Page 18 of Defending Love
“Let me get the list from Jack, and I’ll bring the things to you tonight.” I exhaled. “What are they saying? How long will you be here?”
Mom shook her head. “Too long, if you ask me. There’s already been one physical therapist in here to do an evaluation. There’s a lot of red tape.”
“I can only stay for a few days, but Damien, Ella, and I will take turns coming down to be with you.”
“That’s silly. If you can get my things from home, I’ll be fine here.” She glanced toward the window. “Originally, they had me on the ground floor, but Jack intervened. He said the second floor was safer. Apparently, the glass isn’t bulletproof.” She laid her head back. “I can’t believe this is my life.”
“I’m sorry, Mom. It’s all of our lives right now. Until we find the man who shot Dad and learn his motivation, we are all potentially targets.”
“Do you have a guard with you? I don’t want you traveling alone.”
“I’m not alone. Eli Rhodes has taken me as an assignment.”
She tilted her head. “I remember that name. Wasn’t he with you during the Darius debacle?”
With me.
“Yes.”
“Oh, that’s nice to have someone you’re familiar with. Mr. Clark, the man in charge of Guardian Security, asked me if I would like to have Jack replaced, after…” She inhaled. “I said if he wanted to stay, I wanted him. I don’t blame Jack for what happened. It occurred so fast. I guess I didn’t want to lose both your dad and Jack. I need some familiarity.”
Familiarity.
“I feel safe with Eli. I know he’ll do whatever he can.” The problem was I wanted more than the professional relationship. I wanted more than a temporary assignment.
My wants didn’t matter.
“Honey,” Mom said, “they’ll find the horrible man, and then we’ll find our new normal.”
I nodded. “You’re right.” I squeezed her leg. “It’s good to see you doing better. The last time we were down here, there were concerns about your mobility.” I forced a smile. “Now look at you.” I pointed to the walker. “You’re going to be racing soon.”
“I don’t know about racing. I’m happy to be walking.”
Eli and I were quiet on the elevator ride down to the first floor. It was as we approached the front of the building that the crowd of people beyond the glass entry came into view. Eli reached for my arm.
“What do you think it’s about?” I asked.
The muscles pulled tight in his cheeks. “I don’t like it.” He walked us to the front desk and spoke to the woman manning the door and phones. “What is going on out there?”
The overly bleached-blond-haired woman wearing a t-shirt with the name of the facility, looked up and scanned Eli before pressing her red-painted lips together. “They’re reporters.”
“Why are there reporters?”
“Patient confidentiality. I can’t say.”
I gasped. “Is this about my mother?”
She narrowed her gaze at me. “And you are…?”
“Dr. Sinclair,” Eli answered. “She has joint POA for her mother, Mrs. Marsha Sinclair. Are those reporters here about Mrs. Sinclair?”
“I’m not supposed to say.” Her forehead furrowed as she returned her gaze to me. “Yes, they are. News got out that she was transferred here. You don’t need to worry. Our security forbade them from entering the facility.”
Eli looked around. “Is there a back door accessible by car?”
“Yes. However, it’s only for the use of employees.”
“Where is it?” he asked.
