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Chapter Twenty
"Miss Lilly."Someone is shaking me. "LILLY, ANSWER ME!"
I slowly blink, but as soon as the daylight registers, fireworks explode behind my eyes again, and I moan. Why does it still hurt? I squeeze my lids shut and fist the hair around my temple. Maybe if I pull hard enough, it will make the feeling of someone filleting my brain go away.
"Lilly, if you don't tell me this instant what's wrong, I will...." I recognize George's voice, but at the same time, I don't. I've never heard him anything but calm. Angry maybe, but definitely not...panicked.
More awareness starts seeping in. I’m on my side, curled into a fetal position. I slowly open one eye to a tiny slit, letting it adjust to the brightness. The bottom of the canvas comes into view, and the memory floods back.
Emily and Brooks. Together. They sure as hell didn’t look like they were still having an affair. The hatred was coming off of my biological mother in waves.
I release the strands of my hair and place my palms flat on the floor to push myself up. When my elbows buckle, hands grab me under my arms and pull me upright like a ragdoll. As soon as I’m on my feet, one eye still slightly open, everything begins to spin, and my stomach churns.
I clamp a hand in front of my mouth. "Oh, God."
Before I know what's happening, I'm airborne, one arm under my legs and one behind my back, pressing against the healing skin. Another wave of agony hits me as the pain receptors in my back join the ones in my head.
Bile rises higher, and it's clear there is no way to stop it. "I...need..." I attempt to communicate the inevitable, but George is already dropping me in front of the toilet in the hall bathroom.
I immediately empty everything in my stomach into the white porcelain. When the retching finally stops, I let myself fall back on my butt.
With my knees bent, I rest my head on top. "Fuuuck," I groan. My clothes stick to my skin, and a shiver runs through my body. I'm freezing, yet I want to curl back into a fetal position and just lie on the cool, tiled floor.
A hand awkwardly pats my head. "Lilly, what happened?"
"Memory," I mumble.
"I’m going to kill Lakatos." Knowing George, he would follow through on his threat, and a smile finds its way onto my lips. His loyalty and protectiveness is like a soothing blanket in my current state.
I slowly turn my head, and his face comes into focus. "It has never been this...bad," I admit.
"Do you want me to call Nate? Or Rhys?"
If I look remotely how I feel, there's no way I can face them. Rhys would instantly be jumping into the Defender and driving to the airport—if not straight to LA. I shake my head, which causes another wave of nausea to hit me. Swallowing, I manage to keep it at bay this time, plus I don’t think there’s anything left in my stomach.
"I’ll tell them myself. Just...give me a few." I close my eyes again.
"Whatever you need, Miss Lilly," my bodyguard, and now nurse, concedes.
In the end,George refused to let me stay on the floor and walked me to my room to take a shower, only leaving after I reassured him that I’d be fine.
My body is covered in the remnants of cold sweat, and not aiming properly as my breakfast made a reappearance has left me with chunks of toast and banana in my hair.
So gross.
Emerging an hour later and feeling almost back to normal, I have a foot on the top step of the staircase to the first floor when George's voice drifts up to me.
"I tried. He refuses to come earlier." Pause. "No, there is nothing I can do. If I press any harder, he'll cancel the meet altogether." Pause. "No, there is no point for you to come right now. She is taking a shower."
Listening to his words, my pulse speeds up.
That traitor. He called Nate after all.
I make my way downstairs, not hiding my approach. George is standing in the large kitchen, already facing the doorway as I enter.
I cross my arms over my chest, glaring at the man with the large scar. I'm no longer scared of him. Unfortunately, my accusatory glower doesn't do anything to the former Marine. George continues his conversation with my brother without a blink of emotion, making the pounding in my ears become even louder. A sound resembling a growl escapes me, but George is still unaffected.
"She just walked in." He listens to something Nate says. "Yes, I agree. Okay, I'll make the arrangements. We should wait until I'm back, though, in case—of course." His lips form a disapproving line, and he holds the phone out to me. "Here."
