Page 105 of Her Dom's Secret Past

Chapter Twenty-Nine

John

I made sure Anabelle was in bed early after dressing her wounds. It was the first time I’d seen the burns and I had trouble keeping my hands steady as I rubbed on the cream. She didn’t stop whimpering as I put it on and it reinforced exactly how happy I was that I’d filled Riley full of slugs.

The next day the gang arrived and took charge. I realized at that moment that I’d been living on a knife’s edge since Charlie had rung to tell me Anabelle had been kidnapped. I’d only had about fifteen hours’ sleep since it happened, and now it was over, I kind of deflated. Charlie must have seen through my bravado. He and Justin rail-roadedme into sitting with Anabelle while Justin directed operations. It showed how drained I was—I let him without a murmur of resistance.

Anabelle’s eyes still were red, swollen, and bloodshot. The bruises on her face, and the rest of her body, were out in full-force. I almost wept every time I saw her, at every gasp of pain she made as she moved. I’d given my life if I could have traded places with her, but all I could do was care for her like the precious gift she was. I made sure, even though she didn’t like it, that she took the pain meds—at least for the next few days and then she could take Tylenol. But at the moment, it didn’t make sense for her to try and live with the agony that I knew she was in.

We set her on one of the sun lounges under cover to make sure the sun didn’t hurt her eyes. Becky put a big floppy hat on Anabelle’s head to be on the safe side, and I made sure there were pillows and a table within reach of her. It made me remember when we met and how she’d cared for me. Now it was my turn.

About twelve thirty, there was a knock at the door and I told Charlie I’d go because I was sure it would be Dean Cooper. I was right. He had a large bunch of flowers and we shook hands.

“Hi,Pommy. How is she?”

“Come and see for yourself.”

“Can’t stay, Have my wife in the car. I promised I take her out for lunch.”

I glanced past him and saw a woman’s silhouette in the car.

“Bring her in. We have a few friends here for a barbecue. They all wanted to reassure themselves that Ana was okay, so come in please.”

“I don’t want to intrude.”

I grinned and said, “I intruded on your op, feel free to intrude on my lunch.”

“Since you put it that way,” he said and laughed.

He was still laughing as he went to the car and spoke with his wife. A moment later, they were both at the open doorway.

“This is Jen, my wife. Jen, this is thePommy.”

“Hi, Jen, call me John. Most people, except your husband, that is, do.”

With them both laughing at my comment, I led them outside to the others. Charlie took charge and within a minute had Jen eating out of his hand. Dean sat alongside Anabelle after being introduce all round.

“I’m very sorry for what happened to you.”

“Thank you for rescuing me. John told me what happened.”

“Yeah, well I think I gave thePommyhere a hard time, but I’m glad he was on my side. You’re a hard-arse,Pommy, but I’d be exactly the same if the circumstances were reversed.”

“You didn’t do too badly yourself, Slick.”

Truthfully, I admired the man. I didn’t know that I would have been as, shall we say, as accommodating as he was by getting saddled with me. I’d be proud to have him by my side in a fight. Dean smiled at Anabelle.

“I’ve got a present for you. John told me you’d lost this during your kidnapping.”

She looked askance at him as he put a hand in his pocket and pulled out her bracelet. She went to take it and then squirmed back in her seat. I knew what was going through her head. She was likely sure Dean had found it in the factory, sure one of the fuckers had taken it. I didn’t blame her. I’d already decided to buy her a new one. Dean must have seen her fear in her face.

“It’sokay, Anabelle. It was found in the car that they used. The police think it must have come off when you were struggling.”

She seemed very relieved as she held out her wrist, but I took it instead.

“Wait until your wrists have healed, dearest. It may rub against the scabs and open up the wounds again.”

“Oh, of course, I didn’t think. Okay.”

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