Stripped(64)
“No,” he said firmly, reaching up to stroke her forehead and hair. “Mickey and one of the guards got there in time.”
Abby’s body went slack with relief.
“She never liked him,” she said, hot tears burning her eyes. “If only I hadn’t told her he was probably harmless…”
“Who? You know who did this?” Chris asked, looking surprised.
“Ron. It was Ron.”
“Go call that detective,” Chris told Justin.
“He got away?” Abby asked sadly.
“Yeah. When Mickey found you guys, he was already gone.”
Tears slipped down her cheeks as Abby cried softly.
“No, don’t cry,” Chris said, rubbing her hand. “This wasn’t your fault. The only one to blame is him, Abby.”
“It’s not that,” she sniffed. “We were about to finally have a normal relationship and now here I am … a beat-up stripper … in your hospital. And you were right all along about the job.”
“Don’t say that,” he said urgently. “Nothing’s changed between us. If anything, it’s made me realize how much I need you. I’ve never been as scared as I was when they brought you in that night.”
“How long?” Abby asked, confused.
“It’s Sunday afternoon.”
“I’m so tired.”
“Go back to sleep. I’ll send Justin home to rest.” He was still stroking her hair, and the soft, comforting sensation made her sleepy.
“I love you,” she mumbled as she drifted off to sleep again.
When she woke back up, the room was dark. Abby turned toward a glow in the corner and Chris looked up from the book he was reading beneath a small lamp on the wall.
“Hey,” he said, walking over to the bed.
“Hi. How long did I sleep?”
“Several hours. It’s Sunday evening.” He sat down at the foot of the bed.
“You don’t have to stay, Chris. Have you been here since Friday?”
“I’m not leaving you.”
“Don’t you have to work?”
“I want to be with you for now.”
“You’re just watching me sleep. Can I have some water?”
He reached for the call button on her bed.
“I want to be here if you need something. I’m also worried that lunatic could come looking for you,” he said.
“Ron?”
“They haven’t caught him, but the police are looking.”
A nurse in pink scrubs walked in.
“Can we get some cold water?” Chris asked.
“How are you feeling, Abby?” the nurse asked.
“Better.”
“Are you hungry?” Chris asked.
“Yes.”
“Order some broth from the kitchen,” he told the nurse.
“Anything for you, Dr. Reneau?”
“No, thanks. Reed brought me a sandwich earlier.”
“Abby, there’s a man in the waiting room who would like to see you if you’re up to it. He said he’d wait a while to see if you woke up.”
“Who is it?” Chris asked suspiciously.
“I don’t know. I’ll send him in if you’d like.”
“I’ll meet him in the hallway.”
Chris left the room and ducked his head back in the door as Abby was gazing out the window at the night lights.
“Hey, it’s Mickey. Do you feel like seeing him?”
“Sure.” She tried to sit up higher in bed, cringing at the burn in her chest.
“Do you want the lights on?” Chris asked.
“Sure.”
“Hi, gorgeous,” Mickey said as he entered the room with a giant bouquet of exotic flowers. He flinched as he looked at her, trying to cover it with a smile.
“Not so gorgeous anymore,” she said with a small smile. Tears pooled in Mickey’s eyes.
“I’m so sorry,” he said, his voice a rasp.
“I’m gonna walk down to the desk for a bit,” Chris said, leaving the room.
“Mickey, this wasn’t your fault,” Abby said. “Ron was messed up. You couldn’t have known this would happen.”
“But if I’d had a security guard outside…”
He wiped his face quickly.
“I’m okay, Mickey,” she said reassuringly.
“Amber’s not. She’s a vegetable.”
Abby squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the image of Amber’s bright red hair in the dirt.
“I didn’t know she was that bad,” she said, a lump forming in her throat. “I hate that Ron got away. Chris won’t leave because he’s afraid he’ll come back for me.”
Mickey sighed, looking out the room’s large window.
“I hope you know, even though I’m … difficult at times, my dancers mean a lot to me,” he said. “Working so closely, we just can’t help but grow to care about each other.”