Page 98 of Heartless Mafia Prince 2: Rocco & Ryah

“Mom, is Dad here?”

“No. I sent him a text. He’ll be here soon.”

Mom sat ringing her hands. Her hair was piled on her head in a messy bun. She was struggling to hold it together.

“Good to see that you are alert, Ryah,” the doctor said as she walked toward me.

“I’m Dr. Grey. Do you remember how you ended up here?”

I pressed my hand against my head, trying to wrack my brain. “No.”

She peeled the cover back. “Tell me if you can feel a sensation in your feet?”

Dr. Grey slid a wand along the bottom of my feet. I wiggled my toes each time.

“Yes.”

“Good. To my understanding you were hit by a truck and thrown off your motorcycle.”

Palming my eyes, I thought back to that night. The light turned yellow, and I peeked to the right. I did a double take because I couldn’t believe who I’d seen. I thought I gave Art the slip. Clearly, I was wrong. I imagined the disappointment on Dad’s face. It distracted me. Next thing I knew, my body went flying in the air, then I landed on the ground. That was all I remembered. There was one more thing that struck me as odd. “Listen to my voice, Ryah,” Rocco stated. “I won’t be far away. I’ll wait downstairs in the waiting room if I have to. I love you, Princess.”

My heart hammered in my chest at an alarming rate. Keep a straight face, Ryah.

“Ryah, do you remember what happened?” Mom asked.

“Yes, I was hit by a truck and thrown off my bike. That’s all I remember,” I lied.

Where was Rocco? Why hadn’t he been here to see me? Was he waiting downstairs?

Dr. Grey smiled. “I’ll have Tate take you for a walk. If you do well, you’ll be out of here by the end of the week.”

“Thank you, Dr. Grey.”

She nodded before leaving.

After breakfast, Tate came to take me for a walk. I told him I was in too much pain, and hopefully tomorrow, I’d be up to it. I was working out a plan to uncover the truth. I sat in bed, worried sick about my boyfriend. Something didn’t feel right. I knew Rocco. Nothing could keep him away from me. Only death. The acid swished in my stomach. Ryah, don’t think negatively.

Mom rubbed my arm. “Ryah, what’s wrong?”

“I thought Dad would visit. It’s unlike him not to be here.”

The door swung open. “Ryah, sweetheart, you’re awake.”

Dad’s brown hair was tousled all over his head. His gray suit jacket hung open. The stubble on his cheeks indicated a long night. He stretched his arms out toward me. I stole a glance at his bruised knuckles. Chills struck my body as bile rose in my throat. Dad killed my boyfriend. He wrapped his arms around me, holding me tight. I hugged him back, burling my face in his chest, hiding from my mother. Something happened while I was asleep. It was clear Mom and Dad were working together. There was only one person left I could trust, and I needed to find a way to talk to him.

He stepped back, rubbing her shoulder. “You’ll go home with your mother on Friday. She’ll watch over you until you're ready to return to school.”

“I need to contact my professors and ask if I can make up my missing assignments over spring break. Hopefully, they’ll let me make up the work. Will you be at the house, too, Dad?”

“No, I have business to tend to.”

I smirked.

“Ryah, I’m happy you’re safe and sound. Riding motorcycles is out of the question. Drive the car I bought you.”

“Yeah, Dad, you’re right.”

He squinted his green eyes. “You never agree. Usually, there’s an argument.”

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