Page 29 of Desire

Chapter 21

The first thingI noticed upon waking was that everything hurt. I wasn’t in total agony anymore, but shit still hurt. I opened my eyes and blinked, trying to bring the tiled ceiling into focus. I lay there for a minute gathering my bearings. Then I remembered where I was and what had happened. I didn’t know how long I’d been asleep, but if the pain I was in was any indication, it hadn’t been long enough. Damn, I hated hospitals. The last time I had been here was when I’d given birth to Alex. Based on how I currently felt, I had a feeling I wasn’t going anywhere any time soon. Damn.

“Hey beautiful.”

I slowly turned my head, wincing slightly, and spotted Connor sitting in the darkened corner. I drank in the sight of him looking cramped and uncomfortable in the too small chair. He was wearing the same clothes he’d been in when he was here before, and he had a crease in his cheek where it looked like he’d been sleeping on it. Even still, he was the most handsome man I’d ever met.

“How long have I been asleep?” I asked, groggily, my voice scratchy.

Connor moved the chair closer to the bed and reached for my hand. I’m not sure if he was trying to comfort me or himself. “About ten hours. It’s 4:00 in the afternoon now. You needed the sleep so I didn’t want to disturb you. Are you feeling any better?”

I took inventory of my aches and pains and realized that, while sore, I wasn’t in the agonizing pain I’d been in when I first arrived at the hospital or even when Connor first came in.

“Let’s just say I won’t be doing any jumping jacks anytime soon.” I laughed. “But, seriously, I don’t feel like crying anymore, so I’ll take it. I have a small headache and my side hurts, but I could be dead so I guess in the grand scheme of things, that’s not so bad.”

Fury unlike any I’d ever seen before flashed across Connor’s face. “I’ll kill whoever did this to you, Bridget. I promise you.”

Shock had me immobilized. I could see by the look on his face that he was entirely serious. I was both horrified and yet strangely filled with awe that someone would go to such extreme lengths for me. I wasn’t even sure how to respond. I was saved from saying anything by a knock on the door. A young nurse poked her head in.

“Oh,” she smiled brightly, “you’re awake. I hate to bother you, but there is a detective here who would like to speak with you, Ms. Carter.”

I exchanged a glance with Connor and hoped he behaved himself.

“Please show him in.”

She opened the door wider and, with a wave of her hand, ushered Daniel in. He looked a little haggard, like sleep eluded him. He was still an extremely good-looking man, but my body didn’t come alive like it did with Connor.

“Bridget. Black.” He inclined his head. “I needed to ask you some questions about what happened last night. I might have a lead from an eyewitness who saw someone run out of the building about the same time as your assault, but I still want to hear what went down in your words.”

He pulled out his notepad and pen that always seemed to be with him. “What time did you arrive home last night?”

“I can’t remember the exact time, but I finished up at the store around 8:30. I took my time walking home so I probably got there around 9:00.”

He scribbled in his notebook. “And what happened when you got to your house?”

I told my story, and Daniel took numerous notes. Connor cursed occasionally in the background, but I kept my eyes on Daniel, not wanting to see the expression on Connor’s face. A churning began in my belly as nausea hit me when I remembered the terror I felt not knowing if I was about to be raped. I took deep calming breaths, trying not to have a panic attack.

“He ran out of the house, and the two officers arrived shortly afterward. You know what happened after that.”

Daniel had briefly stopped writing in his notebook during my retelling, especially when I got to the part where the intruder had been carrying me back to my room. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Connor's fists clenching and unclenching.

“Do you remember seeing anything or noticing anything about the intruder? Any fragrances like cologne? Could you tell how tall he was? What about his voice? Did he say anything? Don’t think any detail is too small.”

I didn’t want to remember what had happened or what could have happened. I just wanted it all to go away. But I knew that wouldn’t help anyone, so I thought back to last night and tried to remember any possible detail. “I didn’t notice any special smells, and I can only tell you he was taller than me, but not by much I don’t think. He didn’t say anything until I head-butted him and possibly broke his nose. He started swearing. Other than that, there’s nothing I can remember. I was too focused on not puking from the pain that I didn’t pay attention as he ran out the door. I’m sorry I can’t be more helpful.”

Daniel put his notebook and rose. “You’ve been very helpful. I’m going to follow up on the possible lead and see if it goes anywhere. I’d like to talk with you more a little later. Can I stop by your house in a few days and speak with you?”

Before I could even speak, Connor butted in. “She won’t be returning home any time soon.”

“Oh, and where will she be?”

“With me.”

My gaze bounced back and forth between the two men who continued to stare each other down. It was almost comical to watch the non-verbal communication between the two. Connor’s chest was puffed out and his arms were crossed over it. As though something specific passed between the men, Daniel’s expression changed slightly. He broke eye contact with Connor, and if I hadn’t been looking at him I would have missed the small nod. He then turned back to look at me.

“Well then, I know where I can reach you when I need to speak with you next. I’ll be in touch sometime in the next few days.”

He moved to the door and opened it to leave. He paused, and turned his head toward me again before speaking softly. “I’m really glad you’re safe, Bridget.”

Before I could thank him, he quickly walked out the door, closing it behind him, leaving me feeling like I’d just lost a friend.

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