by Rebel Hart
“Put me beside her, and yes,” I said.
The doctor nodded curtly. “Good. Follow me.”
He and his team of nurses led us through the metal double doors. The second we turned down an isolated hallway, I heard that cough. Dani’s barking, wet, incessant cough.
“Has she been coughing like that ever since you pulled her out?”
Worry grew in my gut. “Yes. It took several rounds of CPR to bring her back. And ever since, she’s been barking like that and coughing shit up.”
“Anything other than water?”
“Contents from her stomach. It’s triggering her gag reflex.”
The doctor pointed. “You’ll be in this room. I want you hooked up to an IV and--”
I shook my head. “I want to see Dani first.”
He spun around on me. “You do as I ask, or you’re gone. Get in there and let my team of nurses get you started on some fluids and a round of pain medication. You’re going to need it for when we start patching you up.”
Rupert placed his hand on my shoulder. “Just do as they’re asking. Okay?”
I shrugged his touch off. “Fine. Whatever.”
A nurse led me into the room right next to Dani’s before sitting me on the edge of the bed. She set the I.V. and got me started on pain medication. But I was focused on the coughing coming from the room beside me. I not only felt helpless; I also felt hopeless. And the more she coughed, the more I wondered if she’d actually pull out of this.
I wondered if any of us would be okay after this.
4
Dani
I couldn't remember much. After sedation, the only thing I recalled was waking up and asking for Max. I kept reaching out for his hand, searching the room for him. Trying to get him to call out to me. But the only response I ever got was from the doctor.
“He’s being checked out. We’ll get him in here soon.”
“No, Miss Young. It’s just me. Is there anyone else you want us to call?”
“I need you to hold still. Nurse, can you hold her down? I have to get her to stop moving.”
“Miss Young! Stop talking and hold still.”
I wanted this nightmare to be over. I wanted all of this to go away. I wanted to feel Max wrapped around me again so I could listen to his heartbeat. So I could remind myself that he was still alive.
It was the only thing that kept me grounded sometimes.
“Can you remember what happened?”
“Were your wrists and ankles tied together?”
“Nurse, I need another ice pack down here.”
Everything felt like a whirlwind. It felt like my life was nothing but flashes and images of things taking place around me. But after what seemed like hours of tests and machines and things being shoved down my throat, I was upright. I was awake and coherent.
And I still needed Max.
“Miss Young, how are you feeling?”
I sighed. “Can I see him now? Max? Where is he?”
He patted my leg. “He’s being checked out himself. The man was pretty beat up. He’s got some injuries of his own that needed to be taken care of.”
“Is he going to be all right? What happened? What was wrong?”
He licked his lips. “Miss Young, what happened tonight?”
I blinked. “What?”
“You have both suffered a great deal of trauma. Did you get into an argument?”
“What? No!”
“Has he hurt you in any way?”
“Get him in here now. Max!”
The doctor nodded. “Close the door, please.”
I shook my head. “Don’t you close that door. Where’s Max? I want to see my boyfriend.”
“Right after you answer some questions I have regarding yours and his injuries.”
“You can ask him if you have questions.”
“Well, I’m asking you. And I need you to answer. Okay?”
I sucked air between my teeth. “All right. Fine. What do you want to know?”
“What were you bound with?”
I blinked. “Come again?”
He sighed. “Your wrists and ankles have some serious abrasions on them. Almost like they were tied. Your boyfriend told us you got snagged onto a chair that tipped into a pool. Your injuries say differently.”
“Look, it’s been a long night, Doctor. Am I going to be okay?”
“Answer my questions.”
“Try answering mine, and maybe I’ll trust you.”
He looked over at his nurse while I waited for my answer.
“You’re going to be fine, Miss Young. While the abrasions are concerning, no lasting damage will come of them. We also vacuumed out your lungs. You were under for so long that the water started seeping into the small caverns of your lungs that usually expand with air. The coughing was to try and get the water up, but all the coughing did was push the water further into those pockets.”
I paused. “Is that why I felt I had something lodged in my lungs?”
He nodded. “Correct. That’s also why we had to sedate you. That process is incredibly painful when performed without sedation. Judging by the abrasions around your extremities, I figured you’d been through enough tonight.”
“I appreciate that. Thank you.”
“It also took us a while to raise your body temperature. But you’re holding stable at 98.2 degrees. Which we’ll take, for now. Even though it’s still a tick below normal.”
“If it helps, I’m always cold.”
He sighed. “Forgive me if I don’t take your word for things.”
I snickered. “Fair enough.”
“Did this man hurt you?”
I shook my head. “If anything, he’s the one that saved me. He and Rupert--wait, is Rupert still here?”
“The redhead with the beanie?”
“That’s the one.”
He nodded. “He’s still here. He’s next door with Max. They’re waiting until I’m done talking with you.”
“Well, are we done talking?”
His eyes ran down my body before he drew in a deep breath.
“I’m not leaving any of you alone until you’re fully discharged. I don’t like the injuries that man came in here with, either. And until I know the two of you are going to be safe with one another after leaving, you’ll be under my care. Understood?”
I paused. “Is that something you can do?”
He nodded. “I can keep you both here for up to three days, if I say the word. Don’t give me a reason to do that.”
“You really don’t believe me. That man out there would never hurt me. He loves me. And I love him.”
“And again, don’t blame me if I don’t take your word for it.”
I leaned back against my pillows. “Okay, then. Can I at least see him?”
He narrowed his eyes. “I’ll allow it. But mostly because he’s pestering my nurses and I’m fearing for his own safety at this point.”
I giggled. “Sounds like the man I love.”
He grinned. “I’ll get him in here. But you stay in this bed. Got it?”
I nodded. “Got it.”
The second Max’s face came around the corner, my heart surged with delight. I held my arms out for him and he strode to me, wrapping me up tight in his grasp. Someone had given him a shirt. I had to admit I was a bit disappointed. His muscles were always something to enjoy and admire every chance I got. Nonetheless, I placed my ear against his chest to hear his heart beat. I felt him cradle my head against him. And as he sat on the edge of my bed, I drew in a deep, relaxing breath.
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” I whispered.
He kissed the top of my head. “Are you all right? Did they get all the water out of your lungs?”
“They say they did. No more coughing for me.”
“Thank fuck.”
I nuzzled against him. “Max, I’m so--”
“I’m so sorry for the position I put you in tonight.”
I paused. “T
he position you put me in?”
He crooked his finger beneath my chin and pulled my gaze up to his.
“The entire time we were in the truck, I kept thinking you were going to die because of me. Because of my selfishness and the life I lead. I couldn't stand the thought of it, Dani. Of something happening to you because of me.”
I furrowed my brow. “I’m not sure it’s you who got me into this situation tonight.”
“It is. It’s this life I’ve chosen for myself. A life that isn’t suited for even the most dangerous of criminals. I’m sorry, gorgeous. I’m sorry for getting you caught up in all this.”
I stared up at him with worry filling my gut. I didn’t like where this conversation was going. The emotion behind his eyes froze me in my spot. But when his eyes grew glassy, my heart clenched in my chest.
“Max, this isn't your fault.”
I tried to sound strong, but my raspy voice didn’t do much in that department for me. If anything, it made the worry behind his eyes grow more fierce. Almost to the point where the glassiness of his stare scared me.
“Max?”
He blinked. “Yes?”
I cupped his cheek, lowering my voice. “This is your father’s doing. Not yours. Plus, I never should’ve left my dorm. I never should’ve come looking for you. Rupert was right. All I did was make things--”
He shook his head. “Enough.”
I swallowed down the rest of my words as he heaved a heavy sigh.
“What’s done is done, gorgeous. You’re safe, and that’s all that matters to me. Okay?”
My forehead fell against his shoulder. “When can I get out of here? I don’t want to be here any longer.”
The doctor piped up from the doorway. “You’ll have to stay overnight, I’m afraid.”
My head whipped up. “What?”
“Overnight. You both will have to stay for some monitoring.”
“But I thought you said--”
“This is protocol. You were without oxygen, Miss Young, for at least a minute. Maybe more. And if any signs of brain damage are going to manifest, the greatest chance of them doing so is within the first twenty-four hours. You’ll have to stay for monitoring. Him, too. But if everything looks good with you both after that, you'll be free to go.”
Max didn’t take his eyes off me. “I want to stay with her. In this room.”
The doctor walked into the room. “I’m not so sure that’s a good idea. The whole point of being monitored like this is so you can rest easy.”
I nodded. “Unfortunately, I think I agree with him. I’m tired.”
Max shrugged. “Then I’ll sleep in the corner. But I’m not leaving this room. Understood?”
As Max looked over at the doctor, my mind started to worry. What if that doctor had called the police on us? Would the authorities come looking for him? Wouldn’t they have questions? Especially once they found his father dead at his own damn estate?
The law is going to ruin us.
“Whatever sleeping arrangements are going to be the best for you two, I’ll do my best to make it happen. But, whatever happens, I expect you to obey. Got it?”
The doctor’s voice ripped me from my trance as Max nodded.
“Got it, Doc.”
I swallowed hard. “I don’t know if--”
Max cupped my cheeks. “Things will work out.”
He stared directly into my soul. As if he knew what I was thinking.
“They always do with me, okay? Trust me on that. I’ve got a lot of people who can help us through this.”
The doctor grew curious. “Help you with what, exactly?”
I glared at him. “Can you give us some privacy?”
Max chuckled. “Please, Doc?”
The curious man sighed. “Ten minutes. Then someone will be around to take your vitals.”
He left us in the room again. Alone. And my panic started to overflow.
“Max, what if he calls the police?” I asked.
His forehead fell against mine. “Do you trust me?”
“What if they come snooping around? What if they find your father’s body and--”
“For all we know, my father might not actually be dead.”
I froze. “Wait, do you think--?”
His thumbs stroked my cheeks. “I mean, there’s no such thing as murder charges if nobody dies. Right?”
He chuckled like he’d just made a fantastic joke. But I didn’t find it funny.
“I’m serious, Max.”
He cleared his throat. “I am, too. And what I’m telling you I expect you to listen to. Right now, the only thing you need to be worried about is getting rest. Once we’re out of this hospital, we’ll figure out our next steps.”
“Together?”
“Of course. How else would we do it?”
I paused. “I don’t know. The way you were talking before, it almost sounded like…”
I couldn’t even bring myself to finish the statement.
“Dani, you know how selfish I am.”
I snickered. “Yeah. Yeah, I do.”
“So why the hell would a selfish man like myself let go of the only thing good in his life right now? I mean, what kind of bullshit is that?”
I giggled. “I suppose you have a point.”
He grinned. “Good. Now, lie down. I’m going to lie down with you for a while.”
“I don’t want to fall asleep yet, though.”
“You need your rest. I’ll be here while you fall asleep. Okay?”
I was too tired to put up a fight. So I simply did as he asked. I lay down in bed, scooting over so he had enough room to get in there with me. It was a squeeze, though. My Max was a brute of a human being. But once I felt that strong arm of his slink around my waist, all was right with the world. I closed my eyes and drew in a deep breath. And when I didn’t start coughing, I wiggled around until I faced him.
“Sleep, gorgeous.”
I scooted closer to him. “There. Perfect.”
I drew in his scent and focused on his steady breathing, ignoring the lingering scent of chlorine and trying to rest as my mind raced.
5
Max
THUMP!
The banging of the door closing caught my ear and my eyes popped open. I couldn’t move, though. Something had me pinned to the bed. My eyes stared up at the popcorn ceiling of the hospital room as footsteps sounded around me. And even though my entire body wanted to move and shield Dani from the threat, my muscles simply lay there and ached.
“Ugh. Fuck.”
The footsteps grew closer as whispering started. I didn’t recognize the voices, but one of them was definitely female. Were the nurses in the room? They were usually quieter than that. And when I felt something shift against my chest, I groaned.
“Dani?”
She yawned. “Max. Morning.”
“And a good morning to you, too.”
The male voice was curt. Edgy. It had sharp razors around the edge of his words, and I heard Dani gasp. She pushed herself away from my body and my muscles screamed out for mercy. I didn’t let out a sound, though. Because as she came into focus, I saw recognition fly across her face.
“Mom? Dad? What are you doing here?”
My blood ran cold. My heart stopped in my chest. I groaned as I turned my head, facing the two fuzzy people standing at the end of the bed. I squinted to get my eyes to adjust. I felt Dani shuffling beside me, trying to prop herself up. I moved and tried to help her as I pulled her against me, fighting through my own pain as my eyes struggled to focus.
“Whenever you’re ready,” the man said.
I cleared my throat and brought my hands to my eyes. I dug the heels of my palms in before I let out a yelp. Holy shit, that hurt. Why the hell did that hurt so much?
Dani lowered her voice. “Your eyes look better, but they’re still bruised. Be careful.”
I nodded. “Thanks.”
Her mother spoke. “Dani, please tell me you’re
all right. My gosh, what in the world happened to you?”
Dani sighed. “Hold on, Mom. Just--Max?”
I nodded. “I’m getting up. Give me a second. My legs don’t want to start.”
She giggled. “We need coffee.”
I grinned. “Lots of it. I’m going to go find a way to track some down.”
Her father spoke up. “Yeah, I think you should leave.”
My head whipped up and my eyes finally cleared. Everything came into focus as I stared into the face of a staunch, serious Korean man. Wow, Dani looked a great deal like her father. The same kind of skin tone. The same kind of hair. The same kind of slanted eyes and lower lip pout. On Dani, it was adorable. But, on her father?
It made him look like he wanted to rip my head off.
Her father wore ratty blue jeans and a pair of sneakers. He had a gray blazer over what I could only assume was a Cheeto-stained white shirt. The man looked like hell. Bags beneath his eyes. His lips downturned into a serious frown. The whites of his eyes were more red than anything else. And when I looked over at her mother, she didn’t look much different. With her plump features and big brown eyes, I saw where Dani got those massive doe eyes from.
She was the perfect combination of her parents.
Dani put her hand on my arm. “You can stay if you want. You don’t have to leave.”
Her father spoke again. “We need to talk, Danika. Alone.”
I nodded. “Do you want coffee? Because I have to leave in order to get it.”
Her mother’s voice was soft. “Please let us have some time with our daughter.”
While I understood their requests, I wasn’t moving until Dani asked me. She was my main priority right now. And whatever she wanted, I’d grant.
Dani sighed. “Coffee would be nice, thank you.”
I paused. “Are you sure?”
Her father rounded to her side of the bed. “Of course she’s sure. Now get the hell out of my daughter’s bed.”
Her mother gasped. “Peter!”
“Rena, a strange man is in bed with our daughter. And look at him! He looks worse off than she does! How do we know you didn’t do this to our daughter?”
