Page 253 of Enemies

“I’m alright,” he rasps. “This was intentional. They went after her as retaliation for my actions this week.”

My fingers thread through his, and Harrison’s expression fills with guilt and disgust as he stares at my clean hands and his dirty ones.

A doctor emerges from the double doors, stopping in front of us. “Are you her family?”

“Yes,” Harrison says immediately.

The doctor eyes him up and down. “Husband? Brother?—“

“We’re everything she has.”

The doctor relents, tucking a clipboard under his arm. “She has suffered significant blood loss, but her condition is stable.”

Next to me, Harrison exhales hard. “I want her transported to my villa as soon as it’s safe for her to be transported.”

“She should remain under observation for forty-eight hours. That requires staff, equipment?—“

“Fine. I’ll take it all. Spare no expense.” He cuts a look toward the door, then back at me. “I don’t want her alone here.”

“We could have security stay?—“

“No. It’s not enough.”

The grim look on his face makes me realize how agonizing this is for him. He’s pale, his lips thinned, eyes haunted. He knows this is bad, and could’ve been worse.

“I want to see her.” Harrison looks past the doctor toward the doors, seeming to think better of charging through without permission. “Can I?”

“In a few minutes. I’ll show you to her recovery room.”

It’s midafternoon by the time Harrison sees Leni and makes arrangements to have her transported back to the villa later today.

Ash heads for the car, Harrison heading for his Ferrari.

I hold up a finger to tell my security to wait for me as I cross to Harrison.

“Should you drive?” I ask, leaning in the driver’s window.

He lifts his gaze to mine. “Yes. I’m all right.”

I nod, but before I can pull back, he lays his hand over mine. “Thank you. For being here.”

I swallow hard. “Of course.”

“No, not ‘of course.’ You’ve been keeping an eye on my family. All my family,” he goes on, meaning Leni.

I pull my fingers away. “What can I say? They grew on me.”

Our gazes hold as if neither of us wants to pull back from this shared connection. I’m not sure who needs it more.

Finally, I turn back and slide into the backseat of the car next to Ash.

This time when security asks where we’re headed, I say, “The villa.”

Ash cocks his head. “You want me to go another round with my brother?”

“You were barely conscious for the last one,” I point out. “And yes, you’re coming.”

His normally dancing blue eyes are dull, but he squeezes my shoulder. “I’ve had worse.”

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