Page 15 of His Prize

So, I holstered it before dashing toward the Town Car.

“Bonnie!”

6

Bonnie

It hurtto open my eyes. The blinding lights above me made me wince, and the whole of my body felt as if it were ready to explode. Beeps sounded in the distance while the smell of disinfectant filled my nostrils. Damn it. I felt like I’d been hit by a truck.

“Here, drink this.”

Something danced against my lips, and I parted them. I focused long enough to realize a straw sat against my tongue, and the clear, crisp smell of cold water pulled me from my trance. My hands trembled as I started sipping, then gulping. Then, chugging until the cup was empty.

“More,” I croaked.

“Give me a second.”

The female voice sounded familiar, and it wasn’t until I finally turned my head that I realized who it was. Ash was in the room with me. There was a chair sitting next to the bed I laid against, and as all of the white in the room finally came into focus, I figured out where I was.

“Why am I in the—?”

Ash put the straw back into my mouth. “Drink, I know you’re parched. We’ll talk once you’re done.”

I gulped down the water and studied as much of the room as I could. On her chair sat a romance novel, fanned out on the page she didn’t want to lose. There was a brace around my neck that felt like it was trying to choke me. Like Israel’s arm as he had guided me out to his car.

Where’s Israel?

Ash removed the straw from my mouth. “Here, you got some dribble.” She wiped her knuckles against my cheek as my eyes fell closed again.

“What happened?” I asked.

“You got into a pretty rough car accident.”

“An accident?”

“Mhm. A truck sped into the intersection and T-boned your car.”

I paused. “Gary. Where’s—where’s Gary?”

“Your driver?”

My eyes opened. “Where is he?”

Ash’s face fell. “He, uh… he’s still unconscious. In the ICU.”

My lower lip trembled. “I don’t remember a thing.”

She placed her hand on my shoulder. “And you probably won’t. You’re on a great deal of pain medication right now. I’m shocked you were able to put together where you are so quickly.”

“Did something happen to my neck?”

She picked up her book. “Your neck is braced for cautionary purposes.”

“Where’s Israel?”

She sat down. “Haven’t seen him since we got to the hospital.”

“But—but he’s okay? He’s not hurt or anything?”

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