“Are you fucking kidding me right now?” The other man in the room says under his breath.
“Vaughn.” My husband’s voice is low and laced with a warning.
“You’re lucky you’re my brother,” he says before storming from the room and leaving us alone.
“I take it my brother-in-law doesn’t like me?” I ask.
“Vaughn is always a dick. You’ll get used to it.” He gives me a soft smile.
“Did I get used to it before?” The question causes the smile to slip from his lips.
“Maybe he’ll just grow on you.” I can tell he is trying to tease me, but something feels off. It’s like I’m not getting the whole answer.
“I don’t know your name,” I admit and guilt nags at me for that. “I’m sorry.” I drop my head and my short dark hair falls in front of my face. And I’m shocked once again that I didn’t know what color it was.
How can I know what a hospital is and that the ring on my finger tells me I’m married, but I didn't know what color my hair was until now?
“Kade,” my husband answers as his finger goes under my chin to lift my head. “You might not remember everything, but I promise we’ll make new memories. Ones you’ll never be able to forget.”
“That’s the second promise you’ve made to me.” Does he give them out too easily or are they a vow to him?
“Kade can be a lot of things but his word is solid,” the third man that went in search of a doctor says as he enters the room with a doctor right behind him.
He answers the unspoken question in my mind but he makes others take hold. What else can my husband be, because the other two men seem angry at him. At least that’s what I’m seeing right now.
“That’s Xander. Everyone calls him X,” Kade tells me before tucking my hair behind my ears. His touch is gentle but nothing about him looks soft.
“You’re awake again.” The doctor comes to the side of my bed and starts checking me over. I try not to fidget because he isn't saying much. I sit still and let him do his thing while questions pile up in my head.
“Kade,” I say softly as I reach for his hand. His big palm engulfs mine and gives it a gentle squeeze. “What’s happening?” I’m trying not to freak out but I still don’t know who I am, or why I’m here.
“We’re not sure,” the doctor says when he pulls the stethoscope away from my chest. “The brain can be tricky to understand.”
I look to Kade, wanting answers from him since the doctor is being too vague. “You’ve woken up a few times but you always slipped back under.”
I don’t remember any of that happening.
“How long have I been here?” My eyes glance over to Xander and Vaughn, who are watching us. The doctor flips through my chart and everything feels so off. Then again, what do I know? I can’t even remember what I look like.
“A few days,” Kade answers.
A flood of questions spills from me as I struggle to understand what’s happening. “How did I get here? What is my name? Why—”
“Calm down, darling.” Kade leans over, brushing his mouth against my forehead. “I need you to take a breath. I don’t want you passing out on me.” I close my eyes and bury my face in his chest, listening to the sound of his heartbeat. “There you go,” he says softly as his hand drifts across my back in a soothing gesture.
“It’s a good sign she’s not having another panic attack,” the doctor says, making me stiffen.
Do I have panic attacks? Is that a thing for me?
“Just get the fuck out. You’re not helping.” Kade’s voice is as cold as ice and for whatever reason I push myself further into him.
“Mr. Warsaw, if I were you—”
“If I were you I wouldn’t utter another word if you ever want to work again.” I don’t know how but Kade’s voice gets even colder and I swallow because I might not know my husband, but I know his words are true. There’s a long pause and the room is quiet so I can only assume the doctor left. “Get the plane ready. I want a different doctor sent to the island.”
“I’m not your fucking assistant,” I hear Xander say.
“No, but you’re my fucking brother and you’re going to have my back and do this for me,” Kade says with finality.
I look up to see X with his fists clenched at his side before he gives in. “Fine.”
“It’s all going to be okay,” Kade tells me and I nod.
He puts his arm around me and I lean into him, not only because it feels good to be held but because I have no clue what’s happening. I have to trust him and I pray that I’m making the right choice.
Chapter 2 Kade
I sit on the side of the bed and watch her sleep. The plane is high in the sky but we’re still hours from the island. Her shoulder-length dark hair fans across the pillow and her bronze skin glows against the sheets.
My fists are clenched at my side because I dare not touch her. It was all I could do to hold her against me in the car and to help her back into bed before I lost control. Even now, breathing the same air as her is threatening to break my control, but I can’t look away from her. I’m afraid to blink because the thought of her not being here when I open my eyes sparks a wave of terror within me.
She’s been asleep for so long already, but the new doctor said this was normal. I had her look Collins over before we boarded the plane and she gave me the reassurance we were
