Chapter 46
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
Dylan
One benefit of being a divorce lawyer for the wealthy and elite in Manhattan is that a stack of favors is at your disposable.
I cashed in today.
Noelle Sufford was at LaGuardia when Gunner reached her.
I didn’t ask how he managed to track down her cell number. I don’t care.
He came through when I needed it.
He backed that up with a call to a former client who offered the use of his private plane.
Noelle hitched a ride with me.
She didn’t say much on the flight. I was fine with that. My focus is only on Eden.
Seeing her, helping her, loving her.
We touched down in Buffalo twenty minutes ago. We’re walking through the main doors of the General Hospital now.
I don’t have to ask Noelle if she’s been here before. It’s obvious she has.
She leads me down a series of corridors until we’re standing next to a reception desk in the emergency room.
“Good day.” The woman behind the desk has a tone to cheery for the job. “What can I do for you two?”
“I’m Dr. Noelle Sufford.” Noelle rakes a hand through her hair. “I’m here to see a patient. Eden Conrad.”
The woman taps on a keyboard in front of her. She pecks away with one finger. “Yes. Ms. Conrad is here.”
“Where?” I blurt out.
The woman behind the desk looks up at me. “She’s under the care of one of our physicians. If you have a seat, I’ll have the doctor come speak to you.”
“What’s the attending physician’s name?” Noelle looks down a long corridor. People dressed in green scrubs and white lab coats are darting in and out of doorways.
“Dr. Joy Yelena.”
Noelle points at a phone on the woman’s desk. “Please let her know that Dr. Noelle Sufford is here waiting to speak to her.”
The woman gives her a nod.
“Do you know Eden’s doctor?” I ask, hoping that Noelle has enough influence to get us in front of Eden as soon as possible.
She offers me a small smile. “We’ve met. Let’s sit and wait.”
I follow her to a row of plastic chairs and take a seat next to her. “She needs to be okay.”
Noelle’s hand lands on my shoulder. “She’s the strongest person I’ve ever known. I have faith that she’ll come through this.”
She has to. I can’t live the rest of my life without her.
Dr. Yelena’s gaze is trained on Noelle’s face.
She’s explaining Eden’s condition to her in terms I don’t understand.
I listen intently, tuned in to words I recognize.
They are few and far between.
Tired of waiting for their discussion to end, I interrupt. “Is Eden going to be all right? Can I see her?”
Dr. Yelena looks directly at me for the first time. “Who are you?”
Noelle stutters out a non-answer. “Eden and…they went to high school…but they have something now…I don’t know how…”
I let out a deep breath. “I love her.”
Noelle gasps. “You love her?”
I look over at her. “Deeply.”
Her eyes widen. “Does she know that?”
“She will.” I turn my attention back to the doctor. “As soon as I’m allowed in to see her, she’ll know how much I love her.”
Dr. Yelena nods. “I’ll make that happen as soon as I can. We’re running tests. Give me some time.”
“Is she conscious?” Noelle asks, her voice wavering.
“She is.” Dr. Yelena steals a glance over her shoulder to the corridor. “I need to get back to her. I can tell you that she’s awake. She’s disoriented and in pain. When I have an update, I’ll be back.”
I turn to Noelle when the doctor walks away. “Is she going to be all right?”
Tears well in the corners of her eyes. “She’ll be okay. She’s going to come through this.”
Relief hits me with the full force of a tidal wave. I drop back in the chair, cover my face with my hands, and exhale.
I won’t waste this chance. I fucking won’t let her get away again.
Eden Conrad is everything to me, and the moment I’m in front of her, she’ll know that.