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W hat was that strange noise?

Like someone sniffing. Who was doing that?

Where was she?

What was that smell?

And why did she feel so heavy and lethargic? She could barely gather up the energy needed to even open her eyes.

She got one eye open and glanced around. She had no idea why the other eye wouldn’t budge.

Strange. This place had a hospital feel. But why would she be in the hospital?

“Baby. Gem, you’re awake.” Renard sat up. Had he been leaning on the bed? He quickly swiped at his cheeks.

Wait. Had he been crying?

Why was he crying? Renard hated tears. And she assumed that included his own.

“What’s wrong?” she asked hoarsely. “Why were you crying?”

“Wasn’t crying,” he replied defensively. “Just had something in my eye.”

Well.

She knew all about pride so she wasn’t going to push him on that. Instead, she nodded sagely. “I get that. I seem to be having trouble with one of my eyes.”

And with her whole body if she was honest. It felt like she weighed a ton.

“Baby, you’re awake!” He stood suddenly and she let out a squeak of fear.

What was that about?

She wasn’t afraid of Renard.

Suddenly, she started to feel anxious. Opal didn’t like feeling this way. As though her tummy was filled with knots and she couldn’t breathe properly.

There was something going on . . . oh God.

That’s why she was in the hospital. Why she felt like she’d been run over by a truck and trailer.

And why she couldn’t think.

“B-barney. Where is he?” she asked hoarsely. She tried to move her head as though she expected him to suddenly appear.

“It’s all right, baby. He’s not here. He’s been arrested. You’re safe.” He reached over and grabbed something, pressing it.

“Barney. Arrested. Safe.”

“Yes, baby. You’re safe. I’m here and I’m not leaving you.”

She tried to lick her lips, but her lip stung where she touched the corner of her mouth.

Ouch.

“You’re here. Not leaving.” She glanced around and coughed before groaning.

He grabbed a glass with a straw and placed the straw in her mouth just as someone walked into the room. She took a sip, choking on it as a surge of fear ran through her.

Shit.

What was with that?

She could see that the person was a nurse. There was no reason to be afraid, yet her heart was racing, and she was struggling to breathe after choking on some water.

“I’m sorry, Opal,” the nurse said. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m Abby, your nurse.”

Renard leaned her forward carefully so he could rub her back.

Damn.

That was embarrassing.

Choking on water because a nurse walked into the room.

“Are you all right, Gem?” Renard asked.

“Yep. Just . . . you know . . . humiliated.”

He helped her sit back, and she sunk into the pillows. Abby stayed at the end of the bed, watching her with too-knowing eyes. Opal didn’t like the sympathy she could see in the other woman’s eyes. She hated being pitied.

“No need to be embarrassed,” Abby told her.

“Course not,” Renard grumbled. “Wanna try some water again?”

She shook her head. She’d try later, once they were on their own again.

“I’m so glad to see you awake, Opal. How are you feeling?” Abby asked.

“Like I’ve been run over by a truck.”

Abby nodded. “Thought you would. Let me just take your vitals, then I’m going to tell the doctor that you’re awake, okay?”

She nodded, then regretted the movement as pain shot through her skull.

The nurse left after checking her over and she slowly turned to look at Renard. “Guessing I look pretty bad, huh?”

“Baby, you’re in rough shape, but it doesn’t mean you’re still not the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”

Oh God.

It was worse than she’d thought.

But then what did she expect? She’d been kidnapped, beaten, she hadn’t had a shower in ages or done her hair and makeup.

“I need my makeup.”

“Baby, you don’t. You are gorgeous. God, I thought I had lost you. I didn’t know where you were. Only that he’d taken you. And we didn’t know what his intentions were.”

“Mrs. G?” she asked.

Shit. Why had it taken her so long to ask? She hadn’t been able to leave the older woman behind to go get help. So she’d shaken her awake and dragged her out of the cabin. It hadn’t been easy, but she’d managed to get them to a road and thankfully, some kind strangers had stopped.

Kind, shocked strangers who had taken in their bruised faces and bound hands and looked like they were about to vomit.

“She’s all right,” he reassured her. “She’s in the hospital, too. She was a bit disorientated but she remained conscious for longer than you. She told us what happened and Jake and Duncan went to the cabin to arrest Barney.”

Right.

Barney was behind bars and he wasn’t getting out.

She was safe.

“That bastard had a camera in my bedroom . . . he watched me.” She swallowed heavily. “I’m gonna be sick.”

“Listen to me.” He gently cupped the side of her face, staring intently into her eyes. “Do not think of any of that. You have to concentrate on healing, on getting better. But, trust me, no one is getting close to you. I am going to protect you. I will keep you safe. Hear me?”

“Why do bad things keep happening to me?” she whispered. “Is it something I did? Is it payback?”

Was it karma?

Was this her punishment for what she’d done years ago?

It had to be, right?

“Fuck no. It is not payback. And the time for bad things in your life to stop has come. From now on, there’s only good. Got me?”

He looked so fierce and certain that she nodded.

But she wasn’t certain that was true at all.