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The doctors said to allow her wake up on her own, but I was having a hard time letting her sleep. I wanted to see her open those beautiful green eyes, to know that she was okay. We’d learned that the reason Joy had run was because she’d finally figured out the dark side of my family’s empire, and I couldn’t help but wonder if she would still love me. The thought of losing her forever threatened my sanity, so I focused on watching her sleep and counting her breaths.
Voices hummed behind me, Hannah and my mother talking softly while Leo spoke with my father near the door. Joy’s parents were on their way and should be here soon. We had guards stationed outside, and the floor was secure as could be, but I still felt better knowing Leo was there. So far, we’d managed to keep the media at bay, but eventually someone would find out that my fiancée had been involved in a car crash and kidnapping. Thankfully, our lawyers would make sure Joy was protected, but I still hated her being exposed like this.
Joy’s hand twitched in mine, and I instantly sat up straight, leaning over her bed to study her face. Her eyes moved behind her closed eyelids, and her breathing picked up. I waited, not wanting to startle her.
“Joy?”
Instantly, the room got quiet and everyone moved closer to the bed.
Her eyelids fluttered open, and she squinted.
“Joy?” I tried again, needing to hear her voice. “Sweetheart, can you hear me?”
She nodded slowly, then turned her head to look at me. She whispered in a ragged voice, “Where am I?”
“You’re in the hospital. Can you remember how you got here?”
Her brows drew down, and she tried to lift her broken leg, then winced. “No. Why am I here?”
My mother joined me, her hand resting on Joy’s blanket-covered leg. “You’re okay, darling. You were in a car accident. What’s the last thing you remember?”
“Need water,” she rasped. I helped her sit up while Hannah poured her a cup then handed it to her friend
“Thanks,” Joy said in a stronger voice then groaned. “My head hurts.”
“You have a mild concussion, in addition to your other injuries.”
Looking down at her arm encased in a cast, she frowned. “I remember driving to my tutoring job…but that’s it. What happened?”
I hesitated, torn between telling the truth and upsetting her or distracting her.
My mother took the choice out of my hands by saying, “A man by the name of Nova Santiago tried to abduct you from the school.”
“What?” Her grip on my hand tightened. “I don’t remember.”
“It’s okay,” I soothed after giving my mom a disapproving glare. “Don’t worry about that now. You’re safe.”
Joy shook her head, then groaned. “Everything hurts.”
“Take it easy,” Hannah said in a soft voice while she crouched down by Joy’s bedside. “The only thing you have to worry about is getting better, okay?”
Looking up at me, Joy whispered, “I’m so confused.”
My mother spoke up again, “Everything is going to be okay. You saved yourself.”
“Save myself…” Joy’s gaze went distant. “I remember that. Save myself. It kept repeating over and over in my head…but I don’t know why. I can’t remember.”
“Ms. Holtz,” came a woman’s voice from the doorway. “So good to see you awake. I’m Dr. Francis. How are you feeling?”
The older doctor with her white hair in a bun made her way into the crowded room, trailed by other physicians and a few nurses.
“Fine,” Joy said, then winced. “Okay, maybe not fine.”
The doctor checked her tablet then looked over at me where I still sat, holding Joy’s hand protectively. “Mr. Cordova, if you could give us some room, I’d like to take a look at Ms. Holtz.”
I waited until they were done, hovering over them while they asked Joy questions until my mother dragged me over to the corner of the room. “Ramón, let them work.”
By the time they were done, exhaustion lined Joy’s face. I knew the accelerated healing drugs we had Dr. Francis give her were kicking in. I knew all too well how drained she would be feeling, so when I resumed my station by the side of her bed, I stroked her hair and whispered for her to go to sleep. She did, holding my hand and looking into my eyes while I told to her how much I loved her before she lost the fight and slept.
I had no idea what time it was when I woke up later that night, but it was dark and the usually busy hospital was quiet. Joy’s parents had arrived earlier and were now staying with my parents. Everyone had gone home except for me and my guards, though Leo had to practically drag Hannah out. I stirred in my chair that pulled out into a bed next to Joy, wondering what had woken me up.
