Page 52 of Dearest Protector

And knowing he was here, willing me to keep breathing, was more comforting than he’d probably ever know.

“Thank fuck! I can hear the sirens,” the voice informed me.

In moments, I could hear them, too, as they came closer and closer.

Rather than relief, the only thing I felt was sheer terror.

I needed that voice.

I needed this man’s reassuring presence.

“Don’t. Go,” I said again as I tried to lift a hand to reach for the male form towering over me.

He instantly took my hand and threaded our fingers together. “I’m going to need to fall back so they can do their work. But I won’t leave, Ariel.”

“Promise!” I insisted in a weak voice.

“I promise,” he said huskily as he squeezed my hand gently. “I’ll be right here. Let them take care of you. I’ll stay close.”

Suddenly, the paramedics were there.

Finally, I closed my eyes, and the mystery man let go of my hand as EMS took over.

Organized chaos ensued, but I sensed that even though I could no longer hear him, that my voice of reason hadn’t gone far.

God, I really hoped I was right and he hadn’t left me…

I sat up, gasping for breath as I awakened.

Shit! Shit! Shit!

I swiped my hand over my face, trying to wipe the dream about what had happened after I’d been hit by that taxi out of my memory.

I took a deep breath.

And then another.

No pain.

I was awake, and I could breathe perfectly normally.

It had been so long since I’d dreamed about what had happened that day.

Why now?

I ran my hands up and down my arms, suddenly cold and afraid, even though I had no reason to be anymore.

I slowly calmed myself, waiting until my pulse had stopped hammering in my ears so I could think clearly.

Yes, I knew a supposed bystander had been on the scene with me right after the accident.

He’d helped stop the bleeding by cutting up his own shirt and bandaging some of my wounds that were bleeding profusely.

I’d had so little blood left in my body after that initial bleeding that the Good Samaritan had probably helped save my life.

He’d kept me calm during my confusion. He’d kept me from hurting myself even worse by keeping me still. The taxi driver had given a thorough statement about the events that had followed the impact.

The police had helped me fill in the blanks as much as possible with the driver’s testimony.

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