‘Your birthday, last four digits,’ he managed.
Hearing that made my throat tighten. He’d used my birthday as the code.
The call connected and Harry answered on the first ring. ‘Boss?’
‘It’s , Mirabelle. Ashton’s been shot. He’s bleeding badly. Get the hospital ready for surgery, now! We’re on our way.’
‘I’ve got it,’ Harry replied instantly.
‘Kit, can you go any faster?’ I yelled.
‘I’m trying,’ Kit called back, hands white on the wheel.
We reached the hospital in what felt like the blink of an eye. Harry was already waiting at the entrance, and a team of doctors and nurses stood ready inside.
They rushed Ashton into the operating theatre. I paced outside the door, a tight ball of nerves.
‘Mrs Laurent, would you like to sit down?’ Harry asked, hovering at my side. ‘The operation will take a while.’
I shook my head. ‘I can’t sit.’
If I did, everything that had happened in the last hour would catch up with and I’d either scream or cry or faint.
‘If you collapse, who will look after the boss? He’ll be worried if you’re down,’ Harry tried again. ‘I’ve got four bodyguards posted here and staff outside, it’s safe.’
He was right, but that did nothing to calm .
We waited, and waited. At last, the theatre light went out and a surgeon ca through the door. I rushed forward and gripped him. ‘Doctor, how is he? How is he?’
‘Mr Laurent is going to be all right. We removed the bullet and the bleeding has stopped. He’s through the critical period. He’s fit and strong, and with proper rest, he should recover quickly.’
‘Really? He’s really all right?’ I pressed, refusing to let him go. ‘Doctor, he will be all right, won’t he?’
The surgeon smiled behind his mask. ‘Essentially, yes. You can be reassured.’
Relief unclenched like a physical thing. I drew a huge, trembling breath and felt my knees go weak. I almost collapsed.
A nurse caught at once. ‘Are you all right?’
‘I’m fine, just a bit tired,’ I lied with an embarrassed half-laugh.
‘Mrs Laurent, you should have a quick check-up. Boss will want to know you’re all right,’ Harry urged.
‘I’m fine,’ I protested. I genuinely felt fine, or I wanted to feel fine.
‘No, please,’ Harry said more firmly. ‘Do a simple check now. If Mr Laurent wakes up and finds you like this, he’ll insist on a full examination and it will be more trouble later.’
He had a point, so I nodded. ‘Okay. All right. Doc, could you arrange a quick check-up? I’m sure I’ll be fine.’
The nurse led away. The doctors found nothing wrong beyond shock. Rest and sleep, they said, and I’d be fine.
After the check, I insisted on staying with Ashton even though he was still under the effects of anaesthesia. I did not leave his bedside, not for a second. I watched him without blinking, as if one mont away would be the mont he vanished.
Barely two months out, he was once again back in the hospital. It was fast becoming one of my least favourite places on earth.
By then, there were already several bodyguards posted outside his room. At so point, the police arrived and spoke to Kit first.
‘Sorry, I held them off as long as I could,’ Harry said to when the officers ca inside.
‘That’s fine,’ I said, refusing to leave Ashton’s side.
If the police wanted to question , they could do it here. There was nothing more I could add to Kit’s account anyway.
The officers told us they had found the Camry, but the plates had been stolen and they had yet to trace the car’s origin.
‘Thank you for your cooperation, Mrs Laurent,’ the lead officer said politely as he closed his tablet.
‘Shall I see them out?’ Harry offered.
I turned and saw Ashton blinking awake. ‘How are you feeling?’ I asked, rushing to him.
He reached for my hand and gripped it lightly, his voice rough and lips dry. ‘You cried. Your eyes are red.’
‘Yeah. I would be superhuman if I didn’t cry a bit after being shot at. I was terrified,’ I admitted.
I am not usually a crier, but seeing Ashton covered in blood had terrified . Tears ca whether I wanted them to or not.
Ashton sighed and pulled close, holding and patting my back as if to comfort . ‘You wouldn’t have been involved in this if not for ,’ he murmured, sounding guilty. ‘I put you in danger.’
‘No, you don’t know that,’ I said firmly. ‘The police haven’t figured out who’s behind this yet.’
‘I’ve failed to protect you.’
‘No. You did fine. I’m upset because you were hurt. Promise you’ll be careful from now on, please?’ I clung to him, my voice breaking.
‘I promise,’ he said, stroking my hair, his voice hoarse but tender.
I let go and looked at the bandage around his abdon, which was still seeping a little. I touched a trembling hand to the dressing. ‘It must hurt.’
‘Not at all,’ he lied, taking my hand and gripping it hard. ‘Not at all.’
‘This should have been .’
‘I’d rather it be ,’ he said it with conviction.
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