Page 89 of Her Dom's Secret Past

“When will she wake?”

“Soon. We haven’t given her any more sedation so anytime, you can see she’s coming around. She’ll be rather groggy and confused at first. We’ve upped the painkillers in her IV.”

“Thanks.”

As I watched, he cleaned the soles of her feet. They started bleeding again, but he put a couple of stitches in one of them and seemed satisfied. When he left, I pulled over a chair to her right side, taking her hand where it was cannula free. Both of her wrists had ugly rope burns where she’d been tied. There was blood in a couple of places where she’d obviously pulled and where the rope cut deep into her skin. The more I looked at her, the more depressed I became. I waited silently as people came checked her and went until finally she began to move and groan. A nurse came in and checked her again, staying alongside of her.

At last, she opened her eyes, then her mouth, and then a loud terrifying scream rushed out, filling the room. The nurse leaned over, directly in Anabelle’s line of vision.

“Miss Rowley, you’re in hospital. Just relax. It’s okay. You’re safe.”

Anabelle tossed her head back and forth, silently screaming.

“Miss Rowley, Anabelle. You’re in hospital!”

Guttural sounds issued from her mouth and my heart broke anew with each one. She was flinging her arms about and the nurse was trying to hold her down. I got a tight grip on her hand as she screamed over and over again—a raw animalistic scream.

“Anabelle! You’re safe!”

Anabelle finally focused on the woman in front of her. At last, a ripple of understanding crossed her face as she gave one more visceral shout. Then she stared at the woman in wonder.

“Hos … hospital?”

“Yes. You’re safe now,” she reiterated.

“Safe?” she moaned.

“Yes, Anabelle, very safe. Please relax. Tell me do you have any pain?”

She gave another moan and said, “Yes.”

The nurse injected something into her line and spoke again, “I’ve given you a top-up. That should help with your pain.”

She manage to gasp between groans, “What happened? Sore.”

“You’ve got a few broken bones and bruises, but nothing that won’t heal with some rest and time.”

Anabelle sighed painfully. Then she turned her head and saw me.

“John?”

“Hello, my darling.”

“John.”

“It’s me. You’re safe now.”

One eye was almost shut from the swelling, but tears squeezed out and ran down the side of her face. She peered at me again and then searched around the room as if to reassure herself she truly was in hospital.

She took a huge breath just as Charlie came in with Justin.

“Is she—?” He looked at me in fright.

“She’s going to be okay, Charlie.”

He took one quick glance at her and paled. Justin had tears running down his cheeks and he buried his head on Charlie’s chest.

“Oh, Belle, Belle.”