Page 59 of Lost In The Dark

“Sir, we really need to finish the E.C.G. If you could just encourage her to lie back down,” the man, who I was starting to understand was a doctor, asked. Kane just sent him another glare and he instantly stopped talking.

I was so close to crumbling into pieces. I wanted to ask Kane where we were and what had happened. I wanted to dive into his arms and have him hold me, because I knew I’d feel safe there, but I didn’t. I held back and I tried to stay as calm as possible.

“Addy, just try to breathe. They’re coming,” Kane reminded me and I dared a look into his eyes again. He looked worried but he had gentled his features for me, no hint of the terrifying glare he had sent to the people in the room when he entered.

“I’m s-sorry,” I whispered.

“What for, crazy girl?” he asked, with a gentle smile.

“I know you’re b-busy. You sh-should go. I’m okay.”

“I go where you go, remember?”

“Maybe…maybe we c-could ask Asher to have someone else be my protection? I d-don’t want you to be angry with me all the time,” I told him.

“I’m not angry, Addy. I could never be angry with you. I’m just worried.” He reached up and ran his hand over my hair gently. I was even more confused, but before I could ask him why he hated me, the door opened and Asher walked in. He looked between Kane and I and his face paled instantly.

“Kane? What’s going on?”

“They want to do an E.C.G. but she’s terrified,” Kane explained as he stood and looked to my brother. “She was upset and she asked for you and Eli.”

I watched as Kane backed up and moved towards the door. I didn’t like the idea of him leaving me, but then Asher was there, before me.

“Hey sweetheart,” he said gently. He crouched beside me exactly where Kane had been and took my hand.

“Asher,” I whimpered as my tears broke free. “I w-want to go home now, okay?”

“I know you do, but you blacked out on Jordan in the park and we need to find out why before we leave.” I looked to him with confusion. I blacked out? I had never blacked out before, well, except for the time my mom threw a vase at me and knocked me clean out. The man, who still stood over me, stepped closer and I instantly tried to throw myself over the rail of the bed, knowing Asher would catch me and keep me safe.

Asher stood and grabbed me before I went over, cradling me against his chest like I were a child and guiding my head down onto his shoulder. I wrapped my arms around his neck and clung on. I didn’t care how pathetic it made me in that moment. I needed him.

“You need to leave,” Asher barked in the voice he only used with other people, never with his family. “No more men in this room. Find her a female doctor.”

I clung to him and hid my face like the coward I was, until I was sure everyone had left and only we remained.

“Addy, it’s okay. They’re all gone now,” Asher told me gently. I lifted my head and met his eyes.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered again. “I just…I was scared.”

“You don’t need to apologize. But no more being scared, okay? I’m here now. I’ve got you and Eli’s down the hall. We won’t let anyone hurt you.”

“What happened?” I asked.

“Jordan says you winced a little, then just passed out. Your pulse was really slow. Jordan and Kane were terrified your heart would stop. Has anything like that happened before?” he asked as he sat on the edge of the bed and repositioned me so I sat across his lap.

“No, not that I remember.” Of course that didn’t mean much since I had very little memory of the last two years. “Is Jordan okay?”

“He’s in the waiting room. He’s just worried about you. They’d all be here fussing, but the nurse said only one of us could be back here while they’re doing tests.”

“They took my sweater and they…that guy, he was touching me. I just freaked out,” I admitted.

“Of course you did. Anyone would have, even if they hadn’t been through what you have. But we need to get these tests done, Addy. We need to know what caused this so it doesn’t happen again.”

“I don’t think I can. I…” My voice broke and more tears flooded down my face. “I don’t want them to touch me. It’s t-too much. I can’t.” My throat was so tight the last words were little more than a croak, and I was relieved when Asher pulled me against him and hugged me tightly.

“It’s going to be just fine. I’m going to make sure you have a female doctor, and I’m going to stay with you the whole time.We’ll get the tests out of the way, then Eli can come in and drive you crazy with his fussing, okay?”

“You’ll stay with me?” I asked shakily.

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