CHAPTER 21 #2
“She’s at the hospital, she’ll be fine. I want you to start preparing for when she gets home. Call the nurse and tell her to empty out her schedule or whatever she has going on. I want her here when Nirah comes home.”
“Yes sir,” she nodded.
I turned to the door and grabbed my gun, slipping it into my waistband before slamming the door shut behind me.
I got to the hospital and made my way up to her room immediately. Logan was anxiously pacing up and down the room like a fucking imbecile with no doctors in sight. I looked over at Nirah and she seemed fine.
“What did I tell you, huh?” I asked, walking into the room and he stepped towards me.
“I was going to but then suddenly she was fine, so I thought—” I cut him off with a smack to the back of his head.
“I don’t pay you to fucking think . Don’t do that again. Just do what I tell you.”
“Yes sir,” he lowered his head.
I walked over to her bed and noticed the sweat dripping down the side of her face. I called in a nurse and walked around, standing to Nirah’s right. The nurse did a quick checkup and looked up at me.
“I suspect it was a mild seizure,” she softly said.
“You suspect ?” I asked, holding my hands behind my back as I stepped toward her.
“I wasn’t here, Mr. De Luca so I don’t know what exactly happened but I do detect abnormalities in her brain that could have led to the seizure.”
I looked over at Logan, angry that he hadn’t done as I said and he immediately dropped his head. “Get out, Morales,” I ordered and he left the room instantly.
“If it happens again, I need you to call one of the nurses immediately, they’ll know how to handle it,” she said, ducking her head so that she could see my eyes and I nodded, staring down at Nirah.
The nurse excused herself and I sat down next to Nirah.
“A fucking seizure, tesoro ?” I asked, taking her hand in both of mine. “You trying to kill me here, baby?”
I kissed the back of her hand repeatedly, desperately needing her to wake up.
Her face scrunched up as she turned her head from side to side. Her hand jerked in mine and she softly groaned, moving her head. “No.” The word came out as a faint whisper and she tried moving her legs.
“Nirah?” I hesitantly said, and a single tear rolled down the corner of her eye.
“No, please,” she mumbled, moving her legs. “Alex—no,” she choked out.
“Hey, baby, open your eyes,” I said standing up. I cupped her face, trying to keep her head still. She’s having a nightmare . “Nirah, open your eyes.”
“Antonio,” she whispered, squeezing her eyes shut. “Help me,” she mumbled, digging her heels into the mattress.
“I’m right here, just open your eyes,” I pleaded. “Please, baby. I need you to open your eyes.”
Her hands gripped my wrists and her eyes shot open in fear. Relief washed over me and I loosened my grip on her face.
“You’re here?” she softly asked, biting her quivering lower lip and tears brimmed in her eyes.
“I’m here,” I nodded and she sadly smiled. I gently wiped her tears away with my thumb and rested my forehead against hers, feeling my heart rate pick up.
All I needed was to know that she would be fine. That soon I would be able to take her home and never leave her side. For the first time in my life, I was hopeful.
I got the doctors in here with no hesitation and stepped back.
I watched as the doctor shone a bright white light into her right eye, then her left—repeatedly. He clicked his flashlight, saying a few words to the nurses and they jotted things down.
“Did you hit your head, Miss Nirah?” the doctor asked and she looked around the room.
“Yes.”
“Did someone hit you?” he asked and I ran my fingers up and down my jaw. She cleared her throat, nodding. “Were you stabbed?” he asked again and I saw the confusion on her face.
“As my doctor, shouldn’t you know that I was?” she asked and I almost smiled, feeling an unfamiliar emotion knowing that she was still her usual self. He pinned her with a knowing look over the rim of his glasses and turned to the nurse. They exchanged a few words again.
“Do you remember what you had for breakfast?” the doctor asked and it took her a second before she shook her head.
“I didn’t have breakfast.”
“Well, what did you have for dinner the night before?”
She licked her lips anxiously. “I didn’t have dinner either,” she frowned to herself.
The nurse looked over at the doctor and he spoke again. “When and what is the last thing you ate, Nirah?”
She thought long and hard for a moment. Why is it taking her so long? Has she not been eating?
“Two days before it happened,” she finally spoke up and I ran my tongue over my top teeth. “I had breakfast in my room. An omelet, I think.”
“Did you consume any liquids for the two days that you hadn’t eaten?”
“Does alcohol count?” she humorously asked and I dropped my head in my hand.
“Nurse, Stacey, please prepare her dinner. Her menu is over there,” he instructed and she nodded, leaving the room soon after.
“So, what’s my diagnosis, Doc?” she asked, trying to sit up but winced at the pain. I rushed over but she stopped me. “I need to get used to that,” she stated and my shoulders relaxed as I sat back down.
“Most importantly, your surgery was a success. Thankfully, your attacker did not hit or damage any vital organs. You did suffer a mild concussion and seizure. Some internal bleeding but we managed to stop that. Your little cuts and bruises will heal soon, so that won’t be a problem.”
“Cool,” she yawned, covering her mouth. “So it’s a no , for dying?” she playfully asked and the doctor looked over at me. “Why so serious you two? I’m kidding,” she chuckled, looking between the two of us.
“Thank you, doctor,” I shook his hand and he left the room.
I threw my head back, taking a deep breath in. Then exhaled.
I brought my head back to look at her and noticed her playing with a piece of loose thread on the edge of her blanket.
“You said a name… while you were having a nightmare,” I began and her eyes darted up to meet mine.
“Something along the lines of ‘Alex’? Who is that?” I asked and she swallowed hard.
“I—I don’t know. Never heard that name before,” she faltered.
“Nirah—” I cut myself off as the nurse walked in with her food. She placed the tray on the cupboard beside Nirah’s bed and helped her sit up straight, adjusting the bed. She pulled a tray over Nirah’s legs, putting the tray of food down on top of it.
“This is all you’re allowed to eat at the moment,” she almost apologetically said and turned to me. “She has to eat. One too many seizures will cause serious damage.”
I nodded in understanding. “I’ll make sure she eats.” The nurse showed us a timid smile before leaving the room. “Why haven’t you been eating?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.
She stayed quiet for a minute before sighing. “I kept forgetting and I really didn’t have much of an appetite, I still don’t,” she shook her head. She kept forgetting? “Are you mad at me?” she nervously asked and I ran my hand down my face.
“I’m not mad at you, Nirah, but I really do want to yell at you for not eating, but—” I cut myself off as I watched her glossy eyes stare up at me with so much apology and hurt. And worst of all, so much sorrow. I should have been at her side to protect her. Not Cesar, not Logan. Me .
“I’m not talking about what happened with Sylvester,” she looked down and started poking her food with the fork. She was referring to that night in my office.
“You were honest with me, so no, I’m not mad at you,” I said, pushing myself up from the chair. “Now, stop with the questions.”
I rounded her bed but she stopped me once again. “Can I rephrase my question?”
I stared at the door, taking a deep breath in. “What is it?”
“Did my truth hurt you?”
I felt my heart rate pick up as the room filled with silence. Yes, tesoro. Yes, it did.