Prince and the Pauper

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Hours had passed since I had been put to bed by Harry, and he was yet to return. I had slept for just under an hour, and had been awoken by a smashing sound downstairs. Harry had briefly  entered the room to assure me all was okay, but apparently a vase had been thrown out of frustration. After he informed me on the outburst, he had gone back downstairs to plan our next step in taking down Drake and Trace, and keeping Dante in prison. That was two hours ago. I had been tempted to creep downstairs and try and pickup on what was being said, but my current healing condition ruled stealth out of the question. Frustrated an very bored, I decided to go to the bathroom and run a bath, not trusting my wobbly legs to hold me up too long for a shower. Putting the plug in the tub and running the tap I winced as I straightened up, pain shooting up my spine. The memory of Dante throwing me to the ground floor and a metal pole striking against the tailbone made my eye squeeze closed.
"I'll treat you like the mud-rud trash you truly are." Dante had snarled venomously.  The memory stood out in my mind so clearly I knew it would be impossible to ever forget. Trying to move past my brush with death was going to be like drawing on a piece of paper with a permanent marker and turning the page over. Always on the previous page but the remnants would bleed through and show.
. Forcing the memories out of my mind I walked over to the mirror and was disgusted to see my reflection. My face looked pale and gaunt, dark bags settled under my dark eyes, and my usual curly auburn hair looked frizzy and straw-like. Dante had well and truly broken me. I shook my head at my reflection and turned away from the mirror, jolting when I saw Harry standing the doorway, arms folded across his muscular chest, and a sympathetic look plastered on his handsome face. We remained silent, only communicating with our eyes, and it said a lot. He had bad news and was struggling to decide how to break the news to me. Guilt was swarming in his eyes.
"C'mere beautiful." Harry murmured softly, and I walked over to him, Harry meeting me halfway. Strong arms wrapped around my torso, fitting me to his body, and my head rested on his chest right over his beating heart. I released a heavy sigh as Harry combed his fingers through my hair whilst his lips sprinkled kisses on the top of my head.
"I'm not going to like the verdict, am I?" I asked softly, and I felt Harry reluctantly shake his head.
"No baby, you're not." He whispered delicately, and I stiffened in his arms.
"Just tell me." I pleaded. I pulled back just enough to look up at him, and his eyes met mine, his lips pinched in a straight line.
"There's no easy way to say this. Hell, I don't know how to say it at all." He shook his head at himself, and I allowed him to walk me over to the bath, sitting me down on the edge of the bath.
"You know Dante tried to kill you." He whispered guiltily, and I nodded slowly. "He his the son of Trace, and was raised by Drake, so it's safe to say he got his ruthlessness from them." Harry locked his fingers with mine, his thumb drawing circles on his hand.
"They want me dead too. I figured as much." I said, confused why he thought this was news to me. Like it would be the straw that broke the camels back.
"Yes, more importantly they won't rest until they think you've paid. The only way they wouldn't come after you is if there was nothing to come after." He ran his other hand down his mouth and released a stressed sigh.
"Harry just spit it out. Please." I begged, and his glassy eyes met mine.
"You're dead, Devonne." Harry whispered. "As far as the world is concerned, Devonne Abel didn't survive the injuries from being held hostage." I blinked once, twice, three times, processing what he just said. My mouth opened, but closed again when lack of words failed to form on my tongue. Harry grimaced with remorse, and his hand rose to cup my cheek gently.
"Say something." He begged, his forehead pressing to mine.
"When?" I managed to say.
"Zaiden broke the news to the media just now. He said last night you passed away due to malignant hyperthermia. It's basically a rare reaction caused by a drug. Your biopsy from hospital did confirm you were drugged as some point, with succinylcholine?" I nodded in confirmation. Dante had shoved a needle in my arm when they took me and threw me in the van, and I had been effectively paralyzed. I didn't know what drug he had used, but I did now.
"How many people will know the truth? That I'm still alive." I demanded, and Harry inhaled sharply.
"You, me, Zaiden, mom, and Zaiden's security men." He revealed the short list, and panic instantly  bloomed in me.
"But the  hospital-Geordie-they-if I am dead-" I couldn't finish my sentence, and Harry pulled me back into his chest.
"I'll take legal guardianship, Dev." Harry informed me, stroking my hair as I cried at loss for words. "When we take down Trace and Drake for good, we'll start anew. You, me, Geordie, this house. I know it sounds stupid, but this isn't permanent. When we've compiled enough evidence and have a strong case, we'll take this to court. Explain faking your death was the only way to keep you safe. We'll have the best lawyers, the town is already turning on Drake, they know Dante is a criminal, and when Trace is linked with them, the case will be a slam-dunk." Harry assured me, rubbing his hand up and down my back soothingly.
"I know it's crazy, and it seems impossible, but this can work, Dev. This will work." Harry's eyes hardened with determination, and I buried my head back into the crook of his neck.
"Is there no other way?" I whimpered, and Harry didn't answer, which gave me an answer anyway. It was too much to take in. Faking my death was drastic. Hell, I wasn't even sure it was legal. But if it was fake my death or have my life brutally be taken from me by Drake or Trace, I'd take my chances with having a run-in with the law later on. Live now and answer questions later. Still, it was a lot to take on board. I licked my lips slowly, drawing in a shaky breath.
"Darling look at me." Harry said gently, yet firmly. I couldn't meet his stare, I couldn't think, my mind was swirling. My chin was gripped in his hand and tilted up, my forehead pressed to his. I felt pressure in my head, and I let my head collapse into his chest, my hand flattening over his heart. My body was scooped up quickly as Harry clicked onto what was happening. My body was quickly carried to the bedroom where he lowered me onto the bed so I was sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Put your head down, Dev." Harry instructed softly, his hand rubbing up and down my back as he lowered my head down between my legs. Breathes came easier and I gulped them in, fighting off another panic attack. This was all so much to take on. From one problem to another, it seemed the world was out to get me. To destroy any scrap of happiness I could possibly scavenge up in my life.
"This is going to work, Devonne." Harry assured me again, finalizing the statement with a soft peck to the top of my head.
"And if it doesn't?" I asked Harry slightly out of breath. I didn't hear Harry respond, so I raised my head to see those green eyes darkening slightly.
"What if they see through the plan, Harry?" I whispered hoarsely, fear squeezing at my throat. Harry lowered himself onto the bed next to me, and took my hand in his as he drew in a heavy breath. At last our eyes locked and the intensity made me inhale sharply, but his next words were the biggest sucker-punch of all.
"Then I will end Trace and my father for good. Myself."