This is unacceptable. Find her!”
My heart rate spikes, throwing it into an hurried unrhythmic pattern. Bolting off the bed, I head toward him. His gaze catches mine, a mix of fury and fear filling his eyes and face. “What happened?” I finally manage to ask.
He takes a breath, his mouth setting in a firm line. “She was moved, and we have no idea where.”
“What?” I knew something was wrong. I should have never left.
“I’m sorry, sir. The surveillance team arrived too late. They are working to find out when and where she was moved. I have a feeling it was right after we left.”
I glance at the Versace watch she gave me, noticing it’s just after seven. “Why are we just now finding out about this?”
“The team was trying to track her down before getting back to me. I’ve taken the liberty in firing the idiot that made that call.”
“Take me back. I want to see for myself that she’s been moved. Maybe the team messed up.” I know that isn’t true. I knew something wasn’t right earlier, but I have to see for myself. I swing my coat on and look over the room once, making sure nothing was left behind. Seconds later, Mark and I are bolting out the door.
My heart races raising my body temperature all the way to the hospital. The moment Mark pulls to a stop under the awning, I’m out of the car. The two nurses from last night are still here. The blonde lifts her head, flushing the moment she sees me, before I glare back turning that flush into fear. The two officers are no longer standing guard, so I shove my way through the swinging doors. My pace quickens as I make my way toward her room.
A small group of younger men dressed in suits stand outside her door. They must be Mark�
��s team. Taking a deep breath, I march past them and into her room. A man stands questioning Dr. Morris by her empty bed. My skin prickles. Clenching my jaw, I march up and grab Dr. Morris by the lapels of his jacket. “Where is she?”
That smile he hid twice finally breaks. “You’re not family. I can’t tell you.”
I slam him hard against the wall. “I’m her only family! Where the fuck did you move her to?”
“Sir!” Mark’s voice echos through the room urging me to stop.
“Where?” I shout slamming him again.
He laughs, his mouth breaking into a crooked grin. But it’s his eyes that push me over the edge. Pure satisfaction and hatred fill their dark void. Without thinking, my fist pulls back then connects with his face within seconds. The sounds of bone cracking and blood splattering fills the room.
Dr. Morris laughs and spits a mouth full of blood at my feet. “You will never find her. You arrogant son of a bitch.”
I’m about to wipe that grin off his face when Mark locks his arms around mine from behind, forcing me to drop Morris. “Sir, stop. He’s not worth it.” Mark says jerking me back.
I shove him off me and yank on my jacket forcing it back into place. I watch as Dr. Morris wipes his face free of blood. His hard eyes meet mine stirring something dark deep inside me. “Take care of him.” I tell the man who was talking to Morris earlier. He nods but stay’s silent turning his attention back to Morris.
Mark follows me out of the room, and doesn’t say a word until we walk out of the hospital. “What do you want to do, sir?”
“Get Wolf on the phone.” I continue walking past the car toward the grass. I hold my hand out when Mark starts to follow me. I don’t want anyone around right now. He stops at the car, I can feel his gaze on my back.
The moment I feel out of sight, I collapse to my knees. Hunching over, I gasp trying to fill my tightening chest with air. Why did I leave her? I lost everything I had last night. My world crumbling to ash just as the house did. What am I supposed to do now? I know she’s out there. What if she remembers and I’m not there, what will they do? My mind races with a million thoughts from her managing to find me to her no longer living. The last thought churns my stomach enough forcing me to vomit.
“Sir.” Mark calls, his rough voice carrying. As his heavy steps approach, I reign in the swirling darkness starting to consume me, and force myself to stand. Meeting Mark halfway, he stops and hands me the phone. “Sir, are you all right?”
I take a breath, aware of how shaky my legs are, and give him a pat on the arm. He eyes me warily a moment before continuing. “I have Wolf for you.”
“Good. Thank you Mark.” I take the phone and force myself to focus on what steps to take next. There is no way in hell I’m leaving her out there all alone. I don’t care if it takes the rest of my life to find her. Mark hands me a water bottle. Grateful, I take a swig swirling it around my mouth then spit it out.
Clearing my throat, I head back to the car, Mark taking the lead. “Wolf.”
“Kage, what’s going on?” Wolf says, his husky deep voice filled with apprehension. “It’s been a while.”
“Yes, I apologize my friend. But we have a problem.”
“No shit. Mark gave me the run down. What the hell is going on?”
“There is something else going on here. I need your help figuring out what it is, and I need your help finding her.” I tell him as I get into the car.
“They wouldn’t tell you where they transferred her too? Get her papers.”
“Mark,” he stops just before closing the door and looks at me. “Ask for her transfer papers. Leaving the door open he quickly heads into the hospital.”
“Kage, tell me what happened.” Wolf urges.
I don’t even know where to start. “There was an incident last night at her family house. Everything, everythings gone.”
“We’ll find her, Kage. I’ll—”
“Hang on.” I tell Wolf as Mark marches back to me, a scowl planted firmly on his face. “Wolf, I’m putting you on speaker.”
Mark shuts my door without a word, making my stomach lurch. He gets behind the driver’s seat shortly after slamming his own door. “There are no papers.”
“What do you mean there’s no papers?” Wold calls through the speaker.
The car roars to life, then speeds away from the hospital. “She wasn’t transferred, at least not on record. Someone just moved her. Dr. Morris was paid off.”
“Who paid him off?” I snarl.
“He hasn’t said yet.” Mark says.
“Kage,” Wolf says through an uncomfortable silence. “We need to check out everyone that was working last night. It would have had to be one of them, but just incase, Mark we need surveillance tapes as well.”
“Thank you Wolf. I’ll be here as long as possible.”
“Get those things to me as soon as possible. If you need to go back to work go. I’ll be your eyes and ears here.”
“I appreciate that. I won’t go back until I have to though. I made the mistake of leaving her last night. I won’t do it again unless I have to.” A hole forms in my chest. An emptiness I won’t be able to fill until she’s found.
“Understood. I will get started on what I can.”
The call disconnects and I turn my attention to Mark. “We need to keep her and her family’s name out of the papers and media.”
“Yes, sir. Already working on it. It’s going to be—”
“Take care of it. Cost isn’t a factor.” I interrupt.
“Where to, sir?” Mark asks risking a glance at me in the rearview mirror.
“Hotel. I don’t want to leave until I have no choice.” He glances at me again then back at the road. The lines of his face are drawn and serious. I know he’s just as upset as I am. She means everything to me.
CHAPTER SIX
BROKEN DREAMS OF screams, fire tinged grass, and the lost look in Autumn’s eyes haunt me. I jerk awake for the hundredth time this week. I catch the sight of my phone illuminating, six in the morning. Stretching my tired muscles, I walk over the expansive window over looking L.A. Since her disappearance my world has been devoid of color. The emptiness in my chest expands and seeps its way into my bones.
It’s been a week, and we are no closer to finding out where she is. Wolf verified there was a small gas leak coming from the stove. He said at some point during the night there was a short that sparked, igniting the gas. He’s still waiting for the full report from his guy before giving any more information. According to Wolf and the man he talked to, we were lucky to get out alive. The house should have exploded right away, but didn’t. He said it was a pure miracle. I can’t see how, since I still lost my everything that night. Although the man told Wolf that it was an accident, I could tell from Wolf’s voice he suspected otherwise.
Wolf believes foul play, considering the coincidence of Dr. Morris being paid off and Autumn being suddenly moved without anyone’s knowledge. He’s having someone thoroughly investigate the fire further. As far as the staff at the hospital, Wolf explained it would take longer than a week to go through everyone’s background check. The hospital is fairly large and even though not everyone was on duty that night, he wants to check everyone.
I let my mind wander to that night as we were laying down for bed. The subtle notes of vanilla, caramel, and coffee lingering in her smooth dark hair. The feel of her soft lips as she pressed them against my chest. The way her fingers combed through my chest hair with the lightest touch. I held her close to me, feeling her warmth, listening to her soft even breaths. I never thought our night would end the way it did. I remember her inhaling deep. Something she does when she feels safe. My scent doing the very same thing to her as she does to me.
A knock at the door pulls me from my thoughts. “Come in.” I look over the gray city scape un-impressed with the towering buildings half hidden by a thick layer of fog.
“Sir,” Mark says just behind me. When I pull my gaze from th
e skyline to his drawn face he continues. “You need to go back to the office.”
“No. I need to be here. Wolf and I have a meeting this afternoon.” I say waving him off as I make my way to the kitchen.
He doesn’t say anything as he follows me. Pulling open the fridge and freezer, I look at all the food and want nothing. I have barely eaten anything for a week. I thought the pit in my stomach would dissipate as we focused on finding her, but it’s only gotten worse. Instead I settle for coffee, filled with primarily Bailey’s just as she drank it. The thought makes me feel closer to her ,somehow.
“Was there something else Mark? I need to get ready.”
He hesitates a moment. “Sir, I cancelled your meeting with Wolf. Actually we agreed.”
“What?” I snap holding back the surge of energy filling my veins. “I need to stay—”
“I know sir.” Mark interrupts, not backing down. “There is a pressing matter at the office that you must be present for. And Wolf and I both believe it would be in your best interest to get out of L.A.”
“That isn’t your decision to make!” I growl, seething with an intense amount of anger.
“I’m sorry, sir. But in this case it is. You are needed at work. Nothing will change. Wolf and I will continue to work tirelessly to find her. Neither of us are giving up hope. But we don’t know how long this could take.”
“I don’t care!”
“You are going back to work. This isn’t a discussion, sir.” Mark says his tone grave. There are very few times he has ever spoken to me like this. It only has one outcome, and it’s always him getting his way. It makes me feel like a child. “You are overcome with guilt, fear, and rage. I understand it’s justified, all of it. But I have watched you spiral out of control this week. You have barely eaten anything this week, and I have replaced that Bailey’s bottle four times already.”
I look down at the nearly empty bottle in my hand. Have I drank that much this week? The last few days are a blur. I can’t even remember exactly what I have done besides worry and yell at people.
