Page 97 of Her Dom's Secret Past

“When can I go home?”

“Mm. Let’s see. Today’s Friday. I’d like to keep you in tomorrow. Let’s say unless your condition changes, you can go home on Sunday.”

“When will she have to report to her own doctor?” I asked.

“We’ll give you a discharge summary for your own doctor. You’ll go home with cream for the burns and the bruising, some medication for pain, antibiotics, and unless you feel unwell or hurt too much, there isn’t any need to until you get your stitches out. As well, you need to have a couple of X-rays over the next few weeks for your face, but we’ll set them up this end before you’re discharged.”

He nodded to us both and left the room.

Anabelle contemplated that and then said, “When do I hear what happened?”

“A police inspector, Inspector Clemson, will be coming in later. He wants to interview you and me. I’ve written out a report for him. Do you want me to read it to you?”

When she nodded, I pulled them from my jacket pocket where I’d put the reports. I looked at them both and put the one for Clemson on the table.

“Why two?”

“That’s the one for the Inspector. This is the one I sent to my old bosses.”

“Is that the full story?”

“Yes.”

“Then that’s the one I want to hear.”

I understood her exactly. Quietly, I read her the agency’s report. She didn’t interrupt and when I reached the end, she stared at me in disbelief.

“You went over everyone’s head and got your old boss to reinstate you?”

“Sort of. Mind you, Cooper was in charge at the scene, but I wasn’t going to risk your life for anything, Ana. I didn’t care if the whole police department thought I was a rightarsehole, all I cared about was you.”

“What did you leave out?”

“Nothing.”

“John.”

How the hell did she know? I shook my head. I wasn’t proud of the fact that Cooper had to stop me firing.

“Please, John.”

Hesitantly, I told her about the final few minutes. She gave a very self-satisfied sigh.

“I never thought I’d be so glad you killed people, but I am, I actually am.”

“I don’t want to ever do that again. I meant it when I told you I was through with that life.”

“I know you meant it, but I’m very glad you could pull enough strings because I honestly thought I was dead.”

I wanted to hug her tight and kiss her but knew I couldn’t. I had to be satisfied with kissing her hand. She ran her other hand across my head and tried to lift it.

“My lips aren’t too sore,hun.”

She pursed them carefully as I raised my head and I kissed them ever so gently.

“Ana, do you feel any better?”

“Not really. I mean, I do because it’s over but I hurt so much, dearest. Everywhere hurts.”