Chapter 173
Chapter 173
Keira sat on the edge of the hospital bed, now dressed in the clean clothes Blair had brought her, soft gray leggings and an oversized plain sweatshirt that felt like heaven after two days in that filthy gown. She had taken a shower and washed her hair.
Her discharge papers were signed, her prescriptions for mild pain relievers and a sleep aid if she needed them, were tucked in her purse. Dr Morris had warned her to look for signs of PTSD.
All she wanted was to see Alexei before she left. Just one glimpse. One moment to reassure herself that what had happened between them in that
warehouse was… more. That it had meant something.
“Are you sure you feel up to walking?” Blair hovered nearby, maternal instincts in overdrive. She really hoped her sister didn’t turn into a helicopter mother when the baby arrived. Sutton had always been the overprotective one.
Keira offered a tired smile. “I’m fine, Blair. My legs still work.” She stood to demonstrate. Every part of her body ached from the hard cot, the stress, and… other activities. “I’m just really tired.” God was that an understatement.
“We can take you straight home,” Sutton said, gathering Keira’s few belongings. “Roman’s got the car ready.“”
“Actually…” Keira hesitated. “Before we do that, I want to check on Prince Alexei.”
Her sisters exchanged a quick glance that didn’t escape Keira’s notice.
“What?” she demanded.
“Nothing,” Blair said too quickly. “It’s just… they moved him to a private room upstairs. Security’s pretty tight.”
Sutton nodded. “His father sent a royal physician from Wystovia. Mitchell’s got the place locked down.”
“I still want to see him.” Keira squared her shoulders, ignoring the soreness. “Just for a minute.”
Blair studied her face. “Okay,” she said finally. “We’ll go with you.”
During the elevator ride to the sixth floor, Keira’s mind raced with what she might say to Alexei. How did you casually acknowledge that you’d had sex with your boss while being held hostage? No… not her boss he had fired her.
When the doors opened, it was immediately obvious which room was his. Two stone–faced security agents in dark suits flanked a door at the end of the
hall, and Mitchell stood in front of them, arms crossed.
Keira approached, her sisters trailing behind.
“Miss Warner,” Mitchell greeted her, his expression professional. “I’m glad to see you recovered.”
“Thank you.” She gestured toward the door. “I’d like to see Prince Alexei.”
“I’m afraid that’s not possible.” Mitchell didn’t move. “His Highness isn’t seeing visitors.”
Something cold settled in Keira’s stomach. “I’m not a visitor. I’m his-” Assistant? No, not anymore. Friend? That didn’t begin to cover it. “I was with him through the entire ordeal.”
“I understand, Miss Warner. However, the prince has been sedated for his concussion, and the King has ordered full privacy.”
“Sedated?” Keira frowned. “He was walking and talking earlier.”
Mitchell’s expression gave nothing away. “His condition required additional treatment.”
“That’s bullshit.” The words escaped before she could stop them. “He was fine.”
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Chapter 173
“Keira, Sutton murmured, placing a calming hand on her arm.
But Keira wasn’t about to back down. “Five minutes. That’s all I’m asking.”
“As I said, His Highness isn’t seeing anyone.” Mitchell’s tone made it clear the conversation was over. “Perhaps when he’s recovered and returns from Wystovia, you can arrange a proper meeting.”
“Returns from–” Keira’s voice caught. “When is he leaving?” He was going home?
“That information is classified. After what happened you can understand why.”
The cold feeling spread through her chest. Why was Alexei being whisked away? She needed to talk to him before then. This was so not right. But she couldn’t see herself taking on his protection detail.
“Can you at least tell him I came by?” she asked, hating how small her voice sounded.
“I’ll make sure His Highness is informed.” Mitchell’s tone softened slightly. “For what it’s worth, Miss Warner, I’m glad you’re safe.”
Keira stepped back, her thoughts in turmoil. This felt wrong. Not seeing Alexei before he was sent to Wystovia.
She needed to know… was what they shared in that warehouse over? But it wasn’t just that damn it… She didn’t know if he was ok.
“Let’s go,” she said to her sisters, turning sharply toward the elevator. She wouldn’t beg. She wouldn’t make a scene. She would have to wait to get her answers. Which really pissed her off. But Keira just didn’t see another way to get to him.
The ride down was silent, Keira staring fixedly at the floor numbers as they descended. Blair and Sutton didn’t speak, but she could feel their worried glances.
Roman waited with the car, looking relieved when they emerged from the hospital entrance. “All set?”
Blair got into the front passenger seat while Sutton and Keira took the back. “Did Luca take my car?”
Roman nodded, “Yeah he will drop it off tonight.”
Keira leaned her head against the window as Roman pulled away from the curb, she looked at the hospital as it went by. She was really upset she hadn’t got to see Alexei before leaving.
She closed her eyes, exhaustion washing over her in waves.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Blair asked gently.
They were seated around Keira’s small dining table, steaming mugs of tea before them. Roman had left after dropping them off, sensing the sisters needed time alone. Blair had told Roman they would get a taxi later.
Keira wrapped her hands around her mug, absorbing its warmth. “There’s nothing to talk about. We got kidnapped, we got rescued, end of story.”
Sutton raised an eyebrow. “And Prince Alexei?”
“He was there for me,” Keira said, focusing on her tea. It wasn’t a lie, just not the whole truth. “I wanted to thank him.”
Blair and Sutton exchanged another of those looks that made Keira want to scream.
“What?” she demanded.
“Nothing,” Blair said. “It’s just… you seem différent.”
“I was kidnapped, Blair. That tends to change a person.” But she knew what Blair meant… She had always been the smart mouthed one with the quick comebacks. Right now, the stuffing seemed to be knocked out of her and not surprising really.
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“That’s not what I meant Blair reached across the table, covering Keira’s hand with her own. “You don’t have to tell us everything now. But when you’re ready, we’re here.”
Keira felt tears prick her eyes. The urge to confess everything was overwhelming… how Alexei had tried to protect her, how if she hadn’t been part of a wealthy family she might not have been so lucky, how they’d found comfort in each other’s arms, how for a few hours in that horrible place, she’d felt something real with him. But the words wouldn’t come. They may never come.
How could she explain something she barely understood herself? Especially now, with Alexel locked away behind guards.
“I’m just tired,” she said finally. “And confused. And… and I don’t know what happens next.”
“You don’t have to figure it all out today,” Sutton said softly.
“But your job-” Blair started.
“I don’t have a job anymore,” Keira interrupted. “Alexei fired me.” That was another thing she needed to talk to him about. She hadn’t meant to blurt that out it had just happened.
Her sisters stared at her, shocked.
“He what?” Sutton demanded. “When?”
“During the kidnapping.” Keira almost smiled at the memory, of being fired while they were both hostages. And the reasons behind why he had done it. “I think he was joking… I hope he was joking anyway.”
“Joking how?” Blair pushed gently.
Keira sighed, running a hand through her hair. “Can we talk about this tomorrow? I’m just… I need sleep. Real sleep, in a real bed.”
Her sisters clearly wanted to press for more, but Blair nodded reluctantly. “Of course. But I don’t want you staying alone tonight. We can stay…”
“I’ll be fine-”
“Keira I don’t think that’s a good idea, not tonight.” Sutton cut in.
Keira knew that tone. It was Sutton’s non–negotiable voice, the one that had gotten them through their parents‘ deaths and a hundred crises since.
“You both have families,” she conceded. “I don’t think I have to worry about nightmares or anything tonight. I’m just too tired. Please trust my judgement. I just want to be alone. Come to terms with what happened to me.”
Two hours later, after she had finally pushed her sisters out the door because they had wanted to feed her first. She had another shower, this one longer and hotter than the one she had allowed herself at the hospital… washing her hair three times. Keira didn’t understand why she felt so dirty. But finally,
she crawled between clean sheets.
Keira stared at the ceiling, her body exhausted but her mind racing. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Alexei’s face…
Had it all been situational? Just two frightened people clinging to each other in the dark?
No. It had been more than that. It had started before they had been taken… the way he’d looked at her, touched her, spoken to her… But Alexei was a player. More than likely, he wasn’t even thinking of her and here she was going over everything in her mind and stressing. When what she really needed to be doing was sleep.
Eventually, sheer exhaustion won out. Keira drifted into a fitful sleep, dreams of Alexei and the warehouse swirling through her subconscious.
She wasn’t sure how long she’d been asleep when the pounding started. At first, she thought it was part of her dream… someone trying to break down the warehouse door to rescue them. But as consciousness returned, she realized the sound was coming from her apartment door.
Keira sat up in bed.
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“Keira!” Aman’s voice, muffled but unmistakable, called through the door. “Keira, open up!”
She knew that voice. Even distorted by the distance and the front door, she would recognize it anywhere.
Werel
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