Page 88 of Daddy's Bodyguard
“You take first watch.” I agree, laying back. “I’ll … I’ll take second.”
“Sure thing. I’ll wake you up in seven.”
“Five.”
“Sure.” He nods. “Knock out.” He pats my chest. “Enough fighting, Jasper. Heal up.”
“Just five.” I insist as my eyes close. “A bit of shut eye, and I’ll be right.”
Chapter 27
Sofia
I sit by Jasper’s side again, my legs folded under me. I’d argued with my father for a solid hour before I finally left the hospital to get a shower and a change of clothes. Not that I bothered to go the extra mile. Gray leggings and black tank top, and I barely ran a brush through my hair. Scarlett insisted that I take her white wrap, in case I get cold and now I’m glad I did.
Two hours of reading to Jasper, and I’m half hoarse and more exhausted that I’m trying to show. But I don’t want to leave Jasper’s side until he wakes again. I want my face to be the first thing he sees when he opens his eyes. I can’t believe I almost lost him before telling him how I feel.
A nurse comes in to check his vitals and then nods with a smile that gives me hope. “Today’s the day.”
“He goes home?” I ask, setting the ereader to the side.
“No. He gets off the heavy pain meds.” She takes off the empty IV bag and replaces it with a fresh one, checks his arm, then pulls the curtain, asking me to step out while she takes care of the other wound.
I’m sure she’s doing more that I don’t want to know about. I watch her shadow through the curtain massage his leg. He won’t be allowed to walk or move for a while. The doctors said he was in surgery for a long time to make sure his insides would stay where they were.
The bullet missed his vital organs. They keep calling him lucky. But I don’t feel it. He’s not lucky until he wakes up. Really wakes up. The nurse pulls the curtain back, smiles at me, and leaves the room, closing the door behind her.
I sit back down. “Ready for another chapter?” I ask, although I know he won’t answer.
But I’m halfway through the chapter when he opens his eyes and looks around wildly. Kingston warned me he might panic when he wakes up. I take his hand, relief flooding me. “Hey. It’s okay. We’re safe.”
He freezes, then slowly looks at me. “Sofia...”
“Hi.” I stand up and move to dim the lights. When I turn around, I see him trying to sit up and push him back down. “No. Behave.”
“You’re here.”
“I’m here.” I brush his hair back from his face. “Just like you.”
He shakes his head. “No. You’re okay. One piece.”
“Thanks to you.” I take his hand again as an emotional wave runs over me. “You keep saving my life.”
“It’s my life’s mission, I guess.” He cracks a smile, and I roll my eyes, but I feel the tears threatening me once again. Jasper shakes his head, and a croak of a sound comes out of his throat. “No.”
I wipe my eyes and force a smile. “It’s okay.”
“No crying.” He lifts his hand to brush my cheek. “We’re alive.”
“You came for me. Even after I yelled at you.”
I lean into his hand and close my eyes. Seeing him was like the cruelest dream. I was sure that the blow to my head had fucked with me. Had broken my brain. But then he was hurt, not just setting me free. Hurt, bleeding. Again. All because of me.
“You keep getting hurt because of me. I’m bad luck.”
“No.” His fingers brush over my cheek again. “No, darling. You’re good luck. I’m alive. The bullet missed my spine.”
A sob escapes my lips, and Jasper squeezes my hand.