Page 104 of A Little Naughty

I still have hope.

He’s alive.

CHAPTER30

RAIF

“North America is composed of five geographical regions.” The girl’s voice is a steady drone as I slowly open my eyes. My brow furrows as I try to focus, to piece together where I am and what happened. “There’s the Canadian Shield, the Great Plains, the mountainous west, the eastern region, and the Caribbean.”

Nikki’s dark head is bowed over a colorful textbook, and she’s in a reclining chair surrounded by pillows reading her homework out loud.

My brain is cloudy and thick, like I’m slowly coming out of a dense fog. My arms and legs are too heavy to move, and I’m so tired. Looking around, it’s clear I’m in a hospital. I’m surrounded by soft beeping noises, tubes, wires, and several large bouquets of flowers.

I recognize some of them. That one is stargazers, roses, carnations, and two large gerbera daisies. A glass vase on my bedside table holds a bunch of Carolina jessamine. They look like the ones I planted for Jemima in the flower boxes back home.

She was so pretty that day with her hair up in a ponytail and little pieces flying around in the breeze. She leaned in beside me, pressing her fingers into the soil, learning how to plant them. I told her the yellow would be like her hair and her smile, then I got dirt on her cheek…

Closing my eyes, the warmth moving across my chest is an ache, and I realize a tight bandage is wrapped around my torso.

With a flash, Bill’s face appears in my memory. I see him standing over me with a gun pointed straight at my forehead. He’s smiling like the angel of death—or the shadow man, which is essentially the same thing, right? I was pretty sure that was the end of me, but clearly it wasn’t.

The gunshot didn’t hit me in the head. I don’t have brain damage, but I am in a hospital room. A really fucking nice hospital room with a couch and a television and a reclining chair holding Nikki, who continues reading about North American geography.

I can’t tell if she’s trying to wake me up or put me to sleep.

Only, where is Jemima? My head turns to the side as I search the large room for her.

Was she hurt? Is she in another room in this hospital? The gun was pointed at me, but I passed out from blood loss, I’m sure. Still, I heard the noise. She was right there in the kitchen, steps away…

The beeping noises grow faster, and Nikki sits up in her chair. “You’re awake!” She puts the book on the table and rushes to my bedside, eyes wide. “Are you in pain?”

“Where’s Jemima?” My mouth is so dry, I can barely speak.

She grabs a plastic cup with a straw and holds it to my lips. Taking a swift pull, I turn my head and ask again. “Where is she?”

Nikki looks over her shoulder, and it’s taking her too long to answer my simple question. With a groan and a strain, I try to sit up and get out of this fucking bed.

The monitors go crazy, but I have to know she’s okay. I have to know he didn’t get her, he didn’t shoot her, she’s not lying in a bed somewhere because of my stupid, fucking mistake.

“Wait…” Nikki tries to hold my arm, and the pain shooting through my side almost knocks me out.

“Mr. Jones, stop!” A woman in dusty pink scrubs rushes to my bedside, putting her hand on my chest. “You’ll tear your stitches.”

“Where’s my wife?” It comes out as a ragged growl.

The drugs or the injury has taken all my strength, and I can’t push past a petite nurse and a little girl. I’m so fucking weak. The pain in my heart is crippling me, and the beeping grows more urgent.

“Mr. Jones, please, you have to lie down.” The nurse holds my shoulders.

“Raif?” Her sweet voice hits me so hard, I almost cry. “You’re awake! Oh, thank God, we’ve been waiting.”

Nikki moves back so Jemima can access my bedside. Gazing up at her, I swallow the thickness in my throat. I’m so tired, but I need to touch her. I need to feel her warm skin against my fingertips to know she’s okay.

“Jemima…” I lift my hand, and she clasps it in both of hers, hugging it to her chest.

Tears shine in her eyes, and she leans forward, wrapping her arms around my shoulders and pressing her body to mine. Her sweet body.

“It’s so good to hear your voice.” Her voice breaks.

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