Dangerous Place For Love(13)

“Why did you have to do this to me?” she sobbed. Her hands going up to cover her eyes. “I can’t do this.”

Many women had sat, stood and lay in this position before her. Had they been so lost and felt so alone? She couldn’t think past the buzzing of the machines and the stillness of the room. At least back on the island she would have the sound of the ocean. Ironic, she wished she could be back to the place where she once wished she could leave.

Kelly took a sip of water from the cup and filled her glass with more liquid. She lifted the plastic cup with the tablets and emptied the three unknowns into her palm. She gazed at them. The two large, identical circles were the pain killers and she singled out the one pill giving her so much indecision.

“I can’t do this,” she whispered. The tears dropping from her face to the blanket. She gathered all three pills and put her hand to her mouth. Opening her mouth she fought with herself to release her fist and allow the three pills to fall inside. She would have no choice but to swallow then. However, her fist refused to open and the tears poured out of her eyes. The battle a personal one. Inside she was screaming for something miraculous to happen. Anything to make life easier.

The door to open and Erik to be standing there would be a good distraction.

She waited for several minutes, praying someone else would intervene and take the choice away from her.

This is your choice, baby. Hearing the words once spoken by her mother, Kelly gasped and flung the offending tablets away from her.

What happened on that island was hers and hers alone. She didn’t need Erik to change her mind or make the decisions for her.

Gulping down the water, her muscles relaxing, Kelly lay down and allowed sleep to claim her.

She’d faced her father and the threat of death. She would handle any problems brought by her time with Erik.

~* * *~

“Why can’t I see her?” Erik paced his hospital room, the stitches in his side hurting like hell but he refused to back down. Kelly had fainted in his arms and the last vision she had was of him being carted away, pale and bleeding.

“She’s being taken care of,” Strider said. He liked Strider, the guy could be an asshole sometimes but mostly he meant well.

“We need you to get well so we can update you and your status,” another man whom he didn’t remember said.

“No, let me tell you two something. I won’t be doing anything until I see Kelly. I need to know she’s okay.” He stopped and ran his fingers through his hair.

“Erik, I hate to do this but you know it’s protocol. You don’t get involved with a witness. Kelly, as far as you’re concerned, is dead. She died in a plane crash eight weeks ago. Her body never recovered.”

Erik watched both men leave his room.

His side killed him though the operation to remove the bullet had gone swimmingly.

A great big void settled in his chest. He was nothing without Kelly. No matter who her family was he loved her.

As soon as he was out of this hospital he was going hunting for her. He didn’t care how many rules he had to break. Nothing and no one was keeping him from the woman he loved.

Erik settled down on the hospital bed with one mission in mind. To get well and heal as quickly as possible so he could find Kelly and tell her how he felt.





Chapter Nine





Two weeks later...

Kelly put the finishing touches to her new home, part of the special witness protection. She was now Amanda Lynne, had finished college and was working part time as a receptionist at a gymnasium.

A sofa and few bits and pieces dotted her house. Not much but it was home. The money and luxury of her old life would have to remain there. She couldn’t touch any of the inheritance her mother left her in case one of her father’s old friends wanted to come and look for her. Kelly O’Donald died in a fatal plane crash brought down by one of Arthur’s enemies. At least that was the story she’d been told.

No matter. She was pleased to have the old life behind her and be able to focus on the fresh new one waiting for her.

Today was a day off and she’d booked an appointment into a clinic to go and get herself checked.

Her period hadn’t arrived and instead of wasting money on one of the home pregnancy kits she decided to use the free health insurance the new identity gave her. She washed her breakfast bowl and sipped her warm coffee as the handle on the clock began to chime nine in the morning.

Kelly picked up her purse and keys and made her way to her car and the doctor’s.

A few hours later she didn’t know what to do. The pregnancy test had been positive and the nurse and doctor assured her the test was reliable. She had some vitamins to take on a regular basis. Her whole world had been turned upside down.