But deep down inside, I hoped and prayed Jasper wasn’t guilty of anything. There was more to Jasper than he let anyone see. Yesterday I had a glimpse of it. And now that the anesthesia had worn off, I was beginning to remember more of what happened when he found me in my room. Maybe my staying with him for the next several weeks, I’d get a better understanding of who the real Jasper Florraz was. Please, let him be the man who came visit me yesterday.
Burke pulled my earpiece from his pocket and said, “I’m glad Florraz didn’t find this in your room. You left it in the bathroom. Might explain why I couldn’t hear that you were in trouble yesterday.”
I only put it in when I was going to meet with Jasper or needed to communicate discreetly with Burke. “I never thought I’d need it. The attack came on so quickly. All I remember is lying down on the bed because I had a sharp pain on my side. Now we know what that was all about.”
The pain was much better than yesterday, and if Logan would let me leave the hospital, I’d get dressed and go. Dressed. I couldn’t remember what I was wearing when I was rushed to the hospital.
“What’s on your mind?” Burke asked.
I must’ve had a puzzled expression. “Do you know what they did with my clothes?” Burke cleared his throat evasively, so I asked, “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Do you know how you got here?” he asked.
I shrugged. “Not really. Why don’t you tell me?” Hopefully, he would fill in the blanks and I wouldn’t have to ask Jasper.
“When I entered your room, Florraz had wrapped you in a white bedsheet and you were in his arms. I had a feeling you weren’t wearing much other than that.”
“I was naked?” I asked, wishing my voice didn’t sound so panicked. In the military, you got over any insecurities about being naked. There were times you changed and privacy wasn’t available. I didn’t sleep in the nude, so that didn’t make any sense. But I still couldn’t understand why Jasper was there with me. Damn it. Now I’m going to have to ask him. And I’m not sure I want to know.
“If you had anything on, it wasn’t much. Not that I saw anything, but by the way the nurse fussed with keeping the sheet over you, I had to assume.”
“Then I guess I’ll need some clothes for when I’m discharged,” I said. “Do you think you can grab me some from my room?”
“I’d love to. But Florraz already had all your things packed and brought to his place yesterday. I’d be happy to have Robin send some over to you,” he offered.
God, Jasper. You move fast.“I know he asked, but I don’t recall saying yes.”
“Want me to go and retrieve your belongings?” he offered.
“No. We already settled this. I’m going to stay with Jasper. At least for now. I was just surprised that he already had it packed.” I didn’t like Jasper taking control of my movements.
“Maybe you should mention it when you see him next?”
“Mention what?” Jasper asked as he entered my hospital room.
This should be interesting.
“She was just asking me about her belongings. I informed her you had them removed from New Hope,” Burke stated.
Jasper didn’t seem troubled by that in the least. “No reason to leave them there when she isn’t returning.”
I could’ve cut the tension between those two with a knife it was so thick, though neither of them acknowledged it. Was there more history between them than I’d been made aware of? From what I knew, Burke hadn’t been in Tabiq all that long, maybe a year at the most. But if you rub Burke the wrong way, a year can feel like a lifetime.
“Thank you for taking care of that for me. I had just been asking about clothing. I wasn’t able to locate any here,” I said.
“That’s because there isn’t any,” Jasper stated. He didn’t elaborate on that but added, “I’ll bring some with me when I come to check on you tomorrow.”
“You visit daily?” Burke asked.
Jasper ignored his question and focused on me. He took a long look at me, assessing my well-being. After a moment he said, “You look as though you’re feeling a little better today. That’s good.”
“I am. Even went for a walk in the hall,” I said. “Not ready for much more than that, but it’s a lot better than yesterday.”
“Do not overdo it,” Jasper said in a warning tone.
I could see Burke out of the corner of my eye, his arms crossed, and he didn’t look pleased at all. It would be easy for him to read this situation incorrectly, as though Jasper and I were friendlier than just boss and employee. But there was nothing between us. In fact, all I knew of him was what Burke had provided in the file. And all Jasper knew of me was lies created by Burke.
For an instant, I wondered if I was in over my head. But I reminded myself why the lies and deceit were important to the mission. For every Tabiqian woman.