Page 54 of Ensnared
I swallowed, my throat dry and scratchy. “Better, I think.” I hesitated, glancing around the room. “Where’s my family?”
“They waited as long as they could,” Colson replied, his voice calm, almost detached. “But it was getting late, and they needed to get home. They’ll be here first thing tomorrow.”
I nodded, though a strange unease settled in my chest. “You didn’t have to stay,” I murmured, my eyes searching his face for some sign of what he was really thinking.
“I wanted to.” His response was immediate, firm. He reached out, taking my hand in his. His grip was gentle, but there was an intensity in his gaze that made my heart skip. “You’re my fiancée, Josephine. It’s my responsibility to make sure you’re okay.”
Responsibility. The word hung between us like a weight, pressing down on the small space that separated us. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to his presence here, something unspoken that simmered just beneath the surface.
“I’m sorry if I worried you,” I said softly, trying to ease the tension I felt radiating from him.
Colson shook his head, his thumb brushing lightly over the back of my hand. “You don’t need to apologize. What happened wasn’t your fault.” His voice was steady, but there was a sharpness to it, an edge that made me wonder what exactly he was holding back.
“What did the doctors say?” I asked, hoping to shift the conversation, even though I already knew the basics.
“They’re keeping you overnight as a precaution,” Colson explained, his tone returning to that controlled calm that I was beginning to associate with him. “They’ve done all the tests, and everything looks good, but they want to monitor you a bit longer.”
I nodded again, the ache in my head making it difficult to focus on anything other than the pain. “Thank you… for staying,” I said, the words feeling inadequate but necessary.
Colson’s lips curved into a faint smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.” He squeezed my hand gently before releasing it, leaning back in his chair. “You should rest. I’ll be here if you need anything.”
The room fell into a comfortable silence, but my mind was anything but quiet. I couldn’t help but replay the events of the day over and over again, trying to make sense of what had happened and why. Vaughn’s anger, Simone’s outburst, the fall—none of it sat right with me probably because it wasn’t a fall…I was pushed.
I would wait to reveal that little tidbit to Colson for a few days and then address it. Someone had it out for me. Our wedding was less than two weeks away and I had so much to do. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to get anything done at all.
The next day, as I lay in the hospital bed, the door swung open, and a wave of relief washed over me as my parents and Logan stepped inside. My mother’s eyes were brimming with tears, while my father offered a small, comforting smile. Logan, on the other hand, looked as worried as I felt.
“Oh, sweetheart,” my mother said, rushing to my side and taking my hand. “We were so scared.”
“I’m okay, Mom,” I assured her, squeezing her hand. “Just a bump on the head.”
My father nodded, though his eyes scanned me as if assessing every inch for further injuries. “You gave us quite a scare, Joey.”
Logan stood back for a moment, his arms crossed, but when our eyes met, he stepped closer. “How are you feeling?”
“Better, now that you’re here.” I tried to smile but winced as the knot on my head throbbed. “It’s good to see you all.”
“We can’t stay long,” my father said apologetically. “We both have work, but Logan’s going to stay with you.”
“Thanks, Dad.” I knew how busy they were, and the fact that they came at all meant the world to me.
After a few more minutes of gentle reassurances and promises to check in later, my parents said their goodbyes. As they left, Logan took the chair beside my bed, his expression softening now that we were alone.
“I took half the day off,” he said, trying to sound casual. “Figured I could hang around and make sure you’re all right.”
“I’m glad,” I admitted, feeling the weight of the situation settle in. “Logan, something happened. I was pushed.”
Logan’s expression darkened, and he leaned in closer. “Pushed? By who?”
“I don’t know,” I whispered, my voice trembling slightly. “But I didn’t just fall. Someone was there.”
Logan’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, he looked like he wanted to storm out and find whoever did this. Instead, he took a deep breath and nodded. “How did they find me?” I asked, needing to know.
“When you didn’t show up for lunch, I went up to your office on the forty-fifth floor,” Logan explained, his voice calm but with an edge of tension. “Colson saw me and knew about our plans. When I told him you never arrived, he sent security looking for you. They found you on the landing of the forty-fourth floor and called an ambulance.”
I closed my eyes, trying to piece it all together. The memory of falling was hazy, but I could still feel the force that pushed me.
Logan reached out and took my hand, his grip firm. “We’ll figure this out, I promise.”
