Page 13 of Rhys

“We’re not going anywhere. Not until you tell me what the hell is going on. But first, you’re going to get your ass back in bed so the doctor can come check you out.”

“I’m not going back to bed.”

“Yes, you are.”

Despite the sling and her current state of undress, Vanessa couldn’t help but to pop a hip and raise a brow “No. I’m not.”

“Goddamn it, Vanessa. Will you please just get into the fucking—”

“You’re not listening!” Her elevated voice echoed off the stark white walls. “If I stay here, I’m dead. Please, Rhys.” She tried her hand at begging. “I swear, I will read you in on what I know once we’re someplace safe.”

The infuriating man pinched his lips together, his hands in tight, white-knuckled fists by his sides. Vanessa watched and waited as he drew in a slow deep breath before letting it out at a snail’s pace.

“Fine,” he bit out harshly. “We’ll go. But then you’re going to—”

“Tell you everything.” She swallowed. “Got it.”

Glancing down at her attire, he muttered something unintelligible and then, “Wait here.”

He disappeared into the hallway, leaving her standing alone in the middle of her hospital room. Minutes later he was back, a set of clean blue scrubs in his hands.

“Here.” He held them out for her to take. “Can you, uh… I mean, do you need any—”

“Help? No.” She shook her head as she balanced the folded garments in one hand. “Pretty sure I can handle it but thank you.”

“I’ll wait out here while you change.”

The relief in his eyes almost left her smiling, but as she shut the bathroom door behind her and began to carefully ease the sling’s strap from behind her head, Vanessa couldn’t help but think of a time when he would’ve done just aboutanythingto see her naked.

And therein lay the problem. It was bad enough she’d had to live with the memories of what she’d chosen to throw away. But actually seeing him again…being in the sameroomas him again…

This is so much harder than I ever thought it would be.

The one thing Vanessa wanted more than anything in the entire world was right there, on the other side of that door. But it didn’t matter because Rhys didn’t want her. Not anymore.

Andthatwas worse than any other form of torture her enemies had doled out in the past.

You made that bed a long time ago, Ness. Nothing you can do now but lay in it.

Ignoring the twinges of pain in her wounded shoulder, Vanessa set about laying the sling across the top of the small, wall-mounted sink before slipping the gown completely off. Her underwear had apparently been cut away during triage, so she had no other choice for now but to go commando.

Still weak from the trauma her body had been put through, as well as the residual effects of the anesthesia and pain killers, the task of getting dressed wasn’t easy.

Vanessa felt weak in the knees, her hands trembling in their attempt to keep hold of the pants’ elastic waistband as she pulled them up over her thighs and hips. With her teeth and her good hand, she managed to tie the thin drawstring well enough the too-big pants wouldn’t fall to the ground.

The scrub top was a bit trickier give her injury, but like everything else, Vanessa powered through and got the damn thing on. Reluctantly, she picked up the sling and repositioned her bum arm securely in place.

A quick glance in the mirror stopped her in her tracks. Lordy, she looked like hell. Messy hair, pale skin, and dark circles beneath her eyes…

No wonder he didn’t want to help me get dressed.

Accepting of the fact that she wouldn’t win any beauty pageants anytime soon, Vanessa drew in a stealing breath and opened the door. As promised, Rhys was still standing exactly where she’d left him, his gaze turning to hers as she stepped back into the room.

He gave her an assessing glance. “You good?”

“Yeah.” She forced a small smile. “I’ll be better once we’re away from this place.”

“We’d better go before Joy comes back.”

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