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I choke out a shocked gasp of air, tears pooling to run down my cheeks. “You promised me.” I shake in the bed. “You promised to keep giving me reasons!” I hiccup as he picks up my hand and kisses the back of my palm. “No!” I slap his hand away and silently beg for him not to do this.
“Lauren,” he rasps, pulling to hold me to his chest, but I plant my palms to his wide torso and push him away. “It’s not safe. I'm not losing you, too,” he vows roughly.
“So don’t!” I cry shortly.
“I underestimated him. I can’t do this.” He cups my face and leans to place a kiss on my lips, but I snap away, gasping sharply as pain ricochets through my thigh. I grip my cast, groaning as my stomach revolts at the sharp stab of pain throbbing through me. “Shit, Lauren. Try not to make any sudden movements. Let me call the nurse back.”
“Get off me.” I waft my hand, blinking through the tears.
“I’m doing this because I care about you.” He more than cares about me. I’ve felt it for a while. He wanted serious, and that's what we are. I’m in his corner, and he’s supposed to be in mine!
“You love me,” I tell him tersely, “and that terrifies you.” I shake my head as hot tears run into my hair. Pain takes over, and I writhe on the bed. “It’s just noise.” I suck in a shaky breath. “It’s just noise,” I beg softly.
Swallowing, he steps back and looks down when my hand grips his. He clears his throat and untangles himself, pressing the button to call a nurse.
“Lauren, be realistic. This hasn’t been fun for you, sneaking about, lying to your family, people invading your privacy, and now this. You could have died.”
The fear of losing him sinks heavily in my gut. I watch as he runs an agitated hand through his hair before frowning at me.
“You're a coward,” I whisper. “You fucking coward.” I can’t believe he is doing this. Pushing me away. Playing the martyr.
My mum appears, and I shrug her away when she tries to comfort me. The nurse comes back in, and one look is enough for them to adjust my pain meds. It’s an instant relief, and I let go of the tension in my shoulders.
“Royce is out for blood. You deserve more than this,” he snaps, his hand motioning around the sterile room.
I flick a look at James, sitting with his fingers pressed to his temples, clearly unimpressed with the dramatics. “I lied,” I admit. “Martin wasn’t the only reason I left.” The medication is coursing through my system, making me feel sluggish and dozy.
“Let’s not worry about that now,” Dad soothes.
Cain needs to know that Royce isn’t the only threat. My fear of losing him eclipses that of James’s safety. “His dad was blackmailing me. Martin’s dad has been blackmailing me,” I confess woodenly, my tongue thick, my limbs too heavy.
Cain's face narrows into a dark cloud. “What?” he growls. I ignore my parents' look of horror and meet James’s shocked face between their bodies.
“I’m sorry, James,” I slur apologetically and turn to Cain. “After the affair, Henrik threatened to hurt my family. He said he had information on James that could ruin him.” Cain glares at my brother, sitting wide-eyed. “I was scared, and I didn’t know what to do. He asked me to leave, and I was already looking for work in London, so when I was offered a job at the hotel, I left,” I admit through my tears.
“What information?” my dad demands, twisting to glare at James, going ashen in his chair.
“He’s having an affair with Henrik’s wife,” Cain delivers coolly. “Or is it that you're close to bankruptcy?” He flicks his brow up, and I gape at him and then at my brother. How the hell does he know all this?
“Now, wait a minute.” My mum flusters, pursing her lips and standing tall, but she only manages to reach his chest. Cain grips my hand tightly when I try to shift in the bed. I sigh in relief. Grateful to have told him, everyone. Grateful that he is still here.
“James?” Dad presses.
“Is that true?” I whisper. James and Caroline?
“You had me investigated?” James snaps.
Why would Cain look into James? Cain laughs. “Your sister admits she covered for your sorry ass and left town, and all you care about is what I’ve done?” He rounds the bed and grips my brother's shirt. “She’s being punished for your idiocy, and you haven’t even asked if she’s okay!” he roars.
The curtain is yanked back, and several nurses appear. “I think it best if you take this conversation outside,” an older woman says sharply.
Cain grips harder and narrows his eyes at my brother. “How is she, James? Or are you as inconvenienced to be here as you look?”
My parents look at us both, confused. They have always been oblivious to James’s behaviour. Even now, they only see him as their golden boy.
“She’s alive,” my brother drawls, giving a slight shrug of indifference.
“You piece of shit!” Cain roars, slamming James into the wall.
