Page 88 of The Desperate Warrior

The effects of the Midazolam had mostly worn off, but she was still tired. She exhaled slowly, watching Brock’s face for any sign of movement.

Finally, he stirred.

She shot to her feet, instantly at his side. A second later, he groaned and turned his head toward her.

“Hey,” he rasped.

Jules leaned over him, gently brushing his hair from his forehead. Tears rushed to her eyes. “I’m here. You’re okay.” She needed to say it out loud so she could make herself believe it.

He blinked several times as if trying to focus. “What … what happened?”

Brock having a lapse of memory was to be expected. Propofol was known as the amnesia drug and was commonly used for procedures because patients typically didn’t remember the procedure or anything that was said during it.

Her throat tightened. “You were injected with a drug called propofol.” Her voice cracked. “You saved my life. Asher tried to kill me, and you rushed in and stopped him at the last second. He injected you instead of me.”

His face tensed as he processed her words. Then, a flash of recognition pinged through his dark eyes. “That’s right. I shot him.”

“He’s dead,” she said flatly, grateful that he could no longer hurt her again. First, Steve Randall and then Asher Winslow. Jules never could’ve imagined that she had two people out to get her at the same time.

It was a crazy, sadistic world.

“The needle in my arm,” he said slowly. “I remember feeling like I was floating.”

“Yep, that’s an effect of the drug. Luke rushed in on your heels. He called the paramedics and kept you breathing until they got there. You’re going to be okay.”

A sob rose in her throat. “Brock, I’m so sorry I didn’t listen to you about Asher. He was the one who hit me. He killed Alyssa.”

“I know,” Brock said solemnly.

She flinched. “You do?”

“Luke and I were on our way to the airport to drop off the SUV. I just couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right.” He gave her a meaningful look. “I’ve learned to listento that gut instinct over the years. It has saved me on many occasions.”

“And me.” Tears brimmed in her eyes as she smiled at him.

“I kept thinking there was some loose end that needed to be tied up. I tried calling Claire again. This time, she answered. She told me that Asher had fallen in love with one of the nurses at his clinic. That’s why he broke off his engagement. He and the nurse were going to have a baby together.” He met her eyes. “I knew that I had to get to you. I tried calling to warn you.”

She thought back. “I remember getting a call, but Asher silenced it.”

“Luke and I turned around and rushed back as fast as we could.” His voice grew choked. “I barely made it to you in time.”

“But you did make it to me,” she insisted, her voice fierce. “You did.”

He relaxed back against his pillow.

She wiped away the tears trailing down her cheeks. There was more that needed to be said. “Brock, I just want you to know that I love you.”

A slow smile spread across his face. “I love you too.” A lopsided grin tugged at his mouth. “You’ve told me that twice in one day. It’s a record.”

A chortle rose in her throat. “I can see your memory is coming back just fine.”

“Yep. Sure is.” He gave her a searching look. “You know this isn’t going to work.”

Her heart stilled. “What do you mean?” Was he having second thoughts about the two of them? Please, no. She couldn’t handle that.

His expression turned serious. “Me living in Coronado Island. You living here. Us being apart. It’s not going to work.”

A heady relief swelled over her. “I know,” she admitted. “But I also know you need to be near Trevor.”

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