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The ambulance arrives, and I follow Clara's gurney down the stairs, Landon's steady presence behind me. I go to get into the ambulance with Clara, but Landon gently holds me back.
"We'll follow behind them. You don't need to risk hindering their work," he says, and I nod numbly as he leads me into the car and we set off, following closely behind the ambulance.
As soon as we get to the hospital, she's rushed into surgery, Landon's doctor leading the team.
I sit in the waiting room in a state of shock, unable to comprehend the fact that Clara has been attacked and is either going to die or is very near death. I'm vaguely aware of Landon sitting down next to me and putting a glass of water in my hand.
"Drink this," he orders quietly, and I obediently take a few sips.
I look at him, really look at him. I think about all the bodyguards that go everywhere with him. I think about the guns they all carry. I think about the air of danger he carries around him.
"Is this your fault?" I ask quietly. "Because Clara is just a small deli owner. I've never even seen someone raise their voice to her. Everyone loves her. It's hard for me to believe that this is coincidence that she's attacked right after I meet you."
He stares at me, and something like fear flashes across his eyes.
"If the answer is yes, will you leave me?" he asks quietly. "Because I won't let that happen."
"Answer the question."
"I don't know, but it's not out of the realm of possibility."
"If she dies, we are finished," I tell him coldly.
Landon nods, stands up and walks away, barking orders to the ever-present men in suits stationed strategically up and down the hallway.
I continue to sit in that chair for hours. Periodically Landon strides down the hallway as if he just needs to make sure I'm still there. He wisely leaves me alone though.
After what seems like half my life, an exhausted looking doctor comes down the hallway. I immediately leap up out of my seat.
"Are you Clara Bergmann's doctor?" I ask, choking up in anticipation for what he's going to say.
"Are you Clara's family?" he asks.
"I'm her daughter," I answer, the lie falling from my lips easily because in that moment I realize that Clara is the mother I've never had. I feel like a lost little girl waiting for the doctor to give me an update.
"Ms. Bergmann had severe internal bleeding with multiple cracked ribs and a concussion…" he begins.
The doctor's use of the word "had" makes tears start streaming down my face.
He lays a hand on my shoulder. "We were able to stabilize her," he says quickly.
Hope blossoms inside me. "She's alive?" I sniffle out.
He squeezes my shoulder. "Yes. It will be a long recovery, but she should eventually recover." He pauses for a minute. "I should warn you though," he starts, his voice beginning to waver. "Ms. Cohen was... assaulted. That may be more difficult for her to heal from than her physical injuries."
Assaulted. I know what he really means and having someone actually confirm what I suspected when I first saw her laying on the floor makes me throw-up all over the doctor's shoes.
"Kindly remove your hand from her shoulder," comes a cold, angry voice that immediately makes the doctor jump to attention.
"What did you do to her?" he asks the doctor furiously.
I try to stand up to tell Landon off, but my legs buckle under me, causing Landon to have to catch me.
The doctor stands up and quickly takes a few steps away from us, as if he wants to get out of striking range of Landon.
"I was informing her about Ms. Cohen's condition," he explains, beginning to wring his hands nervously.
"Can I see her?" I ask him quickly before Landon scares him off.
