Page 43 of Concealed Deception

Tony, I now recognize, grumbles something incomprehensible then huffs, and I hear the door open—or close.

I wait for the voices to return, and when none do, I’m left with the obnoxious beeping filling my eardrums.

I lie in what can only be a hospital bed, wondering when my body’s going to allow me the chance to properly wake the fuck up.

After overhearing that conversation, I need to see Xander.I’m not letting the possibility of him being dead be an option.I couldn’t care less about my need to heal right now.

I hear my door open once more.“Vince, how is she?”It’s Lacey.

This voice I’m grateful for.Hopefully, this time, if I try hard enough, I’ll wake up.

“Still the same.”His voice holds sincerity, almost like he’s upset that I’m in here too.

“I brought you coffee.You really should take a break.Nothing will happen to her here.It might do you some good.”

I internally laugh.I think Vince might be as stubborn as Tony when it comes to protecting Xander’s property.

“Um, did you hear that?Did she make a noise?”Lacey’s frantic voice comes closer to the bed.Her warm hand holds mine and squeezes tight.I try with everything I’ve got to squeeze back.

“Vince, Vince, she’s waking up.She squeezed my hand.Call the doctor or nurse and tell them to get in here, quick.”She sounds relieved.

“Ava, wake up, hon.You have to.”She keeps encouraging me to squeeze her hand.I can feel it this time.I notice the movement in my fingers and my body becomes more alert, as if I’m waking up from a deep sleep.

My eyes slowly flicker open, adjusting to the light.When I’m able to focus, my heart rate flares up, and I get the fright of my life.With a raspy voice, I address the elephant in the room.“Lacey, what the hell did you do to your hair?”

She has gone from having a highlighted blond pixie cut to a brunette with long wavy hair.

Her laughter fills the room.“If that’s what we’re leading with then welcome back, babe.”

“Lacey,” I scold through my husky voice.

“I did it to help you.We had a plan, but that doesn’t matter now that you’re here and we’re both safe.”

“You look kind of like… me.It’s scary.”We both laugh at the absurdity.

The nurse comes into the room, followed by Vince, shaking her head at the two of us.She observes me, writes in my chart, and reassures everyone I’m fine, then she leaves again.

With Lacey’s hair as a distraction, I turn to my friend and ask her my many questions, since she’s not my personal bodyguard or bound to secrecy like everyone seems to be.

“Why am I here, Lacey?I only remember hurting my shoulder, and maybe bumping my head when I fell.What happened afterwards?”We lock eyes and I see the truth being hidden.“The truth, Lacey.”

“Okay, fine.You were in a bad way when they brought you in.It was more than your shoulder, Ava.They injected you with drugs and you were dehydrated and malnourished.You’ve been in and out of consciousness for days due to mental trauma and exhaustion.”

“Okay.”I let that sink in a moment.“What about Xander?”I wait.No one answers, so I raise my voice and demand someone tell me what happened to him.“Someone was in here earlier, talking to Tony.I heard something about him losing blood and I remember Vince being covered in it.Where the hell is Xander?I swear, if I don’t get answers, I’ll rip all of your heads off.”

“Now wouldn’t he love to hear you say that?You really are made for each other.”A feminine voice comes from the doorway.

“Camille.”I suddenly feel guilty for the way I treated her when we were last together.“I—”

“Save it, Ava.I’m fine.It’s water under the bridge.Listen to me, okay?Your fire matches his.Together, you have the power for greatness.He’s not going to let you out of his sight, darling, for that mere fact.All I’ll tell you is that he’ll be fine, and when he comes to, he’ll be pleased to see you’re doing as you’re told in here.”Her features hold a cheekiness to them.There’s a sparkle of hope in her eyes and the tilt of her lip is definitely a suggestive one.

“I appreciate what you’re saying, but I’ll be more at ease if I can see him.I need to see that he’s okay, Camille, not hear it.What I saw in that room, what I did…” I trail off.Nothing is going to take away the vision of Xander’s near lifeless body lying in a pool of blood until I can see that he’s okay for myself.

“I’ll see what I can do.In the meantime, you need to know a few things.One, your aunt is on her way.Two, I’m Xander’s aunt and William’s sister.I’ve been under his protection this whole time, not working for him—that was all a cover for your benefit.I want you to know that I don’t hold any grudges over what happened.The bastard deserved what he got.Actually, I’m disappointed he didn’t suffer.”

Vince comes over to her, wrapping her in his arms.“He suffered, babe.Ava’s plan worked perfectly.”He kisses her head.“Let’s leave her to rest, yeah?She hasn’t been awake for long.”He pulls her toward the chair he was in and sits her on his lap.

Huh, interesting.

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