Chapter 50 ALEX
I SPRINTED DOWN THE STREET in mismatched trainers I’d slung on in a panic while listening to Evan recite what happened.
Why had Nancy taken the bike out this morning when Evan could’ve driven her? She was so headstrong, and it clawed at me, not only because she left herself vulnerable but because I felt completely out of control. We’d discuss her rebellious streak when I brought her home from the hospital.
With my thoughts resolutely focused on our future rather than the present, I ran to the reception of A no two ways about it.”
“Did you speak to her at the scene?” I asked, unable to comprehend the insanity of Mimi’s actions.
“No, the last time we spoke was when I removed her from the property. She was less than polite and refused a lift home. I followed to make sure she got back safely.” Evan shook his head.
“I should have taken her anger towards Ms Cooper as a serious threat, not just a drunken outburst. This is on me, Lord Toverton.”
“Evan, if you hadn’t followed Nancy this morning, she wouldn’t be alive right now,” I consoled.
“If Mimi had struck the motorcycle at the speed you described, she would have killed her in an instant.” My chest lurched at the words, and Mimi’s face from the night before flashed into my mind. Fear and longing—all for me.
“This is my fault. I threatened Mimi last night. I had my hands around her neck, for god’s sake. And when she told me she loved me, I thought it was just another ploy, but I think she truly believed it. That’s what drove her over the edge. I caused this.”
“Whether Ms Preston-Black loved you or not is irrelevant, sir. She did it because she felt entitled to.”
“Of course she felt that way. All our parents have ever told her is that she would marry me and become a duchess. And I led her on. For years, I used her for sex and as a social crutch without ever considering her feelings. All I saw was how she benefited. The apartment, the gifts, the lifestyle and connections. But how I behaved was shameful.”
I sat back in the hard plastic chair and took another burning sip. “I saw in her what I dislike most about myself. It was karma, and I should have seen it coming.”
“Passion can be a deadly emotion, sir. But so can greed. Ms Preston-Black is an intelligent woman who knew the game and how to play it.”
I shook my head. “Greed is our tradition.”
“Alex!” Tracy saw me as she rushed through the sliding doors with Winston in tow. “Have they said anything?”
I rose. “No, but they may have more information now you’re here.”
She turned for the desk, launching a stream of panicked questions at a nurse who tried to calm her. Winston stroked her shoulders in reassurance, and I joined them, watching the nurse call through to Casualty.
Tracy turned to me. “I can’t believe it. Was it some drunk driver?”
“It was Mimi,” I said heavily. “She tried to run her down.”
“That bitch tried to kill my little girl after everything else she’s done?”
“I’m so sorry.”
“If she’s dead, I’ll…” she managed before her anger became tears. Winston guided her to a nearby seat.
I waited for the nurse. There was still no news.
Two hours later, Evan had left for the police station to give his statement, while Tracy, Winston, and I waited in limbo for an update. We’d been told Nancy was in surgery to operate on a ruptured spleen, but there’d been no news for the last hour.
Tracy was sombre now, resting on Winston’s shoulder, who looked pinched and distant.
I leaned statuesque against the wall, except for my finger, which furiously tapped the elbow of my crossed arms. Unable to stand the endless wait, I went to demand more information, but as I reached the desk, a familiar face walked out of Casualty.
“Tracy, Alex, Winston,” Rohan said earnestly, coming over. He wore head-to-toe surgical scrubs and looked tired but sharp.
“Rohan?”
The doctor smiled back at me reassuringly. “I know this is a shock. I’m on call today. When I was told it was a twenty-three-year-old female in a motorcycle collision, I didn’t expect to see Nancy on my table.”
“You operated on her?” Tracy rose.
“Yes, and it went well, although the damage was such that we needed to remove the spleen. She’s stable and has been transferred to recovery.”
“Oh, thank god.” Tracy pressed a hand to her heart. “Can we see her now?”
“Yes…but first, I need to talk with you about her overall condition.”
“You said she was stable.” Her panic returned.
“She is, but the damage to her spleen wasn’t the only injury. Please.” Rohan gestured. “We have a consultancy room where we can talk.”
We entered a brightly lit room that smelled strongly of antiseptic. I grasped Rohan’s arm. “Nancy can’t wake up in a ward. She’s frightened of hospitals.”
“She told you?” Tracy said in surprise, and I nodded.
“She isn’t conscious.” Rohan sat across from us.
“That’s what we need to discuss. While I found no further complications from the operation, our present concern is her concussion.
Thankfully, her helmet saved her life, but we’ll need to wait for her to regain consciousness to know her status.
” He swallowed. “The longer that takes, the more likely there is for permanent brain damage.”
“Oh god.” Tracy covered her mouth.
“Does she require a specialist?” I asked, trying to hold onto the few remaining threads of my composure. “Whatever she needs, I’ll see to it.”
“I promise you she’s being well looked after. We have an excellent neurologist seeing to her, but with a severe head injury, the real test is time. We won’t know what we’re dealing with until she’s awake.”
“She’ll be okay,” I whispered. “Nancy’s a fighter.”
“She is,” Tracy croaked.
Winston took her hand. “She’s as tough as they come.”
“Nancy is young, healthy, and reached us quickly,” Rohan added. “What she needs now is time.”
“I want to see my little girl.” Tracy wiped the tears from her face.
“Of course, I’ll take you through.”
When Rohan led us to the ICU, my heart hollowed.
Nancy was attached to an IV and various monitors.
Her ankle was braced, and bandages covered the wounds on her arm and back.
She looked ashen and lifeless, but when I touched her face, she felt warm.
Her chest rose and fell with calm breaths, and her heart rate pinged rhythmically from the monitor.
The thought of her alone, in a perpetual dream, was too much.
All I wanted to do at that moment was climb inside her mind to reassure her.
Tracy took her daughter’s hand. “Please don’t leave, baby,” she whispered. “I need you.”
I sat beside her, keeping my hands on the rail to avoid disturbing the tubes and wires trailing off my girlfriend. “I’ll ensure she gets everything she needs.”
Tracy patted my hand.