Page 20 of Final Vendetta

It wasn’t a question. More like a statement. Or a demand.

Gideon gave him a curt nod and extended his hand. “Imogene is my priority. Nothing else.”

Lachlan took his hand, and the two men embraced briefly in a bro-hug.

“Call if you need anything,” Mom chimed in, leaning down to give me a tight squeeze. “Or if you just want to talk.”

“I will,” I promised her.

“And don’t push yourself too hard,” she added sternly. “I know you want to get back to normal as soon as possible, but it’ll take some time.”

“Yes, Mom,” I playfully groaned, but I couldn’t fault her.

Even though I routinely warned my patients not to overdo it because it could sometimes cause more harm than good, I wanted to get back on my feet as quick as possible.

Wanted to put this chapter of my life behind me and only look toward my future.

But was it a future with Gideon?

Or Samuel?

“I’ll make sure she doesn’t overdo it,” Gideon assured her.

“Thank you.”

He gave her a brief hug and kiss, then looked my way. “Are you ready?” he asked again.

“Yes.”

He moved behind my wheelchair and pushed me into the hallway, where a nurse stepped in to take over.

To my surprise, several security guards were also waiting.

“What’s going on?” I asked Gideon, confused about why we were heading in a different direction from the elevator. “Where are we going?”

“To the loading docks. A car is waiting for us there.”

“Why?”

“Reporters are still camped in front of the hospital. Everyone’s hoping to get a soundbite from the woman who was nearly killed by a U.S. Senator.”

There was a sharp edge to his voice, and I could sense his frustration. “You’ll need to put this on.” He pulled a baseball cap out of a shopping bag.

“A Dodgers hat?” I eyed it warily. “In case you’ve forgotten, I’m an Atlanta fan.”

“As am I. But I can’t send you out there wearing a hat with their logo. It’ll be a dead giveaway it’s you. You can take it off once we’re on the freeway.”

“Fine,” I huffed, reluctantly putting on the hat as the nurse pushed me into the freight elevator.

When we reached the basement, the doors opened and the nurse wheeled me toward a pair of open double doors, even more security guards lingering nearby. I wasn’t sure this much security presence was necessary, but if I’d learned anything during my time with Gideon, it was that he didn’t take my safety lightly.

Still, this all seemed like overkill. Was there something more going on than just keeping reporters at bay?

As we approached an idling black SUV, Henry jumped out and opened the back door, giving my arm a small squeeze before getting in behind the wheel once more. Gideon helped me stand, keeping me steady as I climbed into the back seat. He placed a blanket over my stomach before pulling the seatbelt across my torso.

The second Gideon slid in beside me, Henry put the car into drive and pulled away from the loading dock.

As we passed the front of the hospital, it quickly became clear why Gideon insisted we leave through the loading dock. Dozensupon dozens of reporters swarmed the area, vultures ready to pounce on anyone who looked remotely like me.

---