Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 141428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
“What’s going on? What happened to Devi?”
“She was attacked. Home invasion,” Mac replied.
“Well, how is she?” Silla demanded
“I don’t know, Silla,” Mac said.
“Like I was saying, I’m waiting to hear⎯”
The door opened again and an older woman joined them. She was the most composed out of all of them, but fear filled her face as she stared at them.
“Have you heard how she is? A home invasion? What is the world coming to? And why would they break into that old trailer? Not like that fool, Derick had anything nice. If he had he would have sold it for booze. I’m Michelle. Devi does her pottery at my studio.”
“Her pottery?” he asked.
“She hasn’t told you about her pottery?” she demanded. Then she turned to Mac. “I thought you said he was keen on her.”
“I thought he was. Maybe they haven’t talked about the pottery yet. You know Devi keeps that quiet so Derick doesn’t learn of it.”
“Okay, what?” he asked.
“Devi is very talented,” the older woman said. “She makes the most beautiful vases and bowls. Stunning. She has a showing at a gallery in six weeks. I’ve started boxing everything. Just tell me, is she all right?”
They all stared at him. “She’s in surgery. I’m waiting to find out.”
The door opened again.
Lord, save him.
But this time, a doctor stepped inside. He glanced around tiredly. “Is someone here for Devi Dawson?”
“I am,” Hayes said.
“And me,” Silla added.
“Us too,” Mac said, gesturing to himself and Michelle.
The doctor eyed them all, his gaze lingering over Silla. “Are any of you related to her?”
“I’m her father,” Mac said.
“And I’m her aunt,” Michelle added.
“Sister,” Silla said without hesitation.
Dear Lord. If he didn’t know them, he’d actually believe what they were saying.
They were all insane.
“And you?” the doctor asked him.
“Fiancé.”
“There was no sign of a ring,” the doctor said. “I suppose the intruders might have taken it.”
“Bastards,” Silla spat out. “I’ve seen the ring. It was a whopper of a diamond. I bet that was the reason they attacked her. Not saying it was your fault, Hayes.”
“Right.” Except he still felt like it was. Not because of some pretend ring.
He’d left her.
Just like he’d left May.
“Just tell us how she is,” Michelle begged. “Is she going to be all right?”
The surgeon nodded. “None of her injuries were life-threatening. She did lose quite a bit of blood, but thankfully she’s a common blood type. Although I would encourage you all to donate while you’re here.”
“Not me,” Silla said. “I faint at the sight of blood. Just my own, though. It’s the darnedest thing.”
“Uh, right. Well, she’s likely to wake up feeling pretty awful from the blood loss and the general anaesthetic. As well as her arm.” He blew out a small breath. “The cut wasn’t that deep, but it was long. Thankfully, it didn’t hit any arteries or she might not have been so lucky.”
Jesus. Fuck.
“She’s going to be in some pain from for a while. And there was a lot of tendon and ligament damage. We repaired it as much as we could. But the recovery will be quite long and painful. Lots of rehabilitation.”
“Oh no,” Michelle said, taking a seat. “She’s a potter. She makes beautiful pottery. I don’t know how she’ll do that with one arm.”
“I’m hopeful that with proper rehabilitation eventually she might gain most of her movement back,” the surgeon said. “But there’s no guarantees, unfortunately.”
“But she’s going to be all right?” Hayes asked. That was the most important thing. He’d find her the best physical therapists, a new surgeon, whatever he had to. As long as she was alive.
“Physically, she will recover. But an attack like this could adversely affect her mental health. Especially with the cut to her face.”
“There’s a cut on her face?” Silla asked. “How bad is it? Will it scar?”
“It will likely scar. I did my best to stitch it back together in a way to minimize scarring. However, I’m not a plastic surgeon.”
“Plastic surgery could take care of that, right?” Mac asked. “Gonna cost a bomb, though.”
“Yes, it would. But it would be worth the cost for her self-esteem. A young girl like that shouldn’t be left with scars from an attack like this. I’m going to go write up my notes. If there are no other questions?”
“Just when can I see her?” Hayes asked.
“She’s in recovery. A nurse will come get you soon. But it is one at a time at the moment so I suggest the rest of you go home and shower. Get some food. Take it in shifts. She’ll need to be here a few days, at least.” He eyed Silla again. “Ah, I feel like I should ask about the basketball.”
“Huh? Oh!” Silla went red. “Didn’t realize I was holding this. Sorry. I sleep with it.”
The doctor blinked. “Um, right.” He still looked bewildered as he left.