Chapter 45

Ryder is told he has to stay at Santorini Hospital for almost a week. He isn't too thrilled about it until he hears he needs a blood transfusion and minor surgery on his lower stomach.

He even swung at the doctor when he tried to put him under anesthesia.

I am sitting on a chair, holding his hand while he sleeps.

"Sweetheart, I don't think he will mind if you leave and get some fresh air," Daddy says as he reads a magazine.

Mom and dad didn't return to the states. They want all of us to leave together. Once Ryder is cleared to leave, of course.

I really hate them suggesting I need to take a walk. It's not going to happen!

"Mom, it's only been three days. I don't think I'm missing much. I've been eating and taking showers here. LeAnn brought me an entire wardrobe."

I don't tell her how Ryder needs me next to him while he sleeps. I don't want them to freak out if he has a night terror episode. As long as he feels me near him, he'll sleep like a baby.

Mom looks curious as she walks to the closet. I immediately regret saying anything. She opens it and shakes her head.

"I must thank LeAnn for everything by giving her fashion advice and buying her a new wardrobe. If this is what she has in her closet, then it's a fashion emergency. Where's the nearest mall?"

Daddy sighs. "I am so grateful that current events didn't give you a change of heart. You know, with being materialistic and all," he says sarcastically. "Oh, what would we have done with a new and more humble Rebecca?"

He looks at Mom as he flips to the next page. Mom flips her hair and closes the closet door unbothered.

"I am one hundred percent more humble, and I see the world differently now. I have a new lease on life!" She put her arms on her hips and looks up at the ceiling. "I want to do more with my time and money, and I want to inspire and help the needy."

She walks towards her husband. "For instance, I'm going to help LeAnn with her style. Look at this skirt! It's hideous!" Mom walks back to the closet and opens the door again, pulling out a red skirt—a look of distaste on her face.

I shake my head and exasperate.

Mom continues examining the skirt. "Actually, the new, humble me should burn this!"

She hangs the skirt back up. "Everything in here is awful! The best thing she owns is that little number she wore the other day. The leather pants with the button up. Sexy little kitten, isn't she?" She turns to Daddy and closes the closet.

Daddy chuckles wryly and shakes his head.

"Well, I think I dress well for a girl. And I will never turn down free clothes."

We all turn. LeAnn walks in with a bag of food. Mom turns red from embarrassment. Daddy laughs.

"LeAnn, how are you, honey?" Dad asks as LeAnn puts the bag on the table. She makes her way to him and hugs him.

"I'm fine! A little sore, but I'm managing." She looks at Mom and smiles. Mom grabs her and hugs her also.

"I do have a question," Ryder says, not opening his eyes. We all look at him.

Every time LeAnn would come by, Ryder was always passed out asleep. He really never got a chance to talk to her.

She walks around the bed and pulls up a chair, happily sitting next to him.

LeAnn grabs his hand. "How are you, sir?"

"I was told you were dead before you came in guns blazing. What happened?" Ryder opens his eyes and looks over at her. He is looking so much better and has his color back. Sitting up slowly, he winces in pain.

She shrugs her shoulders. "Well, when no-pain, psycho stabbed me, he missed vital organs. I still don't understand it, but that's what the doctor said. They stitched me well." LeAnn looks at me and smiles. "Anywho, I realized pretty fast that I was going to lose to him. So when he stabbed me, I told Sam to run and thought it was lights out. When I saw I was still alive, I pretended and never moved."

LeAnn mulls over her words. "Well, pretend isn't the right word. I really thought it was lights out."

I chuckle at LeAnn.

"Anyways, I was so relieved that Sam was able to escape. That big idiot bought my death and threw my body into the pool, face down. Again, I really thought I was going to die. After all, I was floating around in my own blood."

"You also know I'm a good swimmer. So I was able to hold my breath for about four minutes. Once I couldn't hold it anymore, I realized I was definitely still alive. I got out of the pool and found the nearest phone. I got a hold of Freddie and he told me about little miss assassin-in-training here and her suicide mission. When I found her, she was throwing my knives at a tree. I'm glad I got to her before she arrived at the warehouse."

I grab LeAnn's hand and squeeze it.

Ryder turns his head to me and smiles. "You're getting pretty good with guns and knives."

"Yeah, well I have two good instructors." I smile at both Ryder and LeAnn.