Page 111 of Broken Daddy

His lips twitched. Surprisingly, this rather strange conversation was helping clear her mind of panic.

“All right, what’s your favorite food?”

“Croissants,” she said.

“Yeah? All right. Croissants it is. You say it, I take charge and you don’t have to think at all. You just have to obey me. Now, breathe. Good girl. Everything is going to be all right.”

She shook her head as another sob worked its way through her. She didn’t see how. It couldn’t possibly be all right.

Hayes looked over as someone entered the room. Another nurse. A woman this time, with a concerned look on her face.

“Hi, I’m Anna. I’ve just come to check on Devi. Her heart has been racing a bit hard. I know it can be a shock coming out of surgery like this.”

“Surgery? I had surgery?” she asked as the nurse moved around.

“Yes, honey. Don’t worry. It’s normal to forget things like that. But you had to have surgery on your arm and the doctor also stitched your cheek.”

She could feel the panic rising again. There was no way she could do this.

But Devi knew she shouldn’t rely on Hayes to take over. What happened when he left?

Just for a short time. It might be the only way she got through.

“How bad is it?” she asked.

The nurse gave her a look filled with sympathy, which told her everything she needed to know.

Just hold on, Devi. Things could be worse.

“The doctor will be in soon to talk to you. He’s a man, are you okay with him in there?”

“Um, yes. I’ll be okay, thanks for warning me.” She was feeling calmer now.

She left and Devi looked up at Hayes. “How bad?”

“It will be all right.”

“Hayes,” she said firmly. “Don’t placate me and don’t lie to me. How. Bad?”

“Bad, baby. The knife damaged tendons and ligaments. You’re going to need physical therapy. Maybe another surgery on your arm.”

Oh God.

She thought she might vomit. Before she could decide if she was going to throw up or faint, the doctor stepped into the room.

“It’s good to see you awake, Devi. How are you feeling?”

How did he think she was feeling?

“Right,” the doctor said with more sympathy.

Awesome.

“I’m sure you’re aware that you came in with knife wounds. The one to your face was superficial, but it is likely to scar. I gave your fiancé a couple of names of plastic surgeons who can help fix that.”

Fiancé? Who was that? Then she noticed he was looking at Hayes. Wait. Hadn’t Mac called him that too? She pushed those thoughts aside. That hardly mattered right now.

What did matter was concentrating on what the doctor said. She thought she only caught every second or third word. But the gist of it was that her arm was fucked.