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“Really?” That actually did sound nice.
“There’re a few extra rules while you’re recovering, darling girl. As well as no phone or Kindle, there’s also no television and limited visitors until Doc or Xavier say otherwise.”
“So, they’re who I need to bribe? Noted.”
“Good luck with that. Doc is likely to get out his extra big thermometer.”
Huh? How was that a threat?
“Doc is fond of taking people’s temperature’s anally,” he explained.
“Oh, heck no.”
“I don’t want you getting stressed. You will tell me immediately if you start to get worried or scared. If you have any nightmares, you wake me. Not that I expect to sleep through them. You’ll be spending most of your time in bed for the next few days at least. If you need to get up, you’re to call out for me. Don’t worry, I ordered a baby monitor, so if I’m in the other room, I’ll hear you.”
“I’m not a baby, Daddy.”
“Oh yes, you are. My baby. Now, is there anything you want to talk to me about or ask me?”
“I . . . I do have some things to talk about, but . . .”
“Not right now.”
“I’m just so tired,” she explained.
“All right. Why don’t you take a nap and we can look at your gifts later?”
She pouted, even as her eyes drifted shut. “Mean Daddy. Gwen want her gifts.”
“They’ll still be there later, darling girl. Sleep. Daddy will watch over you.”
33
Dominic carried the huge basket of goodies into the bedroom. Gwen had slept for most of yesterday afternoon. She’d woken up to eat some dinner, but she’d been so lethargic that he’d decided to wait until today to show her gifts to her.
He’d found himself constantly waking through the night to make sure that she was still breathing.
He knew it was silly. Xavier wouldn’t have released her if he was at all worried about her. But it was going to take him a long time to recover from almost losing her.
He’d already had three calls from Reuben today, checking in on her. He expected that the other man would already be here, visiting, if he wasn’t focused on finding who had hurt Gwen.
Her eyes widened as she took in the huge basket. “That’s all for me?”
“Yes. And I also had a few packages arrive for you today.”
“You’re all spoiling me.” There was such wonder in her face that it made his heart hurt.
“No such thing,” he told her.
Placing the basket on the end of the bed, he drew out his phone as it started ringing. Ed. Shit.
“I’ll go get the other packages. Don’t start looking without me.”
She pouted, but sat back against the headboard. She was still too pale for his liking. Another nap would be needed after this.
“Ed, hi,” he answered the call. “Tell me you’ve got some good news.”
“I’ve got more questions than answers, I think. Is Gwen with you?”
“She’s in the bedroom. Why?”
“When you’re with her, can you put me on speaker?”
“Yeah, give me a second.” He gathered up the packages and walked back into the bedroom to find her peering with interest at the basket of goodies. He cleared his throat and she moved away, plastering a big smile on her face.
“Hi, Daddy. I thought I saw a mouse. Was just checking.”
“A mouse, huh? You wouldn’t have been trying to sneak a peek when I told you not to?” The basket was covered in purple cellophane so it was difficult to see what was inside without looking closely.
“Not me, Daddy. I’m a good girl.”
Oh no, she wasn’t guilty at all.
“I’ll be noting that down in your punishment book. I think some time in timeout might help you remember to do what Daddy says. And not to lie about seeing a mouse.”
Her eyes widened, her mouth popping open. “So. Mean.”
“Yes, Daddy is horrible.”
“There might have been a mouse . . . you don’t know, Daddy.”
“I think I do know. Ed is on the phone. He wants to speak to us both.”
Her face grew even more pale. Fuck. He hated that. Detested how scared she was. So far, she hadn’t really had any nightmares or much of a negative reaction to what happened. But he knew it would probably come. Her brain was likely too focussed on healing.
Moving to her, he sat next to her, drawing her into his chest. “Hey, Ed. You’re on speaker phone.”
“I would have come out to see you both, but I thought you were probably still settling in. How you doing, Gwen?”
“I’m good,” she replied. “You? Kiesha pranked you lately?”
“No. Thank God. Anyway, I’ve got some news. We found the van that was used to kidnap you, Gwen.”
She let out a deep breath.
The bearded guy who had dropped taken her to the hospital had met with Ed at the place where he’d found her. Ed had managed to locate the tire tracks from the van.
