He laughed again. “Not as soft as you, Foster.”
40
ETHAN
Like I’d assumed,Olivia needed surgery to repair the break. While I waited for her to come out of recovery, I changed into the clothes Hendrix had brought me. Jeans and a t-shirt, making me feel more American than I had in a while. Though we were in Germany, being on a U.S. military base and surrounded by U.S. accents, with all the signs in English, made the hospital feel like a home away from home.
Probably not so much for her.
She was in recovery a long time, and because I was exhausted and in pain, I fell asleep. Upright, and in the most uncomfortable chair on Earth.
When I woke, I went to the desk to ask for an update, but the nurse was confused. She’d already notified the man waiting that Kathryn Pierce was out of recovery.
My heart jerked to a stop.
I tore down the hall, searching for her room number. Had someone from the Abramos been dispatched on a suicide mission of revenge? I didn’t have my SIG now, but I’d protect her with my bare hands if I had to.
I burst into her hospital room without knocking, startling the man sitting beside her on the bed.
Oh.
That made sense now.
Her father was pushing sixty, with white hair, a strong jaw, and a few extra pounds around the midsection. He looked exactly like the photo in the file Fletcher had put together and e-mailed following Jason’s phone call.
I pulled in a deep breath and exhaled, releasing the tension. Olivia’s arm was in a cast, resting on a stack of pillows, her mouth hung open at my abrupt entrance.
Shit. I had no idea what to say. “How are you feeling?”
Her mouth closed and her gaze shifted to stare blankly at her father. “I’m okay.”
I glanced down at her chart.Pierce, Kathryn Olivia, it read. Would the media pick up on this? She’d have to forgive me for outing her. I’d do it again if it would save her life.
Her father glanced me over with a single discerning, evaluating look. His expression hardened, like he wasn’t pleased with what he saw. Me just being in the general vicinity of his daughter made her father nervous.
He sensed how dangerous I could be.
“Dad, this is Ethan Foster,” she said.
“Michael Pierce.” He extended his hand.
“Colonel,” I responded. His grip was dominating, but I could respect that.
“And you are her... ?” We waited for her to jump in, but when she didn’t, he prompted, “Katie, help me out here.”
“He’s my friend.”
My mouth tightened into a line, the word stinging.
“A good friend,” she continued.Sorry, Olivia, only marginally better.“Also, I’m going by Olivia, remember?”
Her father looked displeased. “Right. I forget you’re not using the name your mother and I gave you.”
She scowled back at him. “I’m still using the name you gave me, just not the one you want. It’s easier this way.”
He sat back down beside her on the bed. “I didn’t fly here for us to get into that again. I’m sorry. I’m just so glad you’re okay. I can’t believe we’re back here.”
Awkward silence filled the room.
