Page 8 of Defending Love

Chapter Seven

Dani

A few hours later, Eli walked with me into the rehab facility, his suspicious gaze scanning everything and everyone around us.

After taking the elevator to the second floor, Eli entered a code into a box near security doors—a code I could only assume came from Jack, Mom’s bodyguard.

The doors opened. Jack stood from the chair beside the closed door to Mom’s new room. “Dr. Sinclair. Mr. Rhodes.”

“Mr. Webb,” Eli replied.

“How is she doing?” I asked.

“The move over here from the hospital wore her out.” Jack tipped his chin toward the door. “She’ll be happy to see you.”

My gaze went to Eli’s.

Was I silently asking permission?

Before I could continue that thought, he questioned Jack.

“Is there anyone else in there with her?”

“No. We’re hoping she’ll get some rest.”

“I’ll wait out here,” Eli said, in his way of giving me permission to enter without him.

Squaring my shoulders, I decided that this pecking order was a subject for another time. With a nod, I opened the door. With her eyes closed and her body beneath the covers, my mother looked small, almost childlike, lying in the hospital-style bed. Next to her bed, I noticed a walker.

Spinning slowly, I took in the room. It was a little larger than her room had been back at the hospital and there was a large window, currently covered by blinds. Maybe I should go to her home and bring a few things to make this space more personalized and less sterile.

“Dani. Oh, you’re here.”

I turned with a grin and walked toward the bed. “Hey, Mom. How are you feeling?”

She wiggled in the bed and pushed a button at the side that lifted her to a sitting position. “Physically, I’m better.” She pointed at the walker. “They’re letting me get out of bed as long as I promise to use that thing.”

Tears glistened in her eyes as she swallowed. “I know we spoke on the phone but tell me again. How was the service?”

“Sad,” I answered truthfully. “Everyone is shocked.”

“I still can’t believe it’s all true.” She wiped a tear from her cheek. “I don’t know how to live without your father.”

Moving beyond the rail, I sat on the edge of her bed and laid my hand on her blanket-covered legs. “The way Dad would want you to live. Not giving up.”

“Damien is trying to talk me into moving back to Carmel, even offered for me to stay with him, Ella, and Dylan.”

A smile teased my lips. “He told me. He wants me to encourage it.”

She shrugged.

“Oh, it sounds fun.”

“I’ve been thinking about it.” She sighed. “I would love to spend time with Dylan, but I’m also not ready to give up my independence. Maybe I could travel back and forth. Our home here will seem too lonely without Derek.” She feigned a smile. “I’ll be expecting him to walk through the door.”

I remembered my brother’s other request. “Damien wants me to FaceTime him.” I touched his number in my contacts.

As soon as he answered, I handed the phone to Mom.

While they spoke, I wandered around the room, looking in the closet and drawers.

Opening the blinds, I let the natural light stream through the window, while seeing the palm trees from the second floor.

When she hung up, she said, “He wants you to call him later.”

Exhaling, I nodded. “Do you want me to get you some things from your house?”

“That would be wonderful. I made a list for Jack, but he won’t leave me until his replacement arrives.” A pink hue came to her cheeks. “And I feel better asking you to bring me panties.”

“Let me get the list from Jack, and I’ll bring the things to you tonight.” I exhaled. “What are they saying? How long will you be here?”

Mom shook her head. “Too long, if you ask me. There’s already been one physical therapist in here to do an evaluation. There’s a lot of red tape.”

“I can only stay for a few days, but Damien, Ella, and I will take turns coming down to be with you.”

“That’s silly. If you can get my things from home, I’ll be fine here.

” She glanced toward the window. “Originally, they had me on the ground floor, but Jack intervened. He said the second floor was safer. Apparently, the glass isn’t bulletproof.

” She laid her head back. “I can’t believe this is my life. ”

“I’m sorry, Mom. It’s all of our lives right now. Until we find the man who shot Dad and learn his motivation, we are all potentially targets.”

“Do you have a guard with you? I don’t want you traveling alone.”

“I’m not alone. Eli Rhodes has taken me as an assignment.”

She tilted her head. “I remember that name. Wasn’t he with you during the Darius debacle?”

With me .

“Yes.”

“Oh, that’s nice to have someone you’re familiar with.

Mr. Clark, the man in charge of Guardian Security, asked me if I would like to have Jack replaced, after…

” She inhaled. “I said if he wanted to stay, I wanted him. I don’t blame Jack for what happened.

It occurred so fast. I guess I didn’t want to lose both your dad and Jack. I need some familiarity.”

Familiarity.

“I feel safe with Eli. I know he’ll do whatever he can.” The problem was I wanted more than the professional relationship. I wanted more than a temporary assignment.

My wants didn’t matter.

“Honey,” Mom said, “they’ll find the horrible man, and then we’ll find our new normal.”

I nodded. “You’re right.” I squeezed her leg. “It’s good to see you doing better. The last time we were down here, there were concerns about your mobility.” I forced a smile. “Now look at you.” I pointed to the walker. “You’re going to be racing soon.”

“I don’t know about racing. I’m happy to be walking.”

Eli and I were quiet on the elevator ride down to the first floor. It was as we approached the front of the building that the crowd of people beyond the glass entry came into view. Eli reached for my arm.

“What do you think it’s about?” I asked.

The muscles pulled tight in his cheeks. “I don’t like it.” He walked us to the front desk and spoke to the woman manning the door and phones. “What is going on out there?”

The overly bleached-blond-haired woman wearing a t-shirt with the name of the facility, looked up and scanned Eli before pressing her red-painted lips together. “They’re reporters.”

“Why are there reporters?”

“Patient confidentiality. I can’t say.”

I gasped. “Is this about my mother?”

She narrowed her gaze at me. “And you are…?”

“Dr. Sinclair,” Eli answered. “She has joint POA for her mother, Mrs. Marsha Sinclair. Are those reporters here about Mrs. Sinclair?”

“I’m not supposed to say.” Her forehead furrowed as she returned her gaze to me. “Yes, they are. News got out that she was transferred here. You don’t need to worry. Our security forbade them from entering the facility.”

Eli looked around. “Is there a back door accessible by car?”

“Yes. However, it’s only for the use of employees.”

“Where is it?” he asked.

After a moment’s hesitation, the woman pointed down the hallway with the elevators. “Turn left at the end of that hallway.”

Eli again seized my arm and tugged me away from the front desk. “Go back there. I’ll bring the car around.”

My pulse kicked up a few notches. “You’re going to leave me here?”

“I’m not leaving you. I’m avoiding those assholes out there.” His gaze went to my purse, wordlessly reminding me of the pepper spray within. “Stay vigilant. I’ll pull the car around back.”

The thought of being alone was suddenly terrifying. I shook my head. “They’re just reporters. I won’t comment.”

Clenching his jaw, Eli lowered his tone. “Dani, if reporters know your mother and you are here, then the perp could too. I’m not walking you out the front door.”

The perp.

Dad was shot only miles away.

Swallowing my growing fear, I nodded. “Okay. I’ll meet you at the back door.”

“Don’t exit the building until you see the car.”

Again, I nodded.

My pulse thumped in my ears as I watched Eli open and walk beyond the glass doors. Some of the reporters began shouting questions. Even if I strained, I couldn’t make out what they were asking.

Opening my purse, I found the small canister of pepper spray.

I twisted the lock as Eli had shown me. My hand trembled as I recalled him also telling me to aim for an attacker’s eyes.

With the canister in my grasp, I walked the direction the woman had indicated, down the hallway toward the dining area.

All the tables were empty in anticipation of the evening meal.

Mom told me she would be eating in her room.

Turning left, I continued walking until I reached the door with the word Exit above the jamb. Through the window, I saw multiple cars. No doubt this was the employee parking area.

A woman in scrubs appeared from behind a door.

Startled, I jumped.