“Sometimes, having boundaries, rules and consequences can be a relief, can’t it, jelly bean?” Caleb ran a thumb over her cheek.
How did he know? She looked up at him in wonder. A small smile crossed his face. “Just relax, baby. You don’t have to think about anything right now. We’re here. Nobody will hurt you.”
She rested her head back against Caleb’s chest and he continued to rub her neck. She started to relax. Until he spoke again.
“We’re not going to talk of anything stressful. No talk of the past. The last thing she needs is another panic attack,” Caleb warned them all.
God, that would be nice, to have a reprieve from talking about all the shit that had already come.
“Once she’s in Escana and is feeling better, then we can discuss the past. And the future.”
She stiffened. Escana? Why would she be in Escana?
“What do you mean, once I’m in Escana?” She pulled back to look up at Caleb. He stared firmly down at her. He meant every word he’d just said. She glanced at Aleki then Wolfe.
“You’re coming back home with us. We’re going to take care of you. Make sure you eat and rest and don’t stress.” There was a hard note to his voice. One that told her he meant to be obeyed.
But she couldn’t do that. He didn’t understand. She couldn’t be with them.
She shook her head. “I can’t go back to Escana with you.”
“Who said you had a choice?” Wolfe drawled.
“Wolfe,” Caleb warned.
“Well? She doesn’t, does she?” Wolfe narrowed his gaze.
Aleki was surprisingly quiet and she turned to look at him. Surely, he didn’t want her going with them?
But he nodded to her. “We’ve discussed it. This is the best idea.”
“You’ll be able to rest and recover there,” Caleb told her.
“Caleb, I can’t go to Escana with you. It’s not safe.”
Wolfe snorted. “I can assure you that there is nowhere safer than Escana. Security is our job. If we can keep several members of the royal family safe, I think we can do the same for one tiny female.”
Caleb nodded. “Once the doctor gives the all-clear, we’ll leave. Don’t worry, we’ll look after you.”
They didn’t understand. It wasn’t her that she was worried about.
It was them.
10
Vivi knew she didn’t have much time.
Caleb had gone to talk to the doctor about getting her discharged. Wolfe had just disappeared without a word. She’d asked Aleki to order them pizza while Wolfe was gone. He’d just left to collect it since no one was allowed up on this floor. She shuffled out of bed, thankful that the IV line had been disconnected earlier. Although the port was still in. But she wasn’t going to remove that and risk having it bleed everywhere.
And she’d never been good with blood.
She climbed from the bed, holding the frame as a wave of dizziness assaulted her. Shit. Fuck. She didn’t have time for this.
As soon as the dizziness disappeared, she limped painfully over to the wardrobe. Her ankl
e was bandaged tightly, which was the only reason she figured she could tolerate any weight on it. Reaching in, she pulled out her bag. She’d gotten the nurse to help her into her sweats and a T-shirt earlier, claiming her nightie needed washing.
She grabbed her flip-flops, slipping them on. They weren’t the best shoes to move around in quickly but her swollen foot wasn’t getting back in those sneakers. She wasn’t even sure where her sneakers were.