The Revolution (34 page)

Looking at the phone in front of me, I say, “You can, but you’ll never end my love for him.”

“I will.”

I’m confused. One minute I’m holding the phone, the next it’s flying into the windshield. I reach up to stabilize myself, but my seatbelt cuts into me.

Opening my eyes, the nurse rushes in the door and past the officers to the machine. “Help me up,” I plead. “Please.” I struggle to sit up, but once the nurse assists me, I move my feet over the side of the bed. “Agh.” My ribs. I cradle my taped middle and use the steel stand of the IV to level me to my feet.

The nurse protests, “You need to get back in bed, Ms. Kessler.”

“I need to see him.” I head for the door to her dismay.

“You won’t catch him. He’s just left after I updated him on your condition. I told him to go home to get some rest. Anyway, you’re going to hurt yourself if you’re not careful.”

“Please help me. Please,” I cry. “I love him. I don’t want to lose him.”

She shakes her head, and then says, “I can’t help you. I’ll get in trouble.” My hope deflates until she adds, “But I’ll look away. You’ve got five minutes and then I’m coming for you.”

“That’s all I need.” I manage the door and she holds it with her foot, keeping her back to me. “Thank you.”

“Go.”

I tell the security guards, “I’ll be right back.” They don’t listen and step forward to follow. Looking down the corridor, I don’t have time to waste with them and pick a direction, going with the one that leads to the parking garage. I move slowly but steadily hoping he stopped to talk to anyone, maybe Rochelle, someone that could slow him down. I round the corner and that’s when I see him. Kaz is standing at the elevator doors waiting for them to open. I keep moving, but the doors open and he steps inside. “Kaz? Wait.” Right when I reach the silver steel doors they are closing. It’s too late. Our eyes meet and the doors close.

The stairwell is to my left, but I can’t take the stairs in this condition, so I remain in the last spot where he left me. Dropping my head down just as tears start to fall, I cry. “Please don’t leave me. Please don’t.”

Ding
.

When I look up, he’s standing there. His arms go wide, holding the offending doors open, and he says, “I would never leave you.”

My tears are still falling but now in happiness, each filled with hope. “I know. I remember everything.”

THE ELEVATOR BUZZES
in protest as I hold the doors wide open. The most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, the one who holds my heart, controls my emotions, stands before me in an ugly hospital gown somehow even making that look incredible.

Lara’s eyes are wide with anticipation, tears filling them, hope written into her soft smile. Pride swarms the blue of her eyes as if she’s solved the world’s problems, not knowing she’s solved mine with three simple words:
I remember everything.

“You do?” I ask.

“I do.” She takes a step closer and quietly says, “I love you. I think I loved you before I even knew I loved you, Kaz.”

I drop my arms to my sides and step out of the elevator. She takes one more step and the distance between us closes. Taking her by the back of her head and her waist, I kiss her like I’ve wanted to kiss her for the hours, days, and years that existed but were never complete without her in it.

When we part, I close my eyes and our foreheads come together. I whisper, “I love you, Lara. I love you. I love you. I love you.” The words are a chant so her heart never forgets our love again, even if her mind can’t remember.

Her breath warms my chest as I hold her close, so close, never wanting to let her go. “You saved me.”

I’d confess that I feel at fault I couldn’t be there, that I left when she needed me, that I couldn’t stop him from taking her. The confession lumps in my throat. I’m so grateful I can hold her now and that she’s here, she’s alive, she remembers. I take her hand carefully from my arm and bring it to my lips, kissing near where the IV pricks her skin. “Let’s get you back to bed. You need rest. You need to heal.”

“Stay with me,” she says, looking up into my eyes. A halo of light is reflected in them, brightening her plea.

I smile. “I’m not going anywhere, baby.”

We walk back to her room together. My arm stays wrapped around her waist but I’m cautious. I don’t want her in any more pain than she already is.

The nurse is standing outside the door, tapping her foot. Her smile gives her away though. “Ms. Kessler, you need to get right back in bed. They won’t discharge you if you’re not better.”

“I had important business—”

“Mr. Fabian
may
be important business, no doubt, but healing is more important.” Stepping inside, she holds the door wide open for us. “I’m sure he understands. Right, Mr. Fabian?”

Spying her nametag, I smile to get us on her good side. “Yes, Nurse Martin.”

She cracks a wider smile as she takes Lara’s side and helps her back into bed. “Food will be brought around soon. I suggest you eat. You must be starved. Can I get you anything else in the meantime?”

Lara glances to me. “I’m good. Thank you.”

Nurse Martin scolds playfully, “Mr. Fabian, let her rest please.”

“I’ll make sure she does.” As soon as the nurse shuts the door, I tell her, “Scoot over. I’m coming in.” Lara wriggles to her right and I slip off my jacket and then my shoes. When I climb in, I wrap my arm under her and she turns on her side, snuggling against me. “I love you.”

“I love you, too. I’m sorry for last night.”

“Do you know why?” I don’t finish the question. It hurts me to even say it, but I need to know why she was so scared of me.

“There’s an email. He wrote an email that included the photos you took of me.”

Anger sweeps through my veins, but I try to remain calm so I don’t worry her. “What did it say?”

She’s still, so still that I tighten my arm around her.

“He was going to send it to the press saying you did that to me. I remember reading it, seeing the photos, trying to convince him not to when we crashed.”

“It was the last thing you saw.”
The bastard. Sick, fucking bastard.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. Your mind played tricks on you. It was the last image you had, the words that said I hurt you. You knew, deep down, you know I wouldn’t.”

“I know you won’t.”

I kiss the top of her head. “Get some rest. I’ll wake you when the food is delivered.”

She nods wordlessly, closing her eyes. It doesn’t take but a few minutes in my arms for her to fall asleep, her slumber even and her breathing steady. If she gets real rest so she can heal, I’d stay like this forever.

It wasn’t food that woke Lara from her sleep. It was a doctor. He knocked lightly disturbing my sleeping beauty. We turned and although I know I should trust doctors, I still kept my hold around her firm enough to protect her and light enough not to hurt her.

“I’m Dr. Herman. I’m sorry to interrupt but I needed to speak with you.”

Lara readjusts and sits up, my body remaining her support. “Hello.”

“I’m Mr. Renner’s doctor.”

She shudders. Our peaceful space invaded by the name alone. “We want nothing to do with him.”

“I understand that, Mr. Fabian, but like we ask our patients to follow doctor’s orders, we try to follow our patients requests if we can.”

Lara clears her throat. “He has a request? I thought he was in a coma?”

“He’s woken up.”

Our sanctity—that Mark Renner was unconscious—is broken. Violated by the news, I can feel it in my girl, the way she’s shaking. Her heart monitor beeping.

I’m firm. There is no room for any misunderstanding. “We don’t want anything to do with him. You do realize that he not only kidnapped her, but tried to kill her, right?”

“I’m not here to judge. I’m here to heal. I won’t be put in a position to be judge nor jury on this issue.”

“I will. I will be judge, jury, and executioner if he even utters her name.”

The doctor shifts and puts his hands in his pockets. “I will pretend I didn’t hear that—”

“You don’t have to pretend. I’ll say it to his fucking face.”

He looks at the chart in his hands, then back to up. “I’m only here to let you know he’s woken up and he would like to see Ms. Kessler.”

“No way!” I state, unflinching in my stance.

The doctor turns to Lara. “Ms. Kessler, the decision is ultimately yours. I understand the situation is heated, but I do need to tell you that he’s not in great condition.”

She replies, “Because he tried to kill us. I don’t owe him anything despite his health. I won’t be seeing him ever again if I have my way.”

The doctor goes to the door. “Very well.” He leaves, but Rochelle shows up before the door closes.

“Hey, you two. I heard there was good news in here and seeing you together like this—this is very good news.” She walks around to Lara’s side of the bed and they hug. “How are you feeling?”

“Better. Much better. Memories intact.”

“Your parents will be so happy. I’ll let them get a few more hours sleep before contacting them.”

“Thank you. Do you know when the doctor will be around to check me out? I don’t want to stay here any longer.”

She replies, “I’ll check for you. What’s going on?”

I say, “Renner’s awake.”

Rochelle’s eyes widen. “How do you know?”

Lara says, “That was his doctor. Mark has requested to see me.”

“No,” Rochelle responds adamantly.

I always liked Rochelle.

Looking down at her hands, Lara speaks low, but we hear when she says, “I can’t rest knowing he’s down the hall from me. I just can’t.”

“You don’t have to,” I say. “We’re getting you released today.” I ease up to my feet.

Rochelle looks at me. “We need to talk about the two shows that were cancelled and the interview.”

“Shoot.”

“Tommy and I thought it was best to flip things around since the shows were pushed to next week. The interview will be postponed, but I don’t know how long. Do you think you’re up for it?”

“I can’t think about that. We need to push it until Lara’s better.”

Lara sits up. “You should do it. If you don’t, the speculation will get worse and they’ll start digging deeper. This is your chance to put the rumors to rest.” Turning to Rochelle, she adds, “I still want to be there.”

“You’re not going to be there. You’re going to rest. The interview can wait.”

“I don’t want you to have to wait on me. The paparazzi are hounding you as it is.”

“I can handle them. You focus on healing. We’ll get you home and settled, so you can recover in comfort.”

“I don’t want to go to my townhouse.”

I’m not even sure if it’s showing, but I feel that damn cocky smirk on the inside. “Who said anything about your place, beautiful?”

A squeal erupts but not from Lara. We both look at Rochelle who is smiling ear to ear with excitement oozing as she bounces. “Oh my God. You want Lara at your house?” Turning to Lara, she says, “Say yes, Lara. Yes to love.”

Lara looks to me. I nod. “Say yes to love, Lara.”

There’s a pause as she looks between us. Her eyes settle on mine, and with the first unburdened smile I’ve seen on her in a while, she says, “Yes. Yes to love. Yes to you, Kaz.”
Best four words I’ve heard in a long time.