Scarlet
I ache all over.
Every part of my body feels like it’s being pricked by a thousand needles. A cough wracks my body, but I will it down when I feel the burn in my throat.
Where am I?
As I come to, I notice the warmth of fresh silk sheets keeping me safely cocooned. I stir, moaning, when I feel a hand on my shoulder.
“Take it easy, Scarlet. You need to rest.”
Snapping my eyes open, I find my saviour. I smile. I knew—despite everything I’ve done to him—that he would save me.
Once he notices my smile, a visible breath of relief escapes him. “Fucking hell, Scarlet. What’s happened to you? Who did this to you? I called my local doctor out to examine you, and he told me someone tried to strangle you. Who would do such a thing?”
I open my mouth to try and get the words out, but nothing comes. I need water.
As if sensing this, David quickly jumps up and pours me a glass next to my bed. “Here,” he says, bringing the water to me while gently cradling my head and tilting the glass towards me for a sip. My throat is so sore and so past dry that I end up almost choking on the water. I squint in pain as water cascades down my chin. He is there straight away to dry me off.
“Thank you,” I whisper. And I mean it—in more ways than one.
“A part of me wanted to take you to the hospital and call the police, but I figured since you didn’t do that yourself and instead turned up at my house that you didn’t want that.”
My eyes widen as I shake my head in agreement. “No police,” I manage to utter to him. I don’t want anyone apart from David to know that I am here, and I am alive. A part of me knew David wouldn’t go to the police. He’s rich and has enough people on tap whenever he needs them—including doctors.
I look up to find a tube connected to a saline drip. “You were severely dehydrated. The doctor said you needed it and that without it, you would die. In fact, he said you were close to death.” His face looks incredulous. “Scarlet, please tell me who did this to you.” He reaches out, taking my hand in his. It’s only then that I look at him—really look at him. In the short space of time it has been since I’ve seen him, he has changed. His dull dark hair looks more vibrant, his light brown eyes are sparkling, and he has a bright glow about his face. It all makes him look ten years younger.
As I trail my eyes down his body, I notice something else too. He looks more buff, like he’s been working out. It would seem leaving my mum has given David a new lease on life.
“It doesn’t matter,” I whisper back to him.
Gripping my hand tighter, David leans forward. “Someone tried to kill you. Of course it matters. Please tell me what happened.”
I make an effort to sit up, but I’m so weak that I grunt my frustration. David moves swiftly and pulls me up. When I’m in a more comfortable position, I look up, finding David staring down at me with a worried expression furrowing his brow. I smile, bringing a hand up to cup his cheek. “Thank you,” I say again, trying to convey more to him than he realises. “After everything I’ve—”
“Shh,” he answers, grabbing my hand and holding it tightly. “It’s water under the bridge. In fact, you did me a favour. I have to be honest, I hadn’t been happy for a long time.” He sighs, breaking away from me before settling next to me on the bed. “But, that’s a discussion which can wait. I’m more worried about you and finding out who the fuck did this to you.”
“My business partner,” I croak. I wasn’t entirely sure how much I should reveal to David, but something was telling me I could trust him.
He’s about the only person in my life right now who I can trust. My instincts of course told me I could trust Stuart, but those same instincts made me certain he would end up hurt in the end if I involved him. No, he is both safer and better off if he ends up thinking I died. After all, the Scarlet he knew truly is dead.
“Your business partner did this to you? Why?”
I see the endless questions forming in that mind of his. The confusion is written all over his face. Why is he so surprised? After everything I’ve done, it’s a wonder that someone hasn’t tried to kill me sooner.
Including him.
“He wanted more than I could give him. He also wanted us to live in Spain and build a life together. As in together, together. He couldn’t handle that I had been seeing someone else.” I want to say more, but my throat is killing me.
I watch as I let it all sink in. I can see the anger rising in his face as I tell him. “I could kill him,” he offers. “I know people that can make him disappear. Feed him to the pigs. That’s what he’s good for.” I see the snarl on his face. It makes me smile inside.
I squeeze his hand, trying to get him to come back to me. “I will deal with him.”
He looks as though he can’t believe what I’m saying. “Haven’t you had enough of feeling the hate, resentment, and pain? Why not let someone else do that for you? I can deal with him. I can—”
I stop him with a shake of my head and a smile touching my lips. “No, David. This is not your fight. This is mine.”
He visibly sighs his discontent at my answer. “I will let this slide for now as you need your rest. The doctor said he would be round to visit shortly. He wanted to be here for when you woke up. He wants to check your vitals and your reflexes. He said he doesn’t know whether you stopped breathing or not, and because of that, he would like to do more tests. I will give him a call now to let him know you’re awake.”
David attempts to get up from the bed, but I grab his hand. He halts dead in his tracks and turns to me with a worried expression. “Thank you,” I whisper with a smile.
David leans down, kissing the back of my hand. “There’s no need to thank me. I’m here whenever you need me. You need to know that. A part of me hopes that’s why you came to me instead of this new boyfriend of yours.”
I look away, pain twisting in my gut at the thought of Stuart. What must he be thinking? By now, he’s most probably been round to my house to look for me.
“I’m sorry,” David says, seeing the pain on my face.
I shake my head. “Don’t be. He’s water under the bridge too.” And it pains me to think that, but I have to let Stuart go. He’s way too nice for a devil of a girl like me. I need a man who can think like I do. He may have denied it, but I know that, deep down, Stuart wants the wife, the white picket fence, and two-point-four kids. Something I know I never could have given to him. I would have gotten bored of him after a while.
That’s what I’ll keep telling myself anyway.
“By the look on your face, it doesn’t seem that way.”
I try taking in a deep breath, but it’s hard when my throat cries out with pain. I try putting on a smile. “He would never have been able to give me what I need. I realise that now.”
“I hope it’s because you’ve realised it on your own and not because this business partner has brainwashed you into thinking it.”
I shake my head with a curt smile. “No. A part of me knew this when I was with him. Reid doing what he did only cemented the idea.”
He sucks in a breath. “So, that’s the fucker’s name.” I nod. “I’ve never wanted to kill someone as badly as I do right now.”
The thought makes me feel light-headed. At least I have someone who cares for me. Someone on my side. I take his hand again. “After everything I’ve done to you, why are you helping me? Why are you taking care of me? Looking after me like this?”
David leans forward and kisses the top of my head before looking into my eyes. He trails a finger under my chin and replies, “Someone needs to.”
When I see the genuine smile light up his face, tears sting my eyes. I know he was referring to my family, and I know he feels I was the victim of an injustice where they’re concerned—just like I do. I expected as much. I didn’t expect for his words to hit me so hard, however. Not only did I feel their impact in my gut, but I also felt them in my previously impenetrable heart.
“Please don’t cry.” He pulls me forward, embracing me with his big, strong arms. I allow him to reassure me—inhaling a new aftershave I don’t recognise on him. It’s nice … comforting.
As I pull away, I kiss David lightly on the cheek. “How am I ever going to repay you for looking after me?”
“Scarlet,” he abolishes, “you’ve lived your whole life thinking that people only do things because they want something in return. Stop believing that about everyone. I’m helping you because I care. I am looking after you for the same reason. Because I care. Believe that. I don’t expect a damn thing in return. Okay?” He takes my face in his hands, imploring me with his eyes to believe that what he says is true.
I nod my head. “Okay,” I whisper on a croak.
“Good,” he answers, pulling his hands away. “I think the doctor will want to try you with something to eat, but I’ll give him a call first. I’m anxious for him to check you over. As far as I can tell, you seem well. I know that sounds like shit considering that mentally—above all else—you can’t be after what you have been through.” He turns his head as if the thought disgusts him. On a sigh, he gets up. “I’ll go speak with him, and I’ll be right back. Do you need me to get anything for you before I go?”
Realising I need a pee, I nod. “I could use the bathroom.”