And So I Ran - Complete

Chapter 14

I smiled looking at the beautiful Miss Steele who was curled up sleeping with her head on my chest. She'd listened to my professions of love, accepted a small kiss, told me she was glad I was there, that we'd discuss everything later, and then fallen asleep on me. Not the reaction I'd been hoping for when I'd told her I loved her! But she'd made it clear she wanted me there, and after being so alarmed thinking she'd been abducted, I knew it was significant that I made Ana feel safe enough that she gave in to the healing sleep she needed.

Ana had only been asleep a few minutes when the nurse returned with her doctor. I outlined how she'd experienced some confusion about the events leading to her admission, but that the particulars were now coming back to her. The doctor explained that, and her sleepiness, were normal.

"How long will she have to stay here for?" I asked. While the suite here was streets ahead of a typical hospital room, it wasn't home, and that's where I wanted Ana to be right now.

"She'll have to stay tonight, but provided all is well, we should be able to discharge her first thing tomorrow. Although she'll need someone to keep an eye on her the next few days," he warned.

"I won't be letting her out of my sight," I vowed, hoping Ana would let me keep my promise.

Once the doctor left, I shimmied out from beneath my girl, carefully settling her back onto the bed. Ray needed to know what was going on, and Roach was going to hear about this, too. I decided to make the easier call first. Roach.

Leaving Taylor to keep watch over Ana, I went down the hallway to a small meeting room. Closing the door, I pulled out my phone, reaching Roach and furiously outlining the situation along with my demands. At first, Roach seemed disinclined to get rid of Hyde – but once I explained the severity of the situation, and mentioned my personal interest in Ana's safety – he agreed there were grounds for immediate dismissal.

That dealt with, I rang Ray. As expected, Ray was almost apoplectic, and was all for getting on the first airplane and flying across to take care of Hyde personally. Like me, he was extraordinarily proud that Ana had successfully defended herself, but outraged that she'd had to. I didn't go into details about it not being a SIP funded trip. I'd leave it up to Ana to decide how much she wanted to tell her father about that aspect of things.

"Whereabouts is she? Will her insurance cover the hospital?" he asked.

"She's in a private suite at the Mount Sinai West Hospital. All her expenses have already been covered, and I have appointed Belinda Prescott, a female member of my security team, as close personal protection to stay with Ana. She won't be left alone or unattended at any time," I reassured Ray, neglecting to mention that I also intended to spend the night sleeping in the hospital suite with his daughter.

"Have you and Annie had a chance to sort things out between you?" he asked.

"Not yet," I admitted. "We've been emailing and messaging, but because of my trip to Taipei and her trip here, we haven't had a chance to talk face to face. I was flying to New York to surprise her, then all this happened. She's sleepy and confused from the drugs Hyde gave her, so I just let her know I'm here and that she's safe. She seemed happy to see me; said we would talk later, then she fell asleep on my chest."

Ray chuckled. "She always could fall asleep just about anywhere."

"The doctor thinks she'll be released tomorrow morning. She'll need to make a statement to the police, but once that's done, I'll see whether she wants to go home to Seattle or if she wants to spend a few days in New York."

"I should probably fly over," Ray mused.

I did some fast talking, suggesting that he defer making any arrangements until he'd spoken to Ana. If she wanted Ray here, I'd have the GEH plane bring him straight away. But I was hoping for a little alone time with Ana to talk things through, and her father being in attendance didn't bode well for that sort of discussion.