Page 83 of Blood Money

“They’ll also take X-rays for that at the hospital. She’s conscious and coherent, so that’s a good sign.”

Alex moaned. “Gray?”

“I’m here, baby.” He leaned in closer as she opened red-rimmed eyes. She blinked rapidly, tears trickling down her soot-streaked cheeks.

Her hand tightened in his, and he breathed an audible sigh of relief. Beneath the oxygen mask, she mumbled something he couldn’t hear. She began tugging at the mask.

“No, sweetheart.” He repositioned it on her face. “Just breathe. You need it.”

She began shaking her head and pulled the mask away again. More tears leaked from her eyes. Gray didn’t know whether it was from the smoke or something else. Whatever the source, it tugged at his heart like nothing else could.

“I didn’t tell them.” She coughed. “No matter what happens, I didn’t tell them anything, and I wasn’t working for them. Please believe me.”

“I do believe you.” He held her hand to his lips then began to put her mask back on.

“Wait.” She pushed his hand away. “Something else I need to tell—” She was seized by a fit of coughing. “It’s about Nicky’s—” She coughed again and closed her eyes.

“Is she okay?” Gray heard the edgy panic in his voice.

The medic reset the mask onto her face then rechecked her vital signs and gently pushed up her eyelid. Using a penlight, he checked her pupil’s response. “She’s exhausted. I think she’s asleep.”

The other EMT hopped out of the back of the bus and shut the doors. Seconds later, the vehicle rocked as it began its trek to the hospital.

Gray took another hit of oxygen from his own mask. Worry clawed at his gut. He surmised the woman he shot in the hallway was the same one who’d contacted Alex. The woman and her accomplice were dead, but were Alex and Nicky really safe, or would another Pyramid assassin try to blackmail her again? Or worse, try to kill them?

A feeling of certainty came over him. No matter the answer, they would never get to Alex or her son.

They would have to come through him first.

Chapter Nineteen

The following afternoon, Gray held Alex’s hand as she rose from the wheelchair outside the emergency room and took the few short steps to his car.

Tired as she was, his light touch on her back had her wishing they were home in her bed. No sooner did her backside make contact with the upholstered seat than she was overcome with a fresh fit of coughing.

Gray knelt beside the passenger seat and took her hand in his. “Between the smoke inhalation, the goose egg on your head, bruised shoulder and ribs, you should be staying another night at the hospital.”

She shook her head. “The doctor released me, and I want to go home.” Her voice sounded raspy and hoarse. “I might sound bad, but I don’t even have a concussion.”

Gray scowled. “He released you, but you practically bribed him to sign you out.”

“I’ll be fine.” She squeezed his hand, loving the concern in his voice. “You’ll be with me if anything happens.”

Their gazes met, and once again Alex was mesmerized by the glittery sparkle of his eyes. Not even the aftereffects of rescuing her from a burning, smoke-filled barn could hide their unique beauty. He kissed the inside of her palm, a gesture so sweet it made her heart leap for joy. Not only had this wonderful, heroic man saved her life, but he finally believed her. Something she thought would never happen.

“Let’s get you home and cleaned up.” He stood and shut the passenger door.

The clothes she wore were destined for the garbage. The nurses had cleaned her face and hands, yet every inhalation filled Alex’s nose with the lingering scent of smoke. It was in her hair, her clothes, and every pore of her skin.

Pain meds had eased the throbbing in her skull and ribs to a dull ache. Luckily, she hadn’t suffered any bone fractures. A long, hot shower followed by snuggling in bed with Gray’s arms around her would do far more for her recovery than being stuck in a hospital ever could.

After Gray got into the car and drove out of the hospital parking lot, her stomach growled.

“Daisy wanted to come to the hospital.” Gray turned left at the first intersection, heading back to her apartment. “But Dom convinced her not to. She wanted to do something to help so he told her to stock your kitchen with ice cream, soup, and anything else easy to swallow.”

Alex raised her brows. “Dom actually called Daisy?”

“No.” Gray chuckled. “He didn’t have her number, so he went to her apartment to let her know what happened to you, and that you were okay.”