Page 74 of Heart Thief

I bring my hands up to my face and that’s when all my memories come rushing back.

I stare at my heavily bandaged hand for several tense moments, my heart sinking in my chest with each passing second. I can’t stop the tears that roll down my cheeks. “My hand. My hand,” I say, over and over, as though they’re the only words I know.

“It’ll be okay, Mila. It’s going to be all right,” Zane soothes.

“Don’t say that. Nothing is good or okay or all right,” I moan. I shouldn’t talk that way to Zane. He’s only trying to console me. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

He smirks. “Hey, you’re right. This sucks.”

There’s the Zane I know and love. “Thank you,” I say quietly, feeling validated. I don’t want to hear a bunch of consoling words that have no meaning or truth in them.

“Give it to me straight.” I’m still groggy, but I need to know. Right now. “I want to know everything. Don’t sugarcoat it.”

“You had surgery,” Zane says, stroking my arm. “The brunt of the force hit your knuckles. It broke a few bones in your hand that are now held together with wires and pins. The bones should heal without a problem. But you also ruptured a tendon and that’s what the doctor is most worried about. When a tendon is involved it takes longer to return to full hand function. Worst case scenario, full finger movement never returns. That’s probably not the case here, but you should know it’s a possibility. The doctor is hopeful that extensive physical therapy will result in a full recovery.”

“A recovery that means I can function like a normal person or a recovery that means I can play the piano professionally again?”

I can see the sorrow in Zane’s eyes, telling me what he can’t put into words. “It’s too soon to say, Mila. It’s not a yes, and it’s not a no. Time will tell.”

I press my lips together. With sheer will power, I stop my tears and pull myself together. I’m not going to break down with an audience. Not again. The lingering anesthesia and the pain meds are messing with my ability to think clearly. Controlling my emotions is tough.

“Thank you for telling me the truth,” I say, my voice trembling.

Zane reaches out, running his fingertips over my cheek. I love his quiet reassurance.

“I’m so sorry, Mila,” Ryker says, subdued. “I had no idea you were still there. I thought you’d left. I didn’t look before I slammed the door. I didn’t know your hand was there. I didn’t mean for this to happen and I can’t apologize enough. I never wanted anything like this to happen, I swear. It was an accident, a terrible accident. I would never... I would never... do that to you.”

Ryker sounds more like himself again, the spin-doctor politician who can smooth talk his way out of anything. I much prefer this side of him to the cruel-humored slayer of dreams.

Ryker might be a lot of things, but I know he wouldn’t physically harm me on purpose. It’s not how he operates.

I want to lash out and blame him—and I almost do. It’s on the tip of my tongue. I’d like to tear into him and destroy him. But it won’t change anything. What’s done is done. My chest heaves with a long sigh. “I know it was an accident.” I don’t sound very forgiving, but the words have left my lips. They weren’t easy to formulate.

“I’ll cover all of your medical expenses and you’ll have the best physical therapist money can buy,” Ryker says. “You’ll play again, Mila. I know you will. I know it’s your dream, the only thing that truly matters to you.”

The room is dead silent for several beats.

“No, it’s not,” Zane says quietly.

My eyes lock with Zane’s. He knows me, even after the short time we’ve had together.

Ryker flinches like he’s been hit. “You don’t know her like I do.” He can’t help but sound churlish when he speaks to his brother.

“Not now, Ryker,” Zane says firmly.

I close my eyes. I can’t deal with this.It’s too much.

Zane leans in close to me. His hand caresses my forehead, moving the hair out of my eyes. I love the comfort. There are so many things we need to talk about. His silence during Ryker’s accusations spooked me. I know it’s just his way, and I don’t believe anything Ryker said, but I’m still consumed with uncertainty about our relationship and I don’t like it one bit.This is too much.

“She wants more in life. So much more. The piano is not her only dream,” Zane says almost inaudibly, and I wonder if Ryker heard.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about, Zane. You never do.”

Oh, he heard. Even in this tender situation, he can’t stop poking at Zane. Irritation stirs within me, a gathering storm.Too much. I can’t do this.

On the other hand, Zane is reminding me that I have always wanted more in life, that the piano was not my only dream.

He understands me. He’s right. I do have another dream. Love, marriage, children. Having that dream come true revolves around him. It’s ours for the taking. And I want it.

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