Chapter 3 - He Had Been Listening
Rafael refused to give Elena the name.
That irritated her.
“You want my help but not my trust?”
“I want you alive.”
“That is not the same thing.”
Rafael watched her adjust his IV.
“You argue with dangerous men often?”
“Only the stubborn ones.”
“Then you must be exhausted.”
“I work nights. I’m always exhausted.”
His mouth almost curved.
Three days passed.
Rafael’s recovery surprised everyone.
His speech strengthened first.
Then his ability to sit unsupported.
His muscles remained weakened after six months in bed, and Elena made sure he understood exactly how unimpressed she was by his reputation.
“You’re not standing.”
“I can stand.”
“No.”
“Elena.”
“You’ve been horizontal since winter.”
“I know how legs work.”
“Apparently not, because yours have forgotten.”
Marco lowered his face, hiding a smile.
Rafael noticed.
“Something funny?”
“No, boss.”
Elena handed Rafael a resistance band.
“Pull.”
Rafael stared at it.
“You expect me to use this?”
“Yes.”
“It’s pink.”
“So?”
Rafael looked at Marco.
Marco immediately examined the ceiling.
Elena crossed her arms.
“Do you want the blue one so it feels more masculine?”
Rafael took the pink band.
“Leave.”
Marco escaped into the hallway.
Rafael looked at Elena.
“He likes you.”
“He’s terrified of you.”
“Both can be true.”
Later that night, Elena found Rafael awake.
Rain tapped against the windows.
“You should sleep.”
“I slept six months.”
“That isn’t how coma recovery works.”
“You told me stories.”
Elena stopped.
Rafael looked toward the window.
“Your father believed voices could anchor people.”
“He did.”
“You said your mother puts too much cinnamon in everything.”
“She does.”
“You have a brother named Mateo who borrows money and never returns it.”
Elena stared.
“He returns some.”
“You defended him every time.”
“You remember all that?”
“Pieces.”
Rafael looked at her.
“Mostly your voice.”
The room became quiet.
Elena sat beside the bed.
“What did it feel like?”
His eyes moved toward the ceiling.
“Being trapped?”
“Yes.”
“Dark.”
She waited.
“Sometimes I heard people,” he continued. “Doctors. Guards. Dominic.”
“And me?”
“You were different.”
“How?”
“You never talked about me.”
Elena frowned.
“Everyone else stood around my bed talking about Rafael DeLuca. Business. Security. Prognosis. Money.”
His gaze returned to hers.
“You talked to me.”
Elena smiled faintly.
“You were terrible company.”
“I couldn’t interrupt.”
“Best quality you had.”
He gave a quiet laugh.
It was the first time she had heard him laugh.
Then his expression changed.
“Elena.”
“Yes?”
“There was one voice I heard repeatedly.”
She waited.
“A man.”
“Doctor?”
“I don’t know.”
“What did he say?”
Rafael looked toward the door.
“He asked whether the dosage was enough.”
Elena’s smile vanished.
“Dosage?”
“He said, ‘Keep him under until the body gives out.’”
Elena stood.
“When?”
“I don’t know.”
“Recently?”
“Time didn’t exist.”
She reached for his chart.
“What medications were you receiving?”
“Whatever they documented.”
Elena flipped pages quickly.
Rafael watched.
“You think something is missing.”
“I think medical charts are supposed to make sense.”
“And?”
“Parts of yours don’t.”
She pointed.
“You were receiving a sedative intermittently.”
“Why sedate an unconscious man?”
“Exactly.”
Rafael stared at the page.
“Who authorized it?”
Elena traced the entries.
Then stopped.
Dr. Howard Bell.
Her stomach dropped.
“No.”
Rafael saw her face.
“Who?”
“I need to verify something.”
“Elena.”
She closed the chart.
“Bell signed several medication orders.”
“How many?”
“Enough.”
She headed toward the door.
Rafael caught her wrist.
Not hard.
“Elena.”
She looked down.
His hand remained around hers exactly as it had the night he awakened.
“Do not confront anyone.”
“I’m a nurse, Rafael. Not one of your soldiers.”
“That’s why I’m asking.”
“You think Bell tried to keep you unconscious?”
“I think somebody did.”
“And if he did, hospital records prove it.”
“Records disappear.”
“Not all of them.”
Rafael studied her.
“What are you planning?”
Elena looked toward the hallway.
“Finding the medication administration archive.”
“That sounds dangerous.”
“You run organized crime.”
“And even I know when something sounds dangerous.”
She pulled free.
Before leaving, she turned.
“For six months I thought you were helpless.”
Rafael’s expression hardened.
“I was.”
“Well, you’re awake now.”
“Yes.”
“And I want the truth.”
“So do I.”
Elena opened the door.
May you like
Behind her, Rafael said quietly, “That’s exactly why I’m afraid for you.”
---
