Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 56875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
I wasn’t sure what was worse. Both felt as if her pain seeped under my skin—I could feel it so intensely. Finally, about four a.m., she sank into a peaceful slumber. In desperation, I had texted Dr. Barnes, and he told me to give her another dose of her pain meds and a sleeping tablet. That seemed to help, and she was able to get some rest.
I fell into a light sleep with her wrapped in my arms, but I felt every one of her low grunts of pain or fractured memories as she relived them. I would soothe and whisper to her, easing her fear before it took a strong enough hold to wake her.
I looked down at her, surprised to find my hand fisted in her hair, holding her tight. I had never had a woman here before. I couldn’t recall the last time I had slept beside someone. And despite the reasons for Anna being here, I was surprisingly okay with waking up with her.
I carefully eased her to the pillow, sliding out from under her. I paused, drifting my hand down her hair, then tucking the comforter tight around her. I left the door open, the light on, and I grabbed my phone, making some needed calls. A short time later, I had all I required, and I checked in on her, finding her awake and looking around the room, confused but calm.
“Hey,” I greeted her.
She looked at me, her hair tumbling over her shoulder, creases on her cheek from where she’d been sleeping on my chest earlier. She still looked tired, and I imagined she thought the same about me. She was shy in her response.
“Hi,” she whispered, her fingers nervously playing with the edge of the comforter. “I’m sorry.”
I crossed the room, sitting on the mattress. It dipped under my weight, and she shifted, her thigh pressing into my hip. “There’s no need to be sorry.”
“I kept you up a lot.”
I took her hand, stopping her nervous movements. “Given what you went through, hardly surprising.” I squeezed her fingers. “It’ll get better, Anna. You need some time to heal.”
She nodded, swallowing. “You slept with me.”
“You were calmer when I did.”
“Thank you.”
I smiled, glad she wasn’t upset. “I got us breakfast sent up. And some clothes for you to wear. You can shower again if you want, and then we’ll go see Una and Finn, okay?”
“Okay.”
I stood, holding out my hand. She took it, letting me pull her from the bed. I couldn’t resist teasing her. “You’re really short.”
She glanced up at me. “Maybe you’re really tall.”
I chuckled. “I am that. You’re tiny, too. I got a medium in the clothes, but I’m thinking maybe I should have gotten a small or kid-sized.”
She rolled her eyes, making me snicker again. I liked seeing her impish side. “Medium is fine. I don’t like things tight. And I’m not that tiny.”
“I dunno. A friend of mine’s daughter likes to play with these little dolls. She calls them Polly Pockets. You remind me of those.”
She blinked up at me. Frowned and shook her head. Then she did the most extraordinary thing.
She laughed.
The sound was light and effervescent. Feminine and sweet. Like champagne bubbles bursting in your nose as you sipped it.
I mentally shook my head. Champagne bubbles? Feck, I was losing it. Obviously, I was even more sleep-deprived than I thought.
Still, I liked hearing her laugh.
And even more, I liked that I was the one who made her laugh. It made me feel ten feet tall.
I wanted to hear it more often.
I just had to figure out how.
CHAPTER THREE
NIALL
Finn looked at me over his coffee cup, one eyebrow raised the way he liked to do.
“Rough night?”
“Jesus,” I replied, keeping my voice low. “I have no idea what I’m doing. Her terror is fucking killing me. I can’t take the screams…or the tears.”
“Time,” he replied. “They have to heal.”
“How do you stand it?” I asked, indicating Una sitting across the room with Anna. “I know how much you love her. I don’t have the connection to Anna you have, and her pain is ripping me apart.”
“Are you so certain about that, Niall? No connection?”
I scoffed, taking a sip of coffee. “I feel badly for her. I want to help her. She obviously means a lot to Una.”
He said nothing, his skeptical expression saying it all. I ignored him.
“You saw the news this morning?” he asked, changing the subject.
“Yes. The reporting is exactly what we needed. An explosion led to the discovery of a hidden drug lab. Assumed set off by an accident in the highly flammable facility. All casualties were thought to be employees but are unidentifiable.” I sat back. “Those who knew where the Russians were will assume they were caught in the inferno.”
He nodded in agreement. “The racetrack is closed permanently. I think the feeling is the syndicate will purchase it and reopen so they can keep track of it. Any news on Juan?”