Chapter Twenty-Nine
K eira woke up several hours later. She lay still, listening and trying to get her bearings. One of her hands lay on top of Daniel’s head. She woke several times for very short moments, each time with her hand on him, and he had a hold on her.
A spike of joy ran through her at the sound of her sister’s voice whispering softly on the sofa. She must have made a sound because Daniel’s head snapped up.
He stood and ran a hand over her forehead. “Hey, Baby.”
“Hey,” she tried to say, but it came out more like a cough. “May I have some water, please?”
“I’ll get some for you, and I’ll tell the nurses she’s awake,” Logan said as he walked out the door.
“Hi, little sister,” Layla said as she came up to the other side of her bed.
Keira noticed the way she tried to smile, but her voice cracked, and her face crumbled. “I’m so glad you’re going to be okay. How are you feeling?” Layla asked.
Keira moved her head a little and then other body parts. “Actually, pretty good. My head doesn’t hurt nearly as badly as it did. I can feel where I have some stitches, but it’s mostly a tugging sensation and not real pain. How was your honeymoon?”
Layla wiped the tears that still fell. “I don’t want to talk about that right now. I want to know why you felt it was a better choice to hold back information from me.”
Keira’s brows puckered. “What information?”
She watched her sister look toward Daniel and caught his slight headshake before he bent toward Keira.
His thumb grazed her cheek. “Let’s not worry about this now.”
Keira started to maneuver herself up, but Daniel held her down with his hands on her shoulders. “Easy, Baby. Let’s wait until the doctor comes in. I promise you’ll eventually know everything.”
Keira looked back and forth between the two but relaxed back against the pillow. Her energy level made it impossible for her to argue with anyone. The door opened before she could question them further.
“How are you feeling today, Miss Walker?” Dr. Paulson asked as he walked to the side of her bed, with a nurse on the other.
“I’d like everyone to step out for a bit so I can check her over,” the doctor said.
Keira watched her sister and Logan head out of the room and looked at Daniel.
“Doc, I’m going to stay.”
“It will only be for a...” the doctor said.
“I want him here. Please, Doctor,” Keira pleaded.
“Very well. But please stand back, the nurse has to be on that side to help with the bandages and take note of our findings.”
She relaxed when Daniel stood at the end of the bed and put his hands on her feet so she could still feel his hands on her.
The next few moments were painful for her, and she could tell it was bothering Daniel tremendously. Bandages came off, wounds poked at, and the worst ones were rebandaged.
The doctor and nurse talked for a minute. “Young lady, I think you’re doing very well. I’d like to keep you for a few more days, and I think we’ll be able to take most of the stitches out before you leave.”
“Doctor, I’m worried I still can’t remember anything.”
Dr. Paulson patted her gently on the shoulder. “It will come back when you least expect it, don’t worry. Just concentrate on healing and getting out of this place. Do you think you’d be able to handle a little food?”
Keira smiled. “Yes. I’m very hungry.”
“That’s a very good sign. I’ll have someone bring up something now. The more you eat, the faster you’ll regain your strength.”
Daniel moved up to the head of the bed again and took the hand she lifted, being careful of the stitched cuts the doctor kept uncovered to help speed up the healing.
“How did it go?” Layla asked as she and Logan came through the door and right to the bed.
Daniel caught Layla’s attention. “The doctor told her she’s healing nicely. We just have to get her strength back so she can go home.”
The door opened again to admit a nurse with a few bags of fluid that she switched with other empty ones. “This is a mix of antibiotics and some nutrients to build her up. Your food should be up here in minutes. It’s not much, just some broth and crackers, maybe Jell-O, but I think you’ll be surprised how quickly you’re going to feel full. Maybe tomorrow we can find you something more solid.”
The nurse looked at them, concerned. “Why don’t you all go and eat? I’ll keep my eyes on her.”
“No, thank you,” Daniel’s tone worn down with fatigue.
“I figured you were going to say that. You haven’t left the room for a second,” the nurse replied.
Keira’s eyes shot to his. She gasped. “Daniel, go eat. I can’t believe you haven’t left.”
Daniel bent forward, closed his eyes, and kissed her forehead. “And I’m not going until they release you.”
“Would you like me to order you a tray?”
“You don’t have to. I’m going to pick us up something to eat and bring it back,” Logan interrupted.
“I’ll be back in a bit,” the nurse said and smiled on her way out the door.
“Logan, can I talk to you for a moment over here?”
Keira watched as the men stood close together. “What are they talking about?”
Layla looked down at Keira and smiled. “I’m not sure. If or when I find out, I’ll tell you.”
Keira squeezed Layla’s hand and smiled. “Can you tell me anything about what happened?”
“I’m sorry, Kiki. I can’t right now.”
“I just want to know what kind of accident?”
Layla shook her head and wiped a tear from her cheek.
Before she could ask any more questions, her eyes closed, and she released a deep sigh. She wanted to stay awake, but her eyes were so heavy.
****
L ogan held up his hand . “Before you say anything, who’s been running the business while you’ve been here?”
“I had Cory step up. I check in every day, and so far, he’s doing a great job. I’ve also had Susan keep an eye on him, and again, so far, she’s impressed. They both deserve a wage increase.”
Logan pinched the bridge of his nose. “You’re damn right they do.”
Daniel glanced at the bed that held Keira and turned back, whispering urgently, “Logan, one of the reasons I don’t want to leave is that guy is still out there. I’m not taking a chance on him getting to her again.”
Logan was shocked. “You think that’s a possibility?”
“Anything’s possible.”
“I can watch over her if you need to take some time.”
“No, thanks. Conner has already offered to stay with her and put a guard outside the door. I told him no. I don’t want Keira to ask questions or get scared if she catches sight of one. He has one or two plainclothes cops walking around on this floor. And frankly, right now, it physically pains me to think about leaving her here, even if she’s with someone I trust.”
“I get it. I’ll head out to grab us some food. Do you need me to pick anything up at your house?”
“No, Conner is getting some things for me. He should be up here soon.”
Logan looked at him in concern. “Stop worrying. We’ll catch this guy, and she’ll get better.”
Daniel grimaced and ran a hand down his face. “I want both to happen so bad. I don’t know what I’ll do if neither happens.”
Daniel watched Logan pull Layla away from the bed, whisper a few words, and then kiss her before taking off. Daniel walked back to the girls. His heart skipped at the sight of Keira sleeping peacefully. He just hoped when she found out what really happened, she’d be able to let him help her find a measure of peace until the bastard was caught. He hoped she’d find it in herself to trust him enough to continue a relationship.