Chapter 13 - THE HOSPITAL
Damian survived surgery.
The bullet passed through his shoulder and missed the artery by less than an inch.
Elena didn’t leave the hospital.
Mia slept curled across two waiting room chairs.
At 4:12 in the morning, a doctor finally walked out.
“He’s awake.”
Elena stood.
“Can I see him?”
“Family only.”
She stopped.
Of course.
She wasn’t family.
She was the housekeeper.
Then a weak voice came from inside the room.
“Let her in.”
The doctor looked surprised.
Elena wasn’t.
Damian had apparently heard everything.
She entered.
He looked terrible.
Pale.
Tired.
Angry at being connected to machines.
“You look awful,” Elena said.
“Thank you.”
“You got shot.”
“I noticed.”
“You pushed me.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I didn’t say thank you.”
“You were thinking it.”
She sat beside him.
For a moment neither spoke.
Then Damian looked toward the hallway.
“Mia?”
“Sleeping.”
“Safe?”
“Yes.”
He exhaled.
“Good.”
Elena studied him.
“You scared her.”
“You?”
“What?”
“Did I scare you?”
She looked away.
“That’s not important.”
“It is to me.”
Elena sighed.
“Yes.”
“How much?”
She gave him a flat look.
“You were bleeding on me.”
“So… medium?”
She laughed despite herself.
Then covered her face.
“This is stupid.”
“What?”
“Everything.”
Her voice cracked.
Damian stopped smiling.
Elena whispered, “Yesterday morning my biggest problem was that my daughter ran across the lawn with a dollar.”
“And now?”
“Now the woman you were marrying tried to frame me for eighty-seven million dollars, a criminal kidnapped my daughter, and you got shot in your wine cellar.”
“Service tunnel.”
She stared at him.
“Really?”
“Accuracy matters.”
Elena laughed again.
Then started crying.
Damian reached for her hand.
Slowly.
She let him.
Neither said anything.
A minute passed.
Then Damian spoke.
“I failed you.”
She looked at him.
“I employed you for four years. Vanessa treated you badly in my house, and I didn’t see it.”
“You were busy.”
“That’s an excuse.”
“Yes.”
He blinked.
She squeezed his hand.
“But it’s also true.”
He looked at their hands.
“Elena.”
Before he could continue, Harris entered.
“Sorry.”
Elena pulled her hand back.
Too quickly.
Harris noticed.
He pretended not to.
“Vanessa is in custody.”
Damian’s face hardened.
“Charges?”
“Fraud, identity theft, conspiracy, illegal surveillance, obstruction. Probably more.”
“What about Preston?”
“Alive.”
Elena frowned.
“He survived?”
“Barely.”
“Good.”
Harris raised an eyebrow.
“I want him awake when they sentence him.”
“Fair.”
Damian asked, “And Elena?”
“Cleared.”
Elena’s shoulders dropped.
Completely.
For the first time in twenty-four hours, she could breathe.
Harris continued.
“Robert is cooperating. We recovered most of the money.”
“Most?”
“Sixty-nine million frozen already. More likely coming.”
Damian nodded.
Then Harris looked at Elena.
“There’s something else.”
Her stomach tightened again.
“What now?”
“We found Vanessa’s files.”
Elena groaned.
“I’m afraid to ask.”
Harris handed her a folder.
Inside were photographs.
Mia.
At daycare.
At the cottage.
With Damian.
Dozens.
Then one photograph made Elena stop breathing.
A photo of Mia’s biological father.
Elena looked up.
“Why does Vanessa have this?”
Harris’s expression became grim.
“Because Vanessa paid him.”
Elena’s hands began shaking.
“For what?”
May you like
Harris answered.
“To come back into Mia’s life.”
