Page 62 of Condemned By Secrets

Anna was about to shake her head when the fire flashed in her mind. As her memories flooded in—being trapped, waking up outside, arriving at the hospital—the beeping from the heart rate monitor increased.

“You’re safe, baby,” Luther soothed, and she closed her eyes to try and calm her thoughts.

The last thing she remembered was the doctors telling her she needed to be put to sleep to heal her scorched airways. How long ago had that been?

Desperation seized her, and her eyes flew open as she squeezed Luther’s hand. “How long?” She took a shaky breath. “Was I out?”

Luther’s eyes pinched, and she saw anguish flicker in them. “Five days.”

She gasped, and the monitor spiked.Five days?How had she lost five whole days?

“Your body needed time to heal.” He took a deep breath, and his voice was rough as he told her. “You were intubated and under anesthesia.”

Anna swallowed as she digested that, and her throat protested. “Water,” she squeaked.

Luther let go of her hand and reached for the paper cup on a tray next to her hospital bed. He put the straw to her lips, and she grabbed for the cup, sucking greedily.

“Whoa, slow it down, sweetheart.”

Anna stopped drinking and pursed her lips at him.Why?She was so thirsty.

Luther must have noticed the ‘are you kidding me’ look she was giving him because he explained. “The nurse said little sips. Too much at once, and you risk making yourself sick.” He frowned. “Throwing up could do more damage to your throat.”

Oh.Anna understood, but it didn’t mean she liked complying. She took another few slow sips until she’d had enough to soothe her dry throat. “Thank you.”

Luther placed the water back on the table. When his eyes met hers again, they were the bright silver color she loved, but they were guarded. Looking into them made her stomach hurt. Whatever had happened—it wasn’t over yet.

She reached for his hand, and he clasped it. “What is it, Luther?”

“We still need your statement.” With his free hand, he reached up and brushed her hair off her face.

The simple gesture warmed her heart, and Anna nodded. She’d get through anything with Luther at her side. “I don’t know where to start.”

He gave her hand a gentle squeeze, then smiled in encouragement. “What were you doing at the farm? Start there.”

Anna took a steadying breath and launched into the story. When she got to the part about being struck in the back of the head and knocked out, Luther’s hand tightened on hers. She was watching him closely, so she noticed his jaw set. She placed her other hand on top of his, trying to soothe him as she told him about waking up in the farmhouse and her conversation with the mayor.

“We brought her in but without enough evidence to charge her . . .” His jaw clenched, and he shook his head. “She’s out. But with what you just told me, we can fix that.”

Some of the tension gripping Anna’s insides loosened. “What about the officer and the other man the mayor was talking to?”

“Officer Haines is in jail, but he deserves worse for what he did to you.” Luther closed his eyes as if he couldn’t bear to think about it, and Anna realized she didn’t know the whole story.

She’d passed out—had been sure she was going to die in that burning house, but, somehow, she’d woken up outside.

“Luther,” she pressed her hand to his cheek, and he opened his eyes. They were swimming with emotion—anger, pain, love.Love.Anna smiled as she let the feeling crumble what was left of her walls. “How did you know where I was?”

“I checked your apartment and the society. It was the only other place I could think of that you might be. But if I’d gone there first . . .” His voice cracked, and his eyes were tortured. “Anna, you weren’t breathing when I found you. I thought . . .” She heard him draw in a ragged breath. “I thought I lost you, baby,” he whispered.

He saved me.

As Anna continued to stare into Luther’s eyes, her heart clenched at the pain she saw in them. It had cost him to see her like that. “Thank you for saving me.”

“Anna, I—” he shook his head, and she wished she could wipe the bad memories away.

“Come here.” She tugged on his hands, but he hesitated.

“You’re sore. I don’t want to hurt you.”

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