Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele
Heart 48

Chapter 48 Chapter 48

[Cordelia]

Atlas and I agreed to try and see if we could be in a relationship-a real romantic relationship.

My ex-husband wants to be my boyfriend. And as such, he was convinced that he needed to start protecting me immediately.

But I could see how tired he was, how much he needed to rest, so I shooed him away.

"I'm not going anywhere," I laughed. "And I need my sleep too."

He told me he'd be right back. So I rested my head on my pillows, closed my eyes, and let my body settle into a much-needed sleep, looking forward to a new day and a new start in life.

When I opened my eyes again, the room was dark. Atlas isn't here, but I can smell his lavender and soap scent lingering in the air. His jacket, still draped over a nearby chair, confirms he had been here just moments before. But where is he now?

"Atlas..." I barely manage to whisper. I had felt so much better before I had closed my eyes, and now I feel worse than before. My eyelids are so heavy it feels as if I am trying to open them underwater. My whole body feels like someone is pressing down on me. A machine beeps. There are shuffling footsteps moving beside me. Turning my head, I try again to open my eyes and see a nurse. His skillful hands move rapidly, removing tubes from my arms and unplugging machines from the wall.

"Shh," the nurse quiets me as they help me sit up, preparing to transfer me to a wheelchair locked in place near my bed. "I am going to need to lift you."

I recognize the voice. "Jude?"

"Shh, yes," his voice is low. "I need you to stay quiet now. You aren't safe. You were almost killed and I need to move you somewhere that no one else can harm you."

Oh good. Jude is here. He'll keep me safe. He's such a good friend. Does that mean I'm at his hospital? Strange that he'd be on duty. How did he know I was here? How... And then I remember the last time I saw him. How I found the hidden room filled with body parts. How I became so weak, losing all of my strength in my arms and legs and... Just like last night at the party, when I stumbled. I felt so weak then too and...

the chair. "Don't strain yourself." he starts

This doesn't feel right. I try to stand, but he pushes me down to wrap me up tightly in a blanket, leaving my arm with the arm with the IV attached still out in the open. You are still very weak. You might hurt yourself, or worse, pull out the IV. You wouldn't want that. Trust me. It is quite painful."

He pushes me towards the door. Nobody else is here.

Nobody will notice if I disappear.

Chapter 48

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"How did you know I was here?" I try to question, but my words come out garbled and strained.

His expression is blank, almost clinical as he remarks, "You need to relax. I cannot have you making such a fuss. You are going to draw too much attention and then where will we be."

My eyes grow wide as I watch him pull a syringe from a pocket on his coat. I feel helpless as I watch him attach the needle and slowly draw the contained fluid,

"Time for you to go back to sleep," he smiles. "I just gave you a mild sedative, but I don't think I got the dosage quite right," he chuckles. "You shouldn't be this lucid. I'll just have to give you a little bit more. Don't worry, this is a different sedative than last time. I've made a note of your allergic reaction for the future. We can't have you going into cardiac arrest...again."

He plunges the fluid into the IV and I watch as it makes its way into my veins.

I have almost no warning before my eyes start to close again.

"Have faith, Cordelia," I hear as my body grows limp and still. "It will all make sense when we get there."