Page 81 of His to Bedevil

I hear chuckles around me. “Okay, Irma. Now can you open your eyes for me?”

The doctor informs me that I have a severe concussion with a huge gash on my head just under my hairline on the right side of my forehead. I’ve been out for almost an entire day, and I’m to rest as much as possible. As he’s telling me all this, all I can think about is putting something in my stomach because all I want to do is puke. Benita says that she’ll have Juanita bring up some soup right away, and I’m soon left alone with Berto again.

My stomach has settled some, but I know if I don’t get some food in it soon, I’m going to start dry heaving. Berto continues staring at me as if he can’t figure me out. I face him head-on, trying to look stronger than I really feel right now. “You don’t like me.”

He cocks his head to one side, still staring at me with curiosity. “Why would you think that?”

I chuckle a little because that’s all I have the strength for. “You constantly stare at me as if you’re wondering why the hell I’m still breathing or if I’m going to strike at any moment.”

He gives me another uncharacteristic chuckle, shaking his head. “Quite the opposite, Irma. My hostility has mainly been toward Alejo. I was afraid that he wanted you around as some sort of… pet, and I didn’t agree with it. We may do horrible things sometimes, but we’re not entirely evil. It seems I have been mistaken though. He cares for you. More than cares for you. Sometimes it still does bother me, to be quite honest. You’ve become such a distraction for him, but it’s not your fault. He was the one who held you here against your will. But now I’m not so sure if that’s the case anymore.”

I meet his eyes. “It is. Iamhere against my will.”

“Then why didn’t you run, little Irma? You had the perfect opportunity to. Especially if Alejo died, he wouldn’t ever be able to come after you.”

The constant thought of Alejo dying is unbearable. My heart drops, and my lungs seize from breathing. “Like I said.” I close my eyes once again. “I don’t know. I just couldn’t,” I whisper as I feel myself drifting off again.

I drift in and out of sleep for so long. Maybe just hours or maybe for days. Every time I wake up, either Benita, Lucas, or Juanita are there, and they either help me to the bathroom or they’re shoving food and water down my throat. Then I end up falling right back asleep. I don’t even get the chance to ask about Alejo, even though I’m dying to know how he’s doing. It’s the first thought on my mind when I open my eyes and the last thought I have when I close them. They said he was okay, but I need to see for myself.

I wake up to the sun setting, and I’m feeling a little better. I must’ve not have been sleeping for that long this time because my head isn’t pounding, meaning the painkillers are still in full effect from the last time I was given them.

I turn my head to see who is sitting with me now, and I find Lucas sitting there reading a book. “Please tell me you’re readingTwilight,” I rasp out as I try to sit up.

Lucas closes the book and sets it down before coming to prop a pillow behind my back. “Team Edward all the way.”

I crack a smile even though I really want to laugh. “Would’ve pegged you for Team Jacob.”

He responds with a grin. “How are you feeling,chaparra?” He settles back in his chair.

“Like I could run a marathon,” I say dryly. “How’s Alejo? How did his surgery go?”

“He’s still pretty out of it. Between the surgery and all of his injuries, they’re keeping him somewhat sedated. But the surgery went well. They did some skin grafting in a couple areas, and a lot of the burns will just have to heal on their own, leaving some pretty gruesome scars.”

“So, they’re keeping him knocked out? I’m sure he’ll love that,” I utter under my breath. Alejo would be furious to find out they were knocking him out. It makes him vulnerable.

“You’re right about that. That’s why we instructed them to wean him off of it today. He’ll start to come around.”

“Can I see him?”

He nods. “After you get some food in you. Maybe take a shower.” He scrunches up his nose as if I smell bad.

I roll my eyes at him. “I’m aware that I’m in need of a shower. Thanks,ass,” I sass.

Lucas gets some food brought up for me. Soup again. But I don’t really mind, because I just want to scarf it down so I can get in the shower and go see Alejo. Lucas helps me to the bathroom and offers to help undress me, and I ask if he wants to die. Taking the hint, he leaves me and says he’ll be right outside the door in case I need him. Tells me to yell if I feel faint or dizzy at all.

I peel off the nightgown that I was dressed in while I was out. It’s probably Benita’s because I definitely don’t own any nightgowns. Alejo wouldn’t allow me to order any pajamas of any kind. Not even sexy ones. He likes me either naked or in one of his T-shirts still.

After I shower and finish up in the bathroom, I slip on my robe with my hair only towel dried and exit the bathroom. Lucas is sitting right outside the door like he said he would be. “I’m going to get dressed really quick. We still okay to go?” I ask hopefully.

He nods as he focuses on whatever he’s doing on his phone. “As long as you’re still feeling up for it.”

Whether or not I’m physically okay, I’m seeing Alejo today. I need to see how he is, not just be told. My body feels pretty achy, but I’m okay otherwise. I throw on some joggers and a T-shirt and tell Lucas I’m ready to go.

Apparently, there’s an infirmary on the estate that’s located on the first floor. Lucas tells me that a few of the men on the plane with us survived, only one badly burned. They aimed for the center of the plane, so the pilot and copilot survived with only minor injuries, and one of the guys that was nearest the front survived with severe burns. Also, in addition to the medical team they have on call, they had a surgeon from Tokyo fly in for Alejo’s surgery.

“Just to warn you, Alejo is a horrible patient. He won’t be very pleasant when he starts coming to.”

“I already guessed that. I assume both the Martinez boys are horrible patients,” I tease him.

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