Page 21 of Finally Forever
“Where is my father?”
“Excusez-moi?” the doctor says and looks to the man and woman for the answer.
I direct the question to them. “Who are you? Do you work for my father?” My voice weakens each time I speak. It’s frustrating as hell.
The monitor hooked up to my heart shows my fluster with faster beeping sounds.
“Please, Sebastian. Relax.” The doctor touches my shoulder. “You are safe and under protection.”
“What does that mean?” I glare at the man and woman who, apart from the muscular guy, do not look like protection. Feds don’t dress that way, not the ones I’ve known or seen. I may hire someone like the man, but the presence of this young woman baffles me.
The blonde takes hesitant steps toward my bed. “It’s me, Sebastian. Ainsley. Do you remember me?”
I shake my head, and she stops in her tracks, tears welling in her eyes. She glances at the tall guy.
He nods and steps to the foot of my bed. “My name is Xavier. I work for you. You hired me as your personal bodyguard. Do you remember me or hiring me?”
“No.” I look to the doctor for answers, my insides on high alert, my instincts urging me to run. If I left my father, he won’t stop until he finds me and punishes me for my betrayal through death. No one leaves the family.
“Amnesia is normal and, in most cases, temporary,” the doctor says. “The best way to regain your memories is to stay calm, give your body and brain time to heal, and return to a familiar routine. Familiar places and people will help.”
“How long will this last?” I ask.
“A week? Two? Longer? It’s different for each person. As I said, familiarity is key.”
I dig deep and suppress my emotions, using the control I learned when growing up. “Nothing here is familiar.”
He nods. “I understand. As soon as you’ve recovered enough to be released, you are free to go wherever you please.”
Free? As long as my father walks the earth, I’ll never be free. “Where’s my phone?”
I need to call for back-up. Nathan is the only person I trust to do that.
“You can’t call anyone. It isn’t safe,” the blonde says.
I shoot her a poisonous glare. Who is she to tell me what I can and can’t do?
She recoils—actually recoils—from my look. The big black guy addresses the doctor, “May we have a moment alone with him?”
I tense. “No way. I don’t know you. I sure as shit don’t trust you.” And I’m in no condition to fight or defend myself. Fuck. I’m powerless like this.
The black guy raises his hands, showing he means me no harm. “Anatolia.”
He says my mother’s name. A name I don’t say unless it’s in code to alert me this person is a trusted confidant. Few people are given this name, which means this man knows me. I trusted him enough to share with him something I’ve only ever shared with a few people.
I swallow deep in my aching throat and hold his gaze.
He nods in understanding and removes a phone from his back pocket. “I have your phone. Before you use it, I need to inform you about your life now, if you’ll allow me.”
Respect. This is a man I would hire, and he knows my mother’s name. I tune into my instincts. They’ve never steered me wrong. Can I trust this man? My gut saysyes.
“I’ll speak with you, but only you.”
The blonde’s hand flies to her heart.
“It’s okay. It’ll be okay,” Xavier assures her.
Tears stream down her face, her heartache etched in her features. A pinch of regret tugs at my heart but is gone in an instant. This is not a woman I would have around me. Ever. She reeks of innocence, normalcy, and weakness.NothingI would ever invite into my life.
