AllFreeNovel
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It’s a relatively short drive to my place at this time of the day. All the work traffic has cleared. The lunch jams haven’t yet started, but even light traffic can be tedious in the city of New York, and the driver has to stop for buses and crosswalks more times than I can count before we get to the intersection that will take us to my apartment. “It’s just a short walk from the parking garage.”
“We’ll pull right up to the front. We can run upstairs while Liam takes a few laps around the block. We have an entire team surrounding your apartment, but garages are a definite no go until we find this guy,” Trent informs me.
I knew there would be security, but I didn’t realize there would be more than a person or two, and they’re all seriously bossy too. I forgot to let Sheldon know we landed until we are walking up the front steps of my apartment. Oops. I type out a quick message, letting him know that we’ve arrived, are at my apartment, and that I’m just about to get into the shower before we go to the hospital.
Sheldon: Not until Trent gets word from the other team the interior is clear.
Holy hell! And that is probably exactly what Trent is doing as he gestures for me to stay put at the door, pounding out a message into his phone. He glances at me, and I wait to see if my guess is right. “You can go in now. We’re all clear,” he remarks.
I can’t resist. “I’ll let Sheldon know that we’re clear,” I retort, trying to hide the smile that threatens when his lips turn up in a half smile.
“You do that, Alexis. Do you need anything done while I wait for you to get ready?” Trent asks.
“No, I won’t be long; just make yourself at home,” I reply, heading to the bathroom and texting Sheldon. I’ve no sooner undressed in the bathroom when his reply comes through on my phone.
Sheldon: Good. Don’t go anywhere without these men. They will keep you safe.
He’s been over all of this. I heard it loud and clear the first five times, and the last time before he dropped me off at the airport. I should probably be annoyed, but instead my heart does a little pitter-patter. I groan because, even though I need security, Sheldon’s control is exactly what I shouldn’t want but exactly what makes every neuron in my body come alive.
Me: Bossy much?
Sheldon: Sass will get you turned upside down.
I envision him saying that in his deep, raspy voice while he lifts my skirt and pulls down my panties, and now I’m wet, and I shouldn’t want that either. Damn that man! I need to focus and hurry. A quick shower, a dash of makeup, and a blow dry is all I need today. I am out of the bathroom in less than thirty minutes, record time for someone who makes their living this way.
“Ready to go?” I ask, grabbing my purse from the table as I reach the dining area.
“I’ll text Liam to bring the car around,” Trent answers.
The car pulls up outside. I feel a slight twinge of annoyance as the security guards hover close by as we walk to the vehicle, but they’re just doing what they’ve been paid to do, and I know I should be grateful. The feeling dissipates as we pile into the car. They talk amongst themselves, which gives me time to think. We arrive at the hospital, and then I get another lecture about staying close and letting them know if I need to go anywhere or do anything. They may be doing their job, but they are not Sheldon, and I’m sure my displeasure is plastered all over my face. Seriously! How did I go five long years without running into one of these alphas, and now everywhere I turn, alpha, alpha, alpha.
I’ve barely made it to the hospital reception desk with Trent practically glued to my side when Allie comes into view from down the long hall. She races to us and pulls me into a long hug. “I’m so glad you’re here, Lexie. I’m really sorry about Jan. She took a turn for the worse in the night. They had to start her on a breathing treatment and put her on oxygen this morning, so I don’t want you to be alarmed when you first see her.”
I swallow the lump in my throat, holding back my tears as Allie leads me and the security team down the hall toward a set of elevators. We all manage to squeeze into the small space, and one other person joins our group before Allie hits the control panel. When we reach the second floor, Allie links arms with me as she guides us down the corridor, but we’re both quiet. I’m sure her heart is as heavy as mine knowing how ill Jan really is.
When we reach her room, Liam stays with me at the door, while Trent goes in to look around. He speaks with the security guard who arrived with my mom, gestures me in, then leaves the room to position himself outside the door across from Liam.
My mom leaves Jan’s bedside and throws her arms around me. I squeeze her tightly to me, holding her for a bit, knowing just how extremely difficult this has to be for her. Jan has the respirator on, and although Allie tried to prepare me, the sight of her so defenseless against this illness is almost more than I can bear. Her eyes remain closed as we approach. I touch her cheek and take her small hand in my own. Jan blinks a few times, but still her eyes remain closed. “Jan, it’s Lexie. Are you feeling better with the mask on?” I ask, and I am surprised and encouraged when she nods.
Mom comes to stand beside us and puts her arm around my waist. “She was asking about the salon, Lexie. She’s concerned about being in the hospital and didn’t want you to ruin your trip.”
Jan nods slightly, and my chest tightens knowing how much the establishment means to her, especially with all the medical bills that are bound to start pouring in soon.
“I’m so ready to get back to work. Vacationing is highly overrated. In fact, my billfold would highly appreciate it if I would get my ass back to the salon and stop flitting all over the globe!”
I see the emotion in Jan’s eyes and feel her squeeze my hand in appreciation.
“I had to fight the guards to take me by the shop and call the customers who were scheduled for appointments the last couple days and cancel them, but I didn’t want to change anything for tomorrow in case you wanted the work. She was mumbling about getting back to the shop,” Mom explains.
I smile, thinking of Jan’s stubbornness. That would have been a fight to see. Leave it to my mom to think of the scheduling details at a time like this. “You are the absolute best. That’s perfect, Mom. In fact, I’ll take a look and see if we can make room for any of the clients we had to cancel, and I will plan to work all day tomorrow,” I state, turning just in time to see Trent observing me from across the threshold.
“The doctor was in earlier and will check on Jan again before he goes home for the evening,” Allie informs us.
“You think they’ll keep her in ICU?”
“More than likely, at least until tomorrow or the next day. We’ll only be able to stay with her and visit for a while longer, but we can come back later. Once Jan gets to the medical unit, the hours for visiting are pretty liberal, so we’ll be able to spend more time with her then,” Allie assures.
My mom asks me about my trip, so I pull up a chair next to Jan’s bed and take her hand in mine, sharing what it was like in Italy, describing the vast vineyards and lemon groves, and telling them all about my job styling Katarina’s hair and doing her makeup. I purposely leave out some things like her last name and my personal time with Sheldon because I’m sure neither Mom nor Jan would be too pleased if they learned that I was rubbing elbows with the fricking Italian Mafia or contemplating a full-on relationship with a dominant.
