Page 42 of Secrets & Desires
She dropped the hot coffee and turned and ran. The intruder was between her and the staircase, so she darted deeper into the corridors, looking for any other way out. She heard him behind her, could hear his breathing as he ran after her. She weaved and slammed through any open door she found until, as she opened a final door, she realized she had run outofluck.
In a second, she felt him grab her shoulders and pull her back towards him. Livia screamed, kicked, and struggled with her attacker, determined to fight until either she escaped or hekilledher.
He was strong, too strong, and when he slammed his fist into her temple, Livia crumpled to the ground, dazed, terrified, and knowing she could donomore.
She lay on her back and felt her attacker pushing her top up, exposing her abdomen. She saw the flash of the blade once before shepassedout.
ChapterEighteen
“Livia? Livvy, sweetheart,wakeup.”
She could hear Sandor’s voice but was confused. Why was he telling her to wake up? Wasn’t she dead? Her murder had been surprisingly painless, she had to admit, but now her head screeched with agony. She opened her eyes. White light.Blinding.
“Ouch,” she said, and heard Sandor’s relievedchuckle.
“Hello again, beauty. You had usscared.”
“Livia? I’m Dr. Ford. We found you unconscious on the floor below. What happened,mydear?”
Livia blinked and immediately reached down and ran her hand over her stomach. There were no stab wounds. She reached up and touched her temple. Her hand came away bloody. “He chased me and hit me. I think he wanted to kill me…whydidn’the?”
She saw the doctor and Sandor exchange a skeptical glance and felt idiotic. She pushed herself up into a seated position. “Who’s with Nox? If someone tried to kill me, then he’s not safeeither.”
“Amber’s with him, sweetheart. Now, the doc’s going to fix your head right up and the police want to talk toyou,okay?”
“Sure.” Livia felt as if they were humoring her. “Maybethey’llbelieve me.” She couldn’t help the snippiness that flooded her tone. The doctor said nothing but Sandor smiledather.
“It’s not that we don’t believe you. It’s that when I found you downstairs, it clearly looked like you’d fallen and hit your head, is all. There were no signs of a struggle. Are you sure you didn’t just panic? You’re very tired, honey. It’s been a longnight.”
When he put it like that…could she have imagined it? Livia closed her eyes and felt her head spinning. The doctor was cleaning up her head wound. “You won’t even needstitches.”
Livia thanked him. When she and Sandor were alone, she felt tears in her eyes. “I don’t know what to think, San. I was so sure…he had a knife. Isawit.”
Sandor sat on the edge of the gurney and put his arm around her. “Why were you downthere?”
“Coffee. The vending machine on this floor isn’t working. Hey, I remember dropping the cup of coffee when I was being chased.” She looked at him hopefully but he shook his head. “We didn’t find any spilled liquid,honey.”
Fuck.Was she going crazy? “I want to goseeNox.”
“Ofcourse.”
Livia walkeda little unsteadily back to Nox’s room. When she pushed open the door, a shot of jealousy flooded through her when she saw Amber stroking Nox’s forehead. He was awake, and when he saw her, he smiled such a sweet smile that her heartlifted.
“Hey, you. They told me you hadafall.”
Livia smiled at him cautiously, shooting a glance at Amber, who gave up her bedside seat for Livia. “We’ll give you two some space,” she said and took Sandor out of the room, closing the door behind them. Livia leaned over and kissed Nox’smouth.
“You gave me such ascare,baby.”
“I’m sorry, honey. You didn’t answer my question—you hadafall?”
Livia hesitated, not knowing what to tell him, but then nodded. They had more important things to talk about right now. “I’m fine…but, Nox, do you remember what happened before youwereshot?”
She couldn’t help touching the bandage on his head. He caught her hand and pressed it to his face. “I can. We were making love; some creep was watching us. When I was outside, I heard something and went towards it. I saw…something—a figure—and went after them.” He sighed, closing his eyes as she stroked his face. “When you called out, I saw the figure turn towards the sound of your voice and I was so scared he’d come after you. I almost caught up with him, then he—or she—shot me. I remember not knowing if I was a dead man walking—I just wanted to see you one last time so I came backforyou.”
He opened his eyes and met her gaze. “Sweetheart, I was dazed and concussed, but in the moment before I passed out…I saw someone behind you. God…” His expression was guilt-ridden and Livia felt her throatclose.
“He followed us here,” she said softly, “and he attacked me. I didn’tfall. San and the doctor don’t believe me. Who the hell is coming afterus,Nox?”
