Page 108 of Deadly Designs

“Also, news leaked that Sinclair met with Nofeshku,and the shit hit the fan,” Nicole informed him.

Christian hissed. He only thought it was a mediacircus before. That news would be the top story for months.

A nurse came over and led Christian to a room to meetwith the doctor. He listened to the woman as she described how thebullet entered through Aja Blue’s right oblique and exited throughher back. No organs had been hit, so there was no significantinternal damage, but she’d lost a lot of blood. Coupled with whatshe’d been through earlier on the Sinclair yacht—had that only beena few hours ago?—she was exhausted. They’d stitched her up andgiven her sedatives to help her sleep. Christian was allowed tovisit, but the doctor warned him she would be asleep for a fewhours.

She was going to be okay. With lightened steps, hereturned to the waiting room and sent Presley and Kayne back to thehouse to get some rest since Aja Blue was out. Next, he texted hisbosses to give them the news. Then he went to Aja Blue’s room.

“So, you decided to return, did you?”

Christian winced when he recognized the nurse who hadobjected to him checking himself out but had reluctantly helped himescape. “Yeah, but I’m here for her this time.”

The nurse glanced at a sleeping Aja Blue. “She’ll beout a while.”

“I need to be with her.”

The nurse sighed, nodded, and arranged a chair besideAja Blue’s bed. “I’ll be in to check on her occasionally.”

“Thank you.”

With a smile, she left them alone.

Christian dropped into the chair and took Aja Blue’shand. An ice pack had been arranged on her cheek to lessen theswelling. Anger welled inside him again. Men who hit women andchildren were some of the lowest forms of scum on the planet. Itwas probably good that he didn’t have to worry about paying Dirk avisit since he’d gotten himself killed. Christian wouldn’t havegone easy on him.

Knowing Aja Blue would be okay, he relaxed untilsleep claimed him too.

Chapter Thirty

Aja Blue awoke to see a familiartousled blond head. She wanted to run her hands through the short,silky strands, but Christian was holding her hand. The other armwas attached to an IV. Her eyes were drawn to the bloody lump onhis scalp, courtesy of Eleanor Sinclair, and she remembered theoverwhelming fear that had gripped her when she’d seen him crumpleto the floor. If Nicole hadn’t gotten to the socialite first, AjaBlue would’ve attacked her like a rabid she-cat.

Though the ordeal was over, she didn’t want toconsider never seeing him again. Aja Blue had been waiting for himher whole life. She didn’t know it before, but now she did.Somehow, they had to make it work.

Aja Blue had been thinking about it and could do herjob from anywhere. She no longer had an office, and the last fewdays had taught her that her employees could work remotely. That’swhat phones were for. She knew Christian loved his job and was goodat it. She would worry when he went on a case or mission orwhatever they called them, but she would trust that he could takecare of himself.

She noticed the bump again and frowned. He obviouslyhadn’t rechecked himself into the hospital, but then, she hadn’texpected him to. He needed someone to watch over him, and she wasthe woman for the job.

What would he do if she asked him to marry her? Wouldhe accept? Sure, usually the guy did the proposing, but she didn’tfeel like waiting. She’d always gone for what she wanted, and hergoal was a life with the man of her dreams.

The events of the night came flooding back to her.She’d managed to block them out, but the image of Polly covered inblood made her eyes well with tears. Though they’d grown apart,they had been as close as sisters once. Knowing she lost her lifeso violently and senselessly was almost more than she could bear,especially on top of Jay’s murder.

The thought of having to attend their funerals in thenext few days was excruciating. How was she supposed to say goodbyeto two people who’d impacted her life so significantly?

“Hey, babe, why are you crying?”

Aja Blue hadn’t realized Christian had woken up. Histhumb stroked the wetness from her cheek and then caressed the onewithout an icepack.

“I love you,” she blurted out. Though she’d felt itfor a while now—and if she was honest with herself, it was from thefirst moment she’d met him when she’d jumped into his muscularembrace—she hadn’t planned on telling him that way. Not veryromantic when she was hooked up to machines and slightly doped up.Still, she didn’t regret it. She wanted him to know how she felt.If this week had taught her anything, it was that life wasshort.

Aja Blue had avoided looking at his face, afraidshe’d see horror or at least shock. Instead, his lips curved intoone of his beatific smiles. “I love you too.”

“You do?”

He nodded slowly. “I think I have since the firstmoment we met.”

“Oh, my gosh, me too!”

He leaned down and kissed her, and she sank into thecontact. This right here was her lifeline.

Someone cleared their throat, and they broke apartand turned toward the door. Christian dropped her hand and sprangto his feet.

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