Blackmailed For Vengeance(39)

“I have to go to her” she said moving backwards and forwards in a state of shock

“Oh God, Yanis, she needs me” she cried as he had pulled her into his arms

“I’ll organise to get us right back” he said calmly holding her as she shook. As he walked back quickly with her to the chateau, he had made several phone calls, none of which she had heard, as her mind had reeled with panic and self recrimination

“I should have been there” she moaned gently to herself over and over again as he had moved silently beside her. When they had reached their room the maid was already leaving, having finished packing their cases, leaving out an outfit for each to wear.

As she pulled on the shirt and skirt the tears within her had finally fallen as she had sat down on the bed her head in her hands. He had pulled her hard against him, soothing her as she sobbed into his chest

“It’ll be OK, Lee” he said over and over” before whispering soft words in Greek which she was not able to understand but which sounded so soothing to her tortured mind

“I’m Sorry” she finally managed “All I seem to be doing is crying on you these days” she said with a small attempt at a smile playing on her lips”.

He had grinned back at her

“That’s OK, I seem to reduce most women to tears eventually” he said “makes a bit of a change that it isn’t me that you are crying about”

Lee had managed a shaky laugh

“Come, the boat is waiting for us, and my plane is already to go.”

Lee had smiled thankfully at him, leaning on him for support, as they moved back down to the dock. As promised a car had taken them to the waiting plane, which was met by yet another car which took them immediately to the hospital.

As Lee had moved into the private room she had gasped seeing the elderly woman lying on the bed, with tubes inserted in her and wires protruding from different equipment. Yanis had held her tightly to him, as she had seemed almost ready to collapse. Recovering she had rushed to the side of the woman

“Mrs Green” she whispered gently, as he had gone in search of a nurse to find out how she was doing.

“Please, wake up” she had begged gently “I need you”

Her hand had held the small frail woman’s, the skin soft yet fragile, with the bones raised so high through the parchment thin flesh.

Lee had held her hand to her cheek, gently talking to her, hoping that she would hear her and wake up.

This was how Yanis had found her 15 minutes later, after talking to a doctor about the elderly lady. She had lifted her eyes as he entered, instinctively knowing from the sombre look on his face that the news was bad. As she gently placed the woman’s hand back down she had moved out of the room with him as he led her further down the corridor.

“I’m sorry, Lee” he said looking into her eyes, his so compassionate at that moment “She is dying”

Lee could only stare back at him the tears brimming up in her eyes as she seemed to be having difficulty digesting his words. Finally she had started to shake her head violently from side to side, her face full of a fierce anger

“No, no she’s not… you tell them to help her Yanis” she half whispered half moaned

“Whatever it costs … tell them they have to help her… she’s a fighter…she’s not ready to die” her eyes wildly looking for a doctor to tell him herself

Grabbing her gently by the shoulders he had made her look into his eyes as his held hers with a frank honesty in them which she could not ignore

“Lee, there is nothing they or you can do… Her heart is not strong, the attack….” He paused for a second seeing the pain in her face

“There is nothing anybody can do; if there was then I would pay whatever it took…you know that”

Lee had stopped moving, the truth finally making its way through to her as the tears had begun to flow unchecked down her face. He could feel her buckle within his arms as he had pulled her tightly against him to support her, as her arms had moved around his neck her face burrowed into his shoulder as the sobs had racked her body.

Finally she had stopped, pulling herself away from him, as she fought to regain control of her emotions as fragile as they were at that time. Wiping the tears from her eyes with the back of her sleeve, so childlike she had stared at the floor. He had stood silently beside her, knowing that she just needed time to come to terms with the news. When she looked up at him her face was calm, although her eyes still held the despair she felt deep within.

“OK, OK” she whispered, in a tone meant to calm herself rather than anybody else

“I’ll be fine” she said, tilting her chin up a little more proudly before she had started to move back towards the woman’s room.