Authors: Tawny Taylor

Darkest Desire (10 page)

BOOK: Darkest Desire

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A sob tore up Lei's throat. She clapped a hand over her mouth. Malek was stable. Alive. “Can I see him?”

“Not yet. He's still in recovery. I'll let you know when he's moved to a room. In the meantime, I'm going to write a prescription for some pain medication. The nurse will bring it in shortly.”

“Okay. Thank you again. For everything.”

“Not a problem.” The doctor left.

A little while later, the nurse came in with a paper cup of juice and a smaller cup with some pills in it. She handed both to Lei. “This is just a mild pain medication.”

Lei swallowed the tablets, washed them down with some juice, and lay back down. She didn't realize she'd fallen asleep again until she was being gently shaken awake.

“You were shouting again,” the doctor said.

“I'm sorry.”

“Is it normal for you?” she asked, checking Lei's eyes with the light for the second time.

“Not that I'm aware of.”

“Hmmm.” The doctor looked concerned and slightly confused. “You're checking out okay neurologically. I'm going to go ahead and discharge you. Your brother-in-law has been moved to a room on the surgical floor. So far, things are looking very good. The injuries weren't as extensive as they'd appeared.”

“He's going to be okay?”

“He's going to be okay.”

That was the best news Lei had ever heard. “Ohthankgod,” she blurted.

The doctor wrote something on a scrap of paper. “Here's his room number. The nurse will be in to go over your discharge instructions soon, and then you're free to go.”

Lei clutched the paper in her hand and scrambled from the bed. She paced the floor until the nurse came in. She tried to pay attention to the instructions she was given, folded the written discharge documents, stuffed them in her pocket, and headed for the closest elevator up to the third floor. She followed the signs to room 315, pushed open the ajar door, and stepped inside.

It was a private room. The lights were dim but illuminated enough for Lei to see Malek's handsome face. His eyes were closed. He was resting. She approached as quietly as possible, slid her hand over his, and cupped her hand over her mouth.

This man had almost died while fighting to protect her. Nobody had ever done anything so selfless, other than her sister. Rin had more or less sold herself to buy Lei's freedom, and no doubt she'd put her own life and safety at risk plenty of times before that while trying to hunt Lei down. She would forever be grateful for what Rin had doneâthe risk, the sacrifice, the courage she'd shown.

And she would forever be grateful for what Malek had done, too.

Especially since the attack had been her fault.

He would never ask for any kind of payback, but Lei had to find a way to show him exactly how grateful she was.

His hand stirred under hers.

Was he awake? Her gaze shot to it, then jumped to his face.

His eyelids slowly lifted. “Lei? You're safe,” he murmured.

“I'm safe. You're safe.”

He visibly exhaled. “Need to call Drako.”

“I've already tried calling Rin. She isn't answering.”

“My phone?”

“I don't know.”

“Pocket.” He started to move, as if he were trying to sit up. He winced, then wrapped one arm around his waist. “Shit.”

Lei gently pressed on his shoulders. “I'll look for your phone. You can't move. You just had surgery.”

He didn't fight her. “Dammit, there's nobody at home.”

“It's okay. You have to stay here, in the hospital. You need to give yourself time to heal.”

His eyelids closed. “But you don't know . . .”

“Don't know what, Malek?”

“Phone,” he said, his voice weaker.

“I'll find it and I'll call Drako. I promise.”

She went on a full search for his phone. She found a plastic bag in a cupboard. In it were his clothes, his shoes, and his phone. It was off.

Respecting the hospital's cell phone policy, she went downstairs to the lobby before powering it up.

It didn't turn on.

She hit the buttons a few more times and said more than a handful of curse words. Even though she whispered, she caught the attention of a man sitting nearby. He glanced at her, then went back to reading the two-year-old issue of
Time
he was holding.

Now what?

She glanced outside.

The first light of morning was touching the eastern sky. She was exhausted, despite the bit of sleep she'd managed to get down in the emergency room. She felt grungy, a little hungry, very foggy headed, and achy all over. She wanted, more than anything, to have a hot shower, a meal, and about twelve hours more sleep. She needed to charge Malek's phone and call his brother.

But she was absolutely petrified of going back to the house alone.

What if those men came back? What if they were waiting for her to return?

She was alone. Scared beyond words. With no phone. No car.

Her life had spiraled out of her control yet again. Her head was spinning. She felt faint. She plopped down on a bench, lowered her head, closed her eyes, and tried to think her way through this.

“Excuse me, miss. Are you all right?” It was a man's voice.

She glanced at him.

A police officer.

A quiver of distrust snaked through her.

Since her sister bought her back from the traffickers, she'd been reluctant to trust anyone. Cops. Men. People in general. And now, after Holloway's attack, she was even more petrified. But she had to get home somehow. It was at least twenty miles. She couldn't walk. There were no buses. With no money, no credit or debit card, she couldn't hire a cab.

“I need . . . help.”

The officer glanced at his watch. “What's the problem?”

“Is there any way you'd be willing to help me get a cab? I was attacked, brought into the hospital in an ambulance. I have no way to get home.”

“Where do you live?” he asked.

She rattled off her address.

“Ah, yes. I heard the call about your home invasion on the radio. Glad you're okay.”

She was okay physically. But mentally, emotionally... ? She had a feeling it would be a long, long time before she'd be emotionally okay. If ever.

He motioned for her to follow him. “I can give you a ride. I'm off the clock.”

Praying she had stumbled upon an honest, trustworthy cop, she reluctantly followed him.

“T
he house is clear, miss,” the officer said, standing outside the patrol car. He'd left Lei in the car to wait while he checked the house from top to bottom. “You have a top-rate security system. And no sign of forced entry. Did the responding officer say how the assailants got in?”

“They didn't have to tell me,” she confessed. “I let them in.”

“Ah.” He didn't sound all that surprised by her confession.

“I never would have guessed a bad guy would knock on the front door.”

“Generally, if they do that, the victim doesn't live to give a description. You're damn lucky.”

“Wow.” Lei felt her face pale. Lucky? Not hardly. Little did this policeman know that the attacker wasâmore or lessâone of his own. And there'd been a reason why she'd been left alive. Luck had nothing to do with it. She couldn't very well help the bastard if she was dead.

The officer checked his wristwatch. “I need to get going. Gotta get the kids off to school soon.”

“Sure.” Lei eased out of the car, muscles screaming in protest. “Thank you for the ride. And for checking the house.”

“You're welcome. Here's my card.” He pulled a white business card out of his pocket and handed it to her. “Call me if you have any more trouble. When you get inside, activate that alarm system. And don't open the door for strangers.”

“Will do.” Thinking she might be able to trust the officer, but still very afraid, Lei followed him out onto the front porch. He made it as far as the first step before something inside her snapped, and she called out, “Wait!”

He turned around and gave her a raised brow “What now?” look.

Lei opened her mouth, moved her lips, but no words came out. Her throat was blocked, even though she was desperate for help. She sucked in a deep breath and tried again. Tears burned in her eyes. But still nothing.

Dammit. Not again.

This wasn't the first time she'd been frozen with fear. Unable to speak. Unable to reach out for the help that was mere inches away.

If only she knew for certain she could trust him.

“You should get inside, miss,” the officer said.

She nodded and stepped back through the doorway. The officer rounded the front of his patrol car, gave a little wave, and drove off.

Now she was alone.

In an empty house.

She shut herself in, locked the door, set the alarm, and flipped on every light switch she passed as she made her way through the first floor. She checked each and every window and door, even though the police officer had already done it. Then she went upstairs, turned on all the lights up there, checked every window, every closet, and under every bed.

There was nobody hiding under a bed.

Nobody hiding in a closet.

Nobody waiting for her.

Somewhat satisfied she was safeâthere was still that niggling doubtâshe plugged in Malek's phone, found her cell phone, dropped the officer's card on her dresser, and plopped down on the bed. She checked for messages.

Ten. All from Rin. The last one:
Lei, call me the minute you get this message. If I don't hear from you soon, I'm going to call the police!

Lei wasted no time dialing.

This time Rin answered on the first ring. “Ohmygod! I was scared to death! What's going on?”

Lei gave Rin the slightly abridged version of the story, trying to underplay the danger, and the longerâbut still editedâversion to Drako, after Rin handed over the phone to him.

Once she'd wrapped up her long-winded summary, he told her, “I'm sending over two men to keep an eye on you until Talen is home. He's on a plane now. The security guards I've hired will call you on this phone when they arrive on the front porch. Wait until you get the call before you open the door. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“Good. They will be there within the hour.”

Rin came back on. “Lei, don't blame this on yourself.”

“I'm not,” she lied.

“I know you a helluva lot better than that, brat.”

Lei smiled to herself, despite all the terror and anxiety and guilt she was still swamped in. “I'm going to hop in the shower, before your husband's bodyguards show up.”

“Okay. I love you, Lei.”

“I love you, too. Bye.”

Lei took the phone into the bathroom with her, cranked on the shower, and scalded herself until she felt semi-human again. Then she toweled off and threw on a pair of sweats and a T-shirt. Her phone rang as she was combing her wet hair. She shuffled downstairs, then peered through the peephole to make sure the men who were talking to her on her cell were the ones standing on the porch. Then she opened the door.

“I'm Tim,” the first one said as he strolled past her, thumbing over his shoulder. “And this is Steve.”

“Glad you're here.” When Steve stepped inside, Lei slammed the door shut behind him and hurried to reactivate the alarm.

“It's okay, miss. We'll take care of everything from here,” Steve said as he punched a security code into the alarm.

“Sure, okay.” Not sure how she felt about her two new housemates-slash-security guards, she headed upstairs to her room, locked the door, pulled out her computer, and tried to get back to researching Kate and Heather. Her eyelids became heavier with each page she viewed until she could do nothing to keep them open.

Giving in to the overwhelming exhaustion, she slid under the covers, cut off the light, and went to sleep.

“It's okay, baby doll. You're safe. I'm here.”

The voice was a low rumble, distant, but getting closer. She felt instantly at ease, the terror fading away by the second.

“Yes, that's it. Relax. Rest.”

Was that . . . ?

She opened her eyes. “Malek?”

“I'm home now. I'm here.”

“But you should be in the hospital.” She pushed upright and blinked at him. It was him all right. In the flesh. Sitting on the edge of her bed. In the darkness, he looked just as handsome and strong and healthy as ever.

“I couldn't rest. Not knowing you were here by yourself.”

“But that's insane! You just had major surgery.”

“I'm okay.” He moved his arm and she realized there was an IV pole standing at the head of her bed. “See? I have medicine. And a nurse will be by later to change my bandages.”

“Are you in pain?”

“It's tolerable.” He leaned slightly to the right, favoring that side.

“Please get in bed.”

“Okay.” He pulled the covers back.

“I didn't mean . . .” She watched him slide under the covers.

He settled on his back, smiling. “Better?”

It wasn't what she'd had in mind, but he was in bed. And maybe it was better if he was nearby, in case he needed anything. “Better.” She lay back beside him, making sure she left a good-sized gap between them.

“You know,” Malek said, rocking his head to the side to look at her, “I remember you saying something just after the attack.”

She couldn't remember what she'd said then. Who would? She'd probably said a lot of things, since she was pretty damn terrified. “Yeah? Like what?”

“Like ... you promised to do anything I asked if I didn't leave you.”

“I said that?” A hazy memory flashed through her mind. She had said something like that.

“You sure did.”

“Are you certain?”

“Positive. And I'm holding you to it.”

Silence.

She had a feeling she knew what he was going to ask her to do. At least, if what Brent had told her was true. “I was trying to keep you alive.”

“It worked.”

“Yes, it did.” And she was so, so grateful for that fact.

“You said you would do anything. And now I want you to keep your word.”

And now she was in another man's debt. All in the interest of keeping herself out of prison and two ex-prostitutes . . . and Malek . . . alive. “Which means . . . ? Are you going to tell me to marry you?”

“No, my brother might have played that way with your sister, but I'm not Drako. I won't marry you until
you
ask
me
.”

She couldn't help laughing at that one. “You expect me to propose?”

He eased his arms up, crossing them behind his head. “It'll happen.”

“You're way too confident for your own good.”

“Nah.” His hand found hers. He squeezed, then released it. “Now, both of us need rest. So shhhh.”

“But you didn't tell me what you're expecting from me if it isn't marrying you.”

“We'll talk about it later. After you've had some rest.”

“Butâ”

“Sleep. Or I may be inspired to do something else that people tend to do when they're
in bed.
”

Lei crossed her arms over her chest, then squeezed her eyelids shut.

Within seconds, Malek's breathing was slow and even, and he was still. And gradually the reassuring sound of his steady inhalations and exhalations lulled her back to sleep, too.

Lei woke up sometime later, draped over Malek like a big heavy sandbag. That couldn't be comfortable for him. Or safe, considering his injuries. Moving carefully, she shifted her position, easing off of him.

He groaned, started to roll over, stopped, winced, and exhaled a long, deep breath.

Clearly, he was in pain.

Clearly, he should have stayed in the hospital.

Lei glanced at the plastic bag hanging from the pole. Empty. It was no wonder. She checked his brow. He was sweating, but didn't feel feverish.

“Stubborn man,” she grumbled. “You should be in the hospital. I hope you have some more of that medicine here.” After a fairly thorough search, she realized he didn't. She hoped the nurse he mentioned was on her way.

Unsure what to do, she ran downstairs to grab some coffee and look for his discharge papers, to see if there was a phone number for the nurse. Coming up empty-handed, she went back up to check on Malek.

He was looking worse, and she was starting to panic.

Sitting on the bed, next to him, she leaned down and concentrated on breathing. “Malek,” she said, “where is your nurse?”

“Coming” was his answer. His teeth were gritted, his pale face a mask of agony, his features drawn tight.

How she longed to take away his pain. “How much longer? Do you know?”

He shook his head.

“Phone number?”

“Don't have one.”

Her fingers curled into fists, fingernails digging into her palms. She couldn't stand seeing him this way. He was suffering. And here she was, just sitting there, watching. Powerless to do anything to stop it. “Tell me what to do.” Her gaze kept jerking back to that withered bag on the pole.

“Nothing.”

“I can't do ânothing.' Can I call a doctor? Get a prescription for something?”

Again, he shook his head. “I'm fine.”

“You're not âfine.' And I'm giving that nurse ten minutes to get here.” A fat tear dropped from her lashes, landing on her cheekbone. She dragged the back of her hand across her face. “This is insane. There's no reason for you to be suffering like this. If she isn't here by”âshe checked the clockâ“eleventhirty, I'm calling 9-1-1 and having your ass hauled back to the hospital.”

“No.”

“Yes, you're in no condition to stop me.”

Malek grabbed her arm. His grip was like a vice, stronger than she would have expected. “I said no.”

“Malek.” A sob ripped through her chest so hard it hurt. She cupped her hand over her mouth. “Please.”

“Won't leave you.”

“Why? What's the point? You can't help me when you're like this. You can't protect me.”

“Yes, I can.” As if to prove his point, he jerked upright, hauled her into his arms, and slammed her down onto the bed. He levered over her, breathing heavily, and stared into her eyes. “I can. And I will.”

“But Drako hired security guards.”

“I don't trust them. I don't trust anyone but my brothers. And they're not here.”

BOOK: Darkest Desire

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