Chapter 10
CILLA
Annoyed at the hushed tones around me, as well as getting poked all damn morning, I tried to tamp down my anger.
Oh, not to mention the pain.
The nerve block had worn off around breakfast.
Sweet hell, it seemed as if it hurt more than the first round.
I shifted on the bed, trying to overhear Detective Stone and the rumpled Locke.
It was only my life, after all.
Why shouldn’t I be in on the conversation. What the actual hell?
I had no phone, no outside contact—just this godforsaken room.
Not that I had anyone to contact.
My mother was the only one in my life and if I gave her this kind of news, she’d literally melt down into hysterics.
I didn’t need that.
I had delivery available at my apartment, if I could get back there.
Then I could just forget this whole thing.
Forget the ropes.
The docks.
The sounds of the water under me as I lost my air.
I slammed my eyes shut, angry tears gathering.
I hated feeling helpless. It wasn’t like I could drive right now. Did I take a plane?
A train?
I swallowed down a wave of nausea as I shifted on the bed.
Maybe that wasn’t a good idea.
The door opened and a woman in a lab coat came in. “Hey there, Priscilla. I’m Dr. Mercer.”
“Hi.”
“How’s the pain?” She moved to my bedside and flipped the sheets. “Can I take a look?”
I nodded, wincing as I tried to straighten in the bed. I’d listed to the side since I could barely move my thigh this go round.
“Okay, one second. Let me get some help to situate you.”
I sagged. “Thanks.”
She disappeared, coming back with a nurse about the same size as she was.
This was going to be awesome, except not.
The two of them got to my bedside and craned the bed back.
I gripped the handrails.
“Easy. Just using some gravity to help us.”
I nodded and gasped when they pulled the sheet under me and scooted me to the top of the bed.
“There we go.” They settled me with pillows and lifted the bed so I could sit up.
Suddenly exhausted, I collapsed back on my pillows.
“It’s going to take a little time to get your strength back. Your body went through a serious shock. You lost a lot of blood, and your incision went through a few layers of muscle.”
“You don’t say.”
The doctor chuckled. “Do you have anyone to help you in your recovery?”
I opened my mouth, but a deep voice rose from behind the doctor.
“She does.”
Locke stepped forward. He was in the same clothes as last night. I thought I’d dreamed that he’d stayed. When I woke, he was gone and a nurse was taking my vitals, as well as pushing meds in me.
I cleared my throat. “I appreciate that, but I will figure it out on my own.”
“And where will you go? Do you have someone coming to take you home?”
“I...”
“Yeah, I thought so.” He glanced at the doctor. “What’s her mobility?”
Dr. Mercer gave me a soft smile. “Is this your husband?”
I choked and started a coughing fit.
Locke moved forward and grabbed my little pink pitcher and filled my glass, pushing it on me. “No, we aren’t married.”
My mouth dropped open. “We aren’t anything.”
He settled a hand on my shoulder. “It’s a sore subject. We’re traveling in a boat.”
“We’re—” His sharp look had me spluttering.
“My girl’s a little tired of me, but I think some time on the ocean will be good for her.”
The doctor looked uncertain, but she nodded slowly.
She was just as lost as I was.
Detective—or was it officer?—Stone came into the room as well. He was wearing plain clothes today. A button down shirt over dark washed jeans and boots. He looked a lot more put together than Locke. “We want to make sure Cilla is as safe as possible while she heals.”
“It won’t be a quick process. Where she was wounded is easily reopened. I need to have her check in with her primary care within two weeks to make sure the sutures are healing. She has both muscular sutures that will dissolve on their own and staples.”
And I felt both.
Frustration had me giving one hard stare to Locke then sharing it with the officer.
“So, will she be all right on our boat, doc?”
Our?!
What the hell was going on?
The doctor nodded. “She can’t get in the water, but as long as she’s resting it doesn’t much matter where she does it.”
“Good.”
I opened my mouth and again, I got a hard stare from Locke.
Annoyed, because I didn’t have much choice, I stayed quiet. Just where was I going to go on my own?
My best friend was currently banging my ex-boss and ex-fiancé.
There was no help there.
I vaguely heard the doctor tell me about the rest times. How I’d be tired as hell—as if I couldn’t tell that right now.
I was already ready to pass out again.
As angry as I was, the fatigue was dragging at me.
“Can she be discharged today?” Locke asked.
My eyes shot open. “Today?”
“I’d like to keep her for another day for observation.”
“No,” Locke and Stone both said in unison.
“You don’t make the decisions, gentlemen.”
“Look, Dr. Mercer. It’s a safety issue.”
I sat up and winced.
Locke’s firm hand held me still. “Easy.”
“What safety issue?”
Stone dipped his hands into his pockets. “The man who attacked Cilla managed to get into her room.”
I lifted my hand to my throat. It was a vague memory, but someone had come into my room. I’d been so high on the pain meds, it felt more like a nightmare than reality.
“I’d like to make sure she’s safe on my boat.”
I glanced up at him, my brows furrowed.
He didn’t look at me, just kept a steady look on the doctor.
She sighed. “I didn’t realize it was this dire.”
Join the club.
“We’re keeping things quiet, doctor.” Stone glanced at Locke then back to the doctor.
I didn’t like feeling out of the loop, but my head was already fuzzy as my leg throbbed.
“I have medic training from the army. I know what to look for. We’re going to stay near the wharf here for a few days, just out in the bay. I can have her back in the hospital if anything happens.”
The doctor sighed. “All right. I wasn’t aware the security of the hospital had been compromised.”
“Twice,” Locke said darkly.
I swiveled my head. “Twice?”
He squeezed my shoulder, but didn’t say anything else.
I was feeling more and more out of control and my heart started kicking up. It was as if Locke knew. He lightly smoothed his hand down over my shoulder to my arm and back up in a firm pressure.
Like the hard press on my chest, the pressure set me back in the moment.
My mouth dry, I tried desperately to swallow.
He lifted the cup and handed it to me.
How did this stranger know what I needed?
Hell, he was more attuned to me than Marcus—my ex.
“Fine. I would like review her charts with the nurses before I make a decision.”
Locke nodded. “Thank you.”
The doctor looked annoyed, but she left without another word.
“Why the hell are you pretending we’re involved?”
Locke drew his hand away.
I immediately wanted it back, but I was also pissed. “And why didn’t I know there was another...” I closed my eyes. Frustration laced my words. “I’m not incapacitated, dammit.”
“I know. I’m sorry to do this to you, but I am worried about your safety. Locke’s agreed to hide you on his boat.”
“Why didn’t you tell me,” I said to Locke.
“I didn’t want to scare you.”
“Oh, and now is fine?”
“I was more worried about it last night. Now I just want you safe.”
“And why would I be safe with you? Shouldn’t I stay in police custody if it’s that important?”
“I wish I could give it to you, Cilla. I might be able to handle a day or two on my own for a hotel where I can give you some security, but the police department doesn’t have the budget to give you twenty-four seven protection,” Stone added.
“Why not? If this asshole has been here twice, wouldn’t that get me at least some help?”
“I could push it, but my captain is more worried about how things look if the press gets wind of your attack.”
“So, other women won’t know about this?”
Stone looked annoyed and frustrated. “I’m working on it. I need to prove that what happened to you wasn’t a solo occurrence.”
I didn’t know the ins and outs of actual police work, only the kind that I saw on television. “And you want me to stay with Locke?”
“Unless you just want to go back to New York. Do you have anyone who could help you recover?”
“No.” My voice was low and soft.
I didn’t have anyone.
Locke’s hold firmed on my arm again. “I can protect you. My former job was in personal security.”
“Former?” I glanced up at him.
“Sort of. I’m on sabbatical.”
“Oh.” I lifted my hand to cover his. It was so warm and solid. I didn’t want to be weak, but I really didn’t have anyone else. “Are you sure about this? It’s a huge inconvenience.”
“I’m sure. I’m currently invested in your survival, Priscilla Barlow.”
“Why?”
His face was suddenly unreadable. “Just take the help.”
I sighed. “Do I really have a choice?”
“Nope.”
I focused on Detective Stone. “Do you think this is a good idea?”
“I think it’s our best idea.”
I wasn’t sure if that was a good answer or not. But the nerves that had been building in my belly eased a little. I wanted to be independent. Hell, I needed to be after what Marcus and Lydia did.
But this wasn’t the moment to start.
Twice? The word leveled me far more than I wanted to show.
How had I not known he’d been in here a second time?
How had he gotten past the cop on the door? And if he could do that...what hope did I have alone?
“How do I know you won’t be any less dangerous than this man?”
A flicker of annoyance flared in Locke’s gaze. Then he nodded. “You don’t know that. But I can ease your mind if you want.”
“How?”
He pulled out his phone and tapped the side thoughtfully before unlocking the screen. He lifted a finger to me then walked toward the window with his phone to his ear.
“I checked into Locke, Miss Barlow.”
I swiveled my neck to look at Stone. “He looks a little...”
“Rough around the edges?”
I took in Locke’s overlong hair and beard that flowed from his angular face. Those broken eyes staring down at me as he calmed me through the panic attack still burned in my memory. His hand, warm and reassuring on my skin.
So unlike the man who continued to keep himself apart from people.
“He doesn’t make sense to me.”
“He was a decorated officer in the Army Rangers until he left to join The Kendrick Group.”
“The Kendrick Group?” I angled toward Stone. Shock ricocheted through me based on what he looked like and the men I’d been aware of thanks to my job. Former job.
“You know of them?”
“Just by reputation. A lot of my work is with New York and Boston based clients.” I sighed. “Or it was. I recently left my firm.”
Left.
Such an innocuous term.
Shoved out with an appalling lack of concern or loyalty. I’d known my best friend had been looking to climb her way in the company ranks, I just didn’t think it would include my fiancé’s bedroom and boardroom.
“Miss Barlow?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t catch that.”
“I asked if that helped you make a decision.”
I was about to reply when Locke walked over to me and handed me his phone.
I frowned, but took it. “Hello?”
“Priscilla Barlow?”
“Yes. To whom am I speaking?”
“I’m Nyx—sorry, Nina Kendrick. I was thrown off with the call from Locke.”
“Why?”
The silence on the other end of the line had me zeroing in on Locke.
“Locke is one of my best friends.” I looked down at my hands on my blankets.
I was already shredding the cotton threads again.
“I know he’s a stranger to you. He’s been through a lot, but he’ll take good care of you.
I work in our cybercrimes division at The Kendrick Group.
With your permission, I’m going to do a little digging and see if anyone is trying to figure out who you are. ”
“Yes, please. I didn’t think of that.”
“That’s why I have such a busy job. These days I’m needed more than ever.”
“I can also supply you with people who have worked with Locke. Testimonials if you will. He’s really good at his job.
He might sound a little intense right now, but he only has your best interests in mind.
And selfishly, this is the first time he’s checked in with me in almost a year.
If he wants to help you, I’m going to find every way to make sure both of you are safe. ”
“A year?”
Locke shoved his hands into his pockets, his eyes burning into mine as I spoke to Nina.
“Yes. He’s damn good at his job. You’ll be safe with him. He’s grieving. That’s all I can say.”
“Thank you for talking to me.”
“I’m sorry about what happened to you, but I’m glad it was Locke who found you. Selfishly, we want him back and maybe helping you will nudge him back to us.”
Unsure what to say to that, I swallowed hard. My throat still fiery and tight. “Thank you. I’ll give you back to him.”
“No. Thank you. More than you could ever know.”
I held out the phone to Locke who took it and moved back to the window, speaking low.
Before I could absorb that, the doctor came back in.
Locke hung up and walked to the far side of my bed. His reassuring presence calmed me more than I wanted to own up to.
“Well, looking over your chart I can safely approve of your release. I want you to make sure you’re staying off that leg. You can slowly get up and around as you feel up to it, but don’t overdo it.”
“I won’t.”
“She won’t.”
I looked up at Locke. His fingers were wrapped around the railing of my bed. His eyes glittering with something I couldn’t read.
“Yes, well I hope not. I’ll need you to come in and get checked in two weeks to make sure you’re healing up. If you’d like to come outside, Mr. Jordan, I’ll explain what she needs from you.”
I frowned, but the two of them walked out before I could insert my grievances.
Stone sat in the chair next to me. “This isn’t the most ideal situation. If I had the ability to stick you in a safe house I would, but they’re not as readily used as television likes to make them out to be.”
“I understand.”
“Honestly, I’d feel safer if you are out of the area. I don’t like that he’s tried for you twice.”
Still annoyed that I wasn’t told about that part, I crossed my arms over my middle. “On a boat though?”
“It’s an impressive boat. Plenty of room for both of you without you getting into one another’s face.”
Somehow I doubted that.
But I didn’t really have much of a choice.