Billionaire Bodyguard

by Jill Snow

  Steven walked back to them. He seemed to move in slow motion. Emily prayed harder than ever before. She willed herself not to cry. She had to be strong.

  “How is he?” she asked, standing up from her chair.

  “Surgery went well. He should be awake soon.”

  “Can I see him?” she asked, her voice full of desperation.

  “Yes, but only for a few minutes.”

  “The police want to see him, too, I guess.”

  “They do, but the doc won’t let them talk to him. I had to twist his arm to let you in.”

  “Thank you, Steven.” Emily surprised both of them by kissing him on the cheek, causing his face to flush. She didn’t wait for him to say anything but walked toward the room, her heart beating so loudly she thought everyone could hear it. She stopped when she got to the door. The cop stood aside to let her in.

  “Go on, ma’am. It’s worse standing here wondering. Take it from someone who knows.”

  She nodded her thanks, balled her fists tightly in a bid to control her tears, and pushed the door open.

  Chapter 37

  He looked so vulnerable, lying on the hospital bed surrounded by various machines. A nurse stood at his side, checking the screen.

  “Sorry, just a sec and then I will be out of your way.”

  “Take your time,” Emily whispered.

  She stared at Conor’s face, his color matching his bed linen. The nurse finished and beckoned her forward.

  “I have to stay here. Just in case. But I will be working on paperwork.”

  Emily nodded and took a seat at the side of the bed.

  “Can I touch him?”

  “Sure, hold his hand. Speak to him. He can probably hear you.”

  Emily looked at Conor’s face. He looked as if he were in a deep sleep. She kissed his hand before moving slightly to place a light kiss on his lips.

  “Wake up, please. I love you.”

  She stroked his hand, willing him to open his eyes but he didn’t.

  “Conor, can you hear me? Can you squeeze my hand?”

  She held his hand but nothing. Feeling more than a little stupid, she looked to the nurse. “He isn’t moving.”

  “He’s heavily sedated. That’s the best thing for him, given what he has been through. Thank goodness the shooter wasn’t a good one.”

  “What are his injuries?”

  “The bullet passed through his leg but it was a while before anyone called the paramedics so he lost a lot of blood. He was lucky. A couple of inches up and he would have hit an artery.”

  An alarm sounded, making Emily jump. The nurse moved quickly but efficiently. “Nothing to worry about, but I should ask you to leave now. He needs his rest.”

  Emily nodded. “Thank you. Can I come back?”

  “Yes, we encourage that. You keep talking to him. I don’t want him blaming me for keeping his fiancée away.”

  “Thank you for being so kind.”

  “My pleasure. See you soon.”

  Emily gave Conor one last kiss before she left the room, tears now falling freely down her cheeks.

  “Did he say anything to you, Ms. Williams?”

  Emily looked at the cop. “No, he’s still unconscious.”

  The cop looked disappointed.

  “Do you have any idea who did this?”

  “No, ma’am. But we’ll find out.”

  Emily hoped he was as confident as he sounded. She moved slowly toward the waiting room. Her grandmother came forward and put her arms around her, pulling her close.

  “Nana, he hasn’t woken up. He didn’t even move.”

  “That’s normal, darling. It will take a while for him to come around.. Come on, let’s get you home.”

  “No way. I’m staying here. I want to be nearby,” Emily said.

  “Will she be allowed to stay here, Steven?”

  “I don’t think they’ll give her any trouble.” Steven winked at Gertie. “I told the women at the reception desk that Emily is his fiancée.”

  Emily broke out in a crimson blush, but couldn’t bring herself to correct him. If that was the lie they had to tell to give her access to Conor, then so be it.

  “We’re going to get him moved as soon as we can. There’s a private specialist hospital he should be transferred to when he’s recovered a bit.”

  “Steven, have you contacted his mom?”

  For the first time Steven’s cool façade dropped. “He doesn’t want her here.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “Are you telling me Conor has discussed what should happen if he was ever shot?”

  Steven looked uncomfortable.

  “Give me her details and I’ll call her. Then it’ll be on my head if he’s mad.”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  Emily saw the stubborn look on Steven’s face. She took a step toward him and put a hand on his arm. “I know you’re more than security to Conor. You’re his trusted friend and you want to protect him. But his mom should know about this. He was shot.” Emily faltered for a second. “She’s his mom.”

  She watched his face closely, but his training won out. She couldn’t read him. He looked from her to her grandmother.

  “I believe Emily is right,” Gertie said. “I know Conor will recover. But I would have given anything for the chance to hold my son one last time before he died.” Gertie wiped a tear from her eye.

  “I will get her number. Wait here.”

  Gertie took a seat and dragged Emily into the chair beside her. She put her arm around her. “Emily, darling, let the tears flow. Then you will be strong enough to deal with what’s coming.”

  “Nana, I can’t believe he was shot. You were right, I love him.”

  “I know that, sweetheart. He is in the best place. All we can do now is pray.”

  After she’d cried herself out, Emily found a coffee machine, grabbed two and brought them back to where her grandmother was still waiting.

  “Nana, do you want to go back to Conor’s? You don’t have to stay here. It might be a long wait.”

  “No, darling, but thank you. I want to be nearby.”

  Emily knew her grandmother didn’t want her to be alone just in case things took a turn for the worse. She sat down beside her, both sipping their coffees.

  “Has the nurse come over to say anything?” Emily asked.

  “No.”

  “What are you smiling about?”

  “I was just thinking of how Conor will react when he wakes up to find he’s engaged.” Gertie laughed. “That was quick thinking on Steven’s part. How does Conor know him?”

  “I’m not sure. I know Steven spent time in the military. I think he was a Green Beret.”

  “The poor guy. I bet he saw some sights.”

  Emily didn’t comment. She couldn’t think of more sad things now. Her focus had to stay on Conor.

  “Ms. Williams? The doctor would like to speak to you. Come this way, please.”

  “Can I go with her? I’m her grandmother.”

  The nurse nodded. Emily was glad her nana had spoken up. Her head was spinning as she walked to the room. The officer nodded in recognition but didn’t say anything to them. When they walked in, Conor looked just the same as before, still sleeping. Walking over, she dropped a kiss on his lips before sitting to hold his hand. Her grandmother took the seat beside her.

  A professional-looking man still wearing surgical scrubs read Conor’s charts. Then he turned and glanced at Emily.

  “Your fiancé is a very lucky man, Miss Williams. An inch above and he may have lost his knee..”

  Emily wasn’t sure she would call Conor lucky, but she wasn’t about to argue.

  Emily swallowed, her mouth dry. The doctor looked at her as if waiting for a question, but she couldn’t think of any.

  “Will he suffer any detrimental effects, Doctor?”

  “No, I don’t believe so. He won’t be playing muc
h sport or spend any time at the gym for a while.”

  “We’ll make sure he does as he’s told, won’t we, Emily?”

  Emily couldn’t answer. The lump in her throat was too big.

  Chapter 38

  Seeing as it was going to take some time for Conor to wake up properly, Emily took her nana home. But it wasn’t home, was it? It was Conor’s apartment.

  Emily showered and changed. She was too hyped to sleep but Nana was much older and more easily fatigued. She literally pushed the old lady into bed, making a promise she would call her if she had any news. She left cash for her grandmother if she wanted to take a cab over to the hospital. But given how tired she was, she reckoned her grandmother might sleep through the next couple of days.

  Steven escorted her back to the hospital, reassuring her he still had a guard on Conor’s apartment so her nana was safe. He told her Conor’s place was more secure than the White House.

  “Why?” she asked.

  “Why what?’

  “Why does he have to live with this level of security?”

  Steven shrugged. “It’s normal for most people of Conor’s wealth and status. There are a lot of nut jobs out there.”

  Yes, there were, and one had hurt Conor while he was doing a favor for her. She would never forgive herself if he died or was left horribly injured.

  “He’ll be fine, Emily. I’ve seen men with half his strength recover from injuries twice as bad.”

  “Thank you, Steven. Do the police have any leads or suspects?”

  Steven didn’t answer.

  “Steven? Tell me please,” she pleased. “You think I’m to blame, don’t you?”

  “Not you personally, but yes, I think the shooter was after you. I am not sure if he meant to hurt you. I don’t think he did, but who knows with these people?”

  “I can’t understand how he got in. How did he get a key, or make it past the doorman?”

  “Who has a key to your apartment?”

  “Nobody, apart from the doorman in the case of an emergency. Oh, and Carrie.”

  “Carrie from work?”

  “Yes. I’ve known her since I was four. She is totally trustworthy.”

  Steven nodded, his expression unreadable. Emily wished she could relax, but the thought of someone watching her, being in her home, and touching her things made her feel violated.

  When they arrived at the hospital, she nearly jumped from the elevator to get to Conor’s room quicker but the doctor stopped them.

  “Ms. Williams, we were just about to call you. Mr. Dunne is awake and talking.”

  “Thank you, Doctor.” Emily couldn’t stop smiling. She walked into the room, delighted to find Conor awake, although she didn’t like the look on his face.

  “Heard I was engaged. Aren’t I the lucky fellow?” His tone was cold.

  Emily flushed. “Oh, um, about that…”

  “Tell me what I’ve missed and where is your ring? You haven’t lost it already, have you?”

  “Conor!” Conscious the nurse was listening, Emily tried to distract him with a kiss but although he returned it, he looked at her fingers pointedly.

  “Funny, the last thing I remember is you standing me up for lunch. Now it appears we are engaged.”

  She stared at him. He had stood her up. Did he get a bang on the head as well as having his knee shot? She was about to ask when they heard a loud argument outside.

  “I want to see my son. I’m his next of kin.”

  Emily blanched at the thunderous expression on Conor’s face.

  “What is she doing here?”

  “Conor, it looked like…”

  “How did you find her?”

  “I told Steven to give me her number.” Her stomach roiled at the look in his eyes. Maybe calling his mother had been the wrong decision. He looked not only angry but worried. As if he was scared. Of his mother?

  “You did what?”

  “Conor, calm down. You heard what the nurse said. You need to stay relaxed.”

  Conor glowered at her but he didn’t get the chance to say anything else before the door to the room burst open, admitting a flustered-looking woman.

  “Conor, my poor baby. Mammy is here. You’re going to be fine.”

  “Mam, I’m fine. You can go home now.”

  “That’s no way to speak to your mother,” the woman said, sharply pulling her body up straighter.

  “Mrs. Dunne, perhaps it would be better if you were to come back another time?” Emily tried to intervene.

  “Who the he—”

  “Mam. Stop it now. You’re making a scene. I am fine, as you can see. Steven will arrange to get you home.”

  “But Conor—”

  “Mrs. Dunne, this patient needs his rest. Leave now, please, or I will have to call security.” The nurse looked almost as annoyed as Conor.

  “But why does she get to stay?” Mrs. Dunne pointed to Emily, making her want to crawl under the bed.

  “Ms. Williams is your son’s fiancée. Now please—”

  “You’re getting married? You didn’t say any of that on the phone,” Mrs. Dunne said, lightly slapping Emily’s arm before turning back to Conor. “Were you even going to tell me, or would I read about it in the papers? Seriously, Conor, if your father was here to see how you treat me...”

  “But he isn’t and you’re leaving. Now. Get out.”

  Emily stood to the side, feeling guilty and helpless. She didn’t recognize Conor; the hard look on his face was completely different from the man she thought she knew. No matter what, this woman was his mother. She thought he was being unkind, but she was afraid of inflaming the situation by saying anything.

  She stood watching as a combination of Steven and the security people removed Conor’s mother from the ICU. The nurse cast her a sympathetic glance before she slipped out of the room, leaving Conor and Emily alone.

  “Conor, I’m—”

  “Sorry? You have no idea what you’ve done. All of my hard work down the drain, just like that.”

  “But she’s your mother.”

  “Yes, and you are my fiancée, though I don’t remember that happening. Was that your idea, too?”

  Emily’s temper flared and she tried to tell herself to have patience. He was ill, after all.

  “Leave. I want to be alone.”

  “Conor, let me—”

  “Explain? Save it, Emily. I’m tired.”

  “Oh, for goodness sake! You’re as stubborn as a mule. That woman is your mother and you’ve been shot. And as for our engagement, you don’t have to worry about it. It’s over.”

  She marched off without waiting for a reply. She couldn’t believe the whole situation had blown up so badly. She could shoot Conor herself. How dare he behave so coldly to her when she had been trying to look out for him?

  Chapter 39

  After returning to Conor’s apartment and picking at a perfunctory dinner, Emily excused herself to her temporary bedroom. Once she was alone, she let the tears fall. How could he behave like that? But then again, anyone would think she had taken advantage of the moment to force him to marry her. Of all the conceited, self-centered men she had ever known, he was the worst. Back and forth the argument went in her head. She couldn’t even use her usual method of distraction as she had been forced to leave her work to Carrie.

  She got up and paced the room but that didn’t help. A long bath did nothing but shrivel her skin. After a long and sleepless night, finally daylight broke through her curtains so she gave up on sleep and decided to go for a run. She wasn’t staying cooped up in that glass prison one second longer.

  She got as far as the nearest store and groaned when the newspaper headlines caught her attention: “Billionaire’s mom almost arrested for disturbance in ER.” If that weren’t bad enough, there was another of her leaving the hospital: “Woman unmasked as fake fiancée is Emily Williams.” One of the nurses must have given the press an interview. The article went on to identify her as CEO o
f the DC Williams Foundation and founder of the Ugly Truth Blog. Emily turned straight around and ran faster than before back to the safety of Conor’s home. She saw no signs of any paparazzi, but then Conor was clever about keeping this address secret.

  When she entered the apartment, her grandmother was glowering at her. “Where have you been? Your cell has been ringing constantly and look at the news. It’s not safe for you to leave, Conor told you that. Steven told you. I told you.”

  “Sorry, Nana, I had to get out. I didn’t know anything about all this until I saw the newspaper and headed back. Poor Conor, he must be furious.”

  “If I was him, I would sue those reporters for every dollar they have. Can you believe the lies they printed? There’s no way his mom could be responsible for his father’s death, could there?” Gertie looked to Emily for confirmation, but she had no idea what her nana was talking about.

  “Conor’s father died when he was ten. That’s all he ever said.”

  “Well, according to this report on WWA channel, his father was indicted for involvement in some big scandal back in Ireland in the 1990’s. His body was found shortly afterward. His mother was also a company director. She was vindicated by a hand-written note his father left behind. But it seems she couldn’t cope with her husband’s death and started drinking heavily. Conor was taken away from her. His grandmother was given custody when he was twelve.”

  “Oh, my, why didn’t Conor tell me? No wonder he didn’t want his mom at the hospital. Did Steven know all this?” Emily sat down heavily. “Oh, Nana, what have I done?"

  “In truth, or according to the gossip on the TV? Because they say you’re a gold digger who went after his wallet and faked an engagement in an attempt to rip him off.”

  “But that’s just stupid. I didn’t do any of those things, you know that.”