Page 61 of Inked Desires

He sighs and rubs his forehead.

“Then it’s retrograde amnesia. In that case, you’ll be lucky if some fragments come back.”

I swallow hard. With my luck, it’s probably the second option. Seven years... gone.

“Do you remember anything after your disappearance? Anything at all?” he presses.

Annoyed, I turn my head—only to regret it instantly. Pain rips through my skull, and I squeeze my eyes shut.

“I don’t even remember marrying Jace,” I whisper.

A squeaking noise pulls my attention back. He adjusts a dial on the IV.

“All right. You need rest. I’ve increased your pain meds. You’ll feel better soon. I’ll come back later.”

“You’re really leaving me alone?” I call after him, panic creeping in.

He pauses in the doorway and glances back.

“You’ve had enough emotions for one day, Mr. Benton. Rest,” he says before vanishing down the hallway.

The meds don’t help much. The pounding in my head gets worse. I try to rememberanything—but it’s all just out of reach. I give up.

I mentally review what Idoknow:

I’m married to Jace.

I disappeared.

I was declared dead.

I was found in New London, stabbed.

I’m in a hospital.

Seven years of my life are missing.

What the hell happened?

The fog in my head grows so thick I can’t think straight. I try to stay awake, desperate to piece it together. But it’s useless.

Darkness pulls me under. And I sink into a sleep that feels endless.

CHAPTER 15

ANDREW

“How are you feeling?” the doctor asks again.

I sigh. Whatever they pumped into my IV knocked me out cold. I still feel drained, but the pounding in my head has dulled.

“Better, I guess. How long was I asleep?”

He nods, checks my pupils with a small flashlight, takes my pulse, and lifts the blanket to inspect my bandages.

“You slept all day yesterday. Do you remember anything?” he asks.

“No. Nothing at all.”