His hand brushed against her skin and made her feel alive. She let the dress drop to reveal her bra. However by the bed she heard her own phone ring and knew instantly it was her mother. She tugged her dress up and said, “Wait, it’s my mom. I hope nothing happened.”
Galen’s phone rang too. He glanced at it and said, “Security is calling me.”
Her heart beat so fast in her chest it felt like her body caved inward. She plopped on the bed before she tripped in her panic to reach the phone. She answered with a breathless, “Mom, Dad, are you okay?”
Her mother sounded calm and in control. “We’re fine, sweetie, but we have security guards in the room with us. We were told someone was looking for you.”
Oh God. She clutched her gold cross around her neck and closed her eyes. “Mom, I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”
Her father asked, “Where are you?”
Right. Her father would want details. She opened her gaze and stared at Galen who stepped near the window to talk to security on his phone. She swallowed and tried to form words in her throat. Finally sure of herself, she said, “With Galen, on Star Island. His house has more security than Fort Knox.”
“That’s good to hear,” her father said. “We need our girl to be safe.”
Her mother quickly added, “We were worried about you, sweetie. When I got that strange call about you and then the alarm went off, you were my only concern.”
“What call, Mom?”
“I was instantly suspicious when some strange man whose identification didn’t check out called and asked specific questions about you. Then with this hospital threat, I told your father to call you immediately.”
“I’m fine.” Neither of them should worry. She wasn’t horribly weak and never had been. She sat, took a deep breath and said, “Now I’m worried about you—Mom, you know you have to stay calm, no stress.”
“Don’t come here,” her dad said. “Not until they reopen the hospital.”
What did that mean? Galen walked over to her and from the tension in his shoulders, it seemed he had news. “Call me as soon as that happens,” she told her parents. “I’m worried about you two more.”
“Relax sweetheart. Security is top notch right now,” her mom said in her steady way where no one in their right mind questioned her. “Your dad and I couldn’t be more protected.” This was why her mother needed to beat cancer and why they chose procedures not covered under her insurance. Mom was the safe harbor where her ship could always find refuge. If her mother left them, she’d be lost. Natalie let go of her cross and scooted over so Galen could sit next to her. “The second they open the doors again, Galen and I will be in to see you.”
She hung up the phone and Galen immediately massaged her leg. “Someone went there, looking for you and the entire hospital is on lockdown.”
“My parents told me, kind of.” She put what Galen said with what her parents had said together. She glanced at the floor like it might steady her thoughts and stop the pounding in her chest. “Mom is impressed with security.”
He kissed her cheek. “We’ll go check on them.”
If this had anything to do with her then it needed to stop. Now. She tried to ignore the welling of tears in her eyes and turned toward Galen. She hoped she sounded logical and together as she asked, “I’m so confused. I don’t do anything or go anywhere. I’m usually pretty boring—and if it is Rocco, I haven’t talked to him in ten years before now.”
Galen stood and offered his hand. “Let’s go talk to Rafe, get the security report from him, and discover what he found so far.”
Answers would be good. She stood on her own and realized she wasn’t going to fall. “Where are we going?”
He walked to the window that pointed to the street over the sun-drenched white patio. “Across the street. See the yellow house?”
She squinted but saw that the house was literally across the street and would take them at most two minutes, if they walked slowly. She turned toward him. “I’m getting paranoid.”
He stayed at the window and gestured toward his black gate. “Everything will be fine. See the men on the carts?”
Again, she followed his direction and saw the men in the golf carts drinking water. “Yeah?”
He rubbed her back. “They are the House of Morgan security team. We’ll go and find out what’s happening and the moment the hospital opens, we’ll go see your parents.”
“That’s a great plan.” She and Galen entered the long hall. “I hope this ends soon.”
He offered his hand and this time she took it. “Me too. I’d rather take my fiancée to bed and not get interrupted.”
A surprised laugh escaped her throat. She hadn’t expected, but she agreed. “Now that is something to look forward to.”
Once they found whoever was clearly after her, she’d have peace. Right now, marrying Galen seemed like a far off possibility that was more like a dream in the nightmare of her life. But soon, possibly, she’d hold his hand in front of a preacher and tell the world how hard she’d fallen.
