Page 104 of Open To Negotiation

His beautiful eyes snapped to mine, they looked haunted. He had more scruff along his jawline, his hair was messier than usual.

“Are you awake this time?” he asked as he passed me a plastic cup with a straw. After sucking down some water I passed it back.

“How long have I been out?” As I tried to sit up, I moved my left hand only to find that it hurt like hell. I looked down at the cast on my wrist and frowned.

“It’s broken but the doctor is confident it will heal well,” Theo said as he stood up. He helped me sit up and placed a pillow behind my head.

“Ouch,” I muttered quietly. I got a bit of a head rush as I moved but it passed.

“You’ve only been out for three hours,” Theo answered my earlier question quietly as he sat back down and looked at his feet.

“I told Ash not to call—” I stopped as I realized what he had just said. “You couldn’t have gotten back from London that fast.” He smirked and then pressed his lips down, almost like he hadn’t meant for it to slip out.

“I wasn’t in London, I was already home.” I looked down at my hands. That meant he had been home and hadn’t called. Hadn’t shown up. “I was your emergency contact,” he said, explaining his presence.

“I changed it when you and I were… when my mom…” I looked up at him in panic. “You didn’t call her, did you?”

“No,” he answered quickly. “I figured you wouldn’t want her to come home and only you will be able to convince her.” I smiled tightly at him and sank back.

“Theo, you should go. I’m fine and—” A knock sounded at the door and cut off any reply.

“Miss West.” A man in a white lab coat strutted in with a woman in scrubs behind him. “Nice to see you awake.” Theo stood as well and went to stand at the back of the room. “Mind if we ask you a few questions and check your vitals?”

“Go ahead.” I sat there as the doctor ran through my injuries and the nurse checked things on the monitors I was attached to.

They decided to take the IV fluid out since I was awake and could drink for myself now. After a few more questions the doctor got paged away and left the nurse to give me more meds.

“Your fiancé here has been very attentive,” she said as she blinked over at Theo. I frowned but managed to neutralize my expression before the nurse stopped making eyes and looked back at me.

“I’m very lucky,” I said with no emotion in my voice before downing the pills she passed me.

“I’ll be back in an hour to recheck your vitals. Hit the call button if you need something.” She looked at Theo again who was watching me before she walked out. I was used to women acting like that with him, I was glad he was still ignoring it, at least in front of me.

I looked back to Theo. “Why does she think you’re my fiancé?”

He cleared his throat, still at the back of the room. “When the police called me, they asked what our relationship was. I figured I’d get more information that way.”

I nodded, mulling it over while he couldn’t even look at me. As I was about to ask him another question, it was like my brain sparked and I was able to think more clearly.

“Oh my god.” I took the monitor off my thumb and started pushing the blankets back.

“Quinn, what the hell are you doing?”

“Aubrey. How did I forget about her? I have to find her. Is she okay?” I tried to stand up but Theo was there holding my shoulders down.

“Calm down.” His voice was low. He bent down so he was at my eye level, but I was breathing too quickly. I was panicking.

“You need to get the police. I can’t believe… Is Aubrey…” I was starting to hyperventilate.

“Aubrey is in critical condition, she’s still in surgery. Breathe, Love.”

“The police. I need to talk to them. Where is Max? Is he still here?” My mind was a mess and moving too quickly.

“Dane.” Theo’s loud voice made me jump as the door to my room opened. “Get Jaxson, have him bring the detectives.”

“I need to go,” I said, trying to move, but Theo grabbed my chin and gently forced me to look at him instead of over his shoulder. His eyes froze me in place.

“Quinn, breathe. Please. Together.” I watched as he took a breath and I managed to take a shaky one of my own. “That’s it, Love, just breathe.” Another three breaths together and I was able to think, the oxygen back in my brain. The door opened and I watched as all the guys and two men I didn’t recognize came into the room. “Can you sit back in bed?” Theo asked and helped me in before I could even answer. I wouldn’t admit it to him but moving hurt.