Page 67 of Do Opposites Attract?

Mitch had been given the okay to be moved. Now the ball was in her court.

‘Mum, Dad,’ she shouted, knowing they were in the house somewhere, as they’d promised to meet her here.

‘Brianna, darling, what is it? Your message on the phone sounded so urgent.’ They were waiting for her in their sitting room.

She rushed over to them and for a few seconds allowed herself to take comfort from their tight, loving embrace. Then she pulled away. ‘It’s Mitch. He’s been hurt and it’s serious. He’s got a brain injury. We need to get him back to England quickly, so he can be treated by specialists.’

Her father took one look at her face and simply drew his arms around her tighter. ‘Do whatever it takes Brianna. I’ll find the money.’

The floodgates opened and tears streamed down her face. ‘Oh, Dad, thank you, thank you.’ She took a moment to absorb the strength and love from her parents. How good it felt to know she was loved, to know they would do anything for her, without hesitation, without question. She thought of Mitch, alone in a makeshift hospital bed somewhere. Had he ever experienced that sort of love? She didn’t think so.

‘I’ve got to go and sort it all out . . .’ She broke away, desperate to get things moving, to get Mitch back where he belonged.

‘Darling, calm down,’ her father took her hand. ‘I’ll call my personal assistant and get him to make the arrangements. You need to rest a while. You’ll be no use to anyone in this frazzled state. I take it you want to fly out with the plane, to fetch him?’ Brianna nodded. ‘Right then, wait here with your mother while I make a call.’

* * *

With amazing speed, a few hours later Brianna was climbing up the steps into a private medical plane.

‘Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?’ her father asked for the hundredth time. Bless his heart, he’d not only made sure of the arrangements, he’d also insisted on seeing her off.

‘You’ve got a business to run and besides, I’m a big girl now.’

‘I know, but to me you’ll always be my darling child.’

She brushed at her eyes. ‘Crikey, Dad, don’t go getting mushy on me. My emotions are all over the place as it is.’

Gently he kissed her forehead. ‘You love him, don’t you?’

She felt so choked she could barely speak. ‘Yes.’

‘Then he’s going to be fine. With you looking out for him, how could he be anything else?’

Biting her lip, she tried to smile. ‘You mean I’m a stubborn cow who won’t let him die.’

‘Well, I would have put it more delicately. You have a determined streak in you. If something is important enough to you, you’ve always found a way to achieve it.’

‘Let’s hope Mitch’s survival isn’t going to be any different.’

He lifted her chin and made her look at him. ‘You’ll phone as soon as you get the chance, won’t you? Don’t worry about the time differences. Just let us know how things are going.’

‘I promise.’

A few moments later the pilot signalled they were ready. Her dad climbed back down the stairs and the door closed.

She waved at him from the tiny window. How her life had changed. Until a few months ago the only plane trips she’d ever taken were for holidays. Now she was off to her second disaster zone in as many months.

And this time she was dreading what she’d find even more than the last time.

Chapter Thirty-One

For as long as she lived, Brianna would never forget her first sight of Mitch as he lay unconscious in the back of the makeshift ambulance at the airport. To see such a strong man so helpless, cut her in two. His usually tanned, rugged face was pale and lifeless. Though his body was covered with a sheet, she could see nasty bruising on his shoulder. Tessa was kneeling next to him, holding the drip, checking his vital signs. She looked as ragged as Brianna felt.

‘Apart from the head injury, he’s broken some ribs and fractured his lower right leg, right arm, collarbone and pelvis.’ Stuart was taking her through his injuries but all Brianna could think was how battered he looked, how beaten. For the first time since she’d set out on her rescue mission, she really started to believe she might lose him.

‘But it’s just the head injury you’re worried about, yes? Everything else is easily fixed?’

Stuart gave her a tired smile. ‘That’s probably an accurate summary. We can’t be sure, without proper X-rays, how bad the injury is to his pelvis. We don’t think it’s affected any other organs, but they’ll be able to sort that out back in England.’

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