Chapter 138
Aria's POV
Looking at Devon's sleeping form, I let out a soft, self-deprecating laugh. "I should probably see a therapist," I whispered to myself. "Why do I care so much about Devon Kane?"
This was supposed to be a transaction—nothing more. Yet here I was, my knees aching from kneeling beside his hospital bed for hours, watching his chest rise and fall with each breath. Something about seeing him vulnerable had awakened a protective instinct I didn't know I possessed. His hand had gripped mine with such desperate strength during the surgery, as if I was his lifeline.
I pushed myself up from the floor, smoothing out the wrinkles in my dress, and took a deep breath before walking out of the operating room. The conflicting emotions left me drained—concern for a man I was determined to keep at arm's length, fear when I thought he might not make it, relief when the surgery succeeded.
The harsh fluorescent lights of the hallway made my eyes sting, or maybe it was exhaustion setting in. Marcus stood waiting, his posture rigid despite his own injuries. When he saw me emerge, relief washed over his bruised face.
"Ms. Harper, I knew you could help." Genuine gratitude flickered in his eyes. "Thank you."
"He's asleep now," I said, gathering my purse, trying to sound casual despite the lingering worry in my chest. "I should go."
Marcus cleared his throat. "I'm afraid that's not possible, Ms. Harper." His tone was apologetic but firm. "Mr. Kane specifically instructed that you remain until he wakes."
I frowned, irritation mingling with a secret relief I didn't want to acknowledge. "The surgery's over. I've fulfilled my part."
"Boss's orders," Marcus insisted quietly. "He was very clear that you must be here when he regains consciousness."
Frustration bubbled up inside me. "Does he think I'm at his beck and call? I have a life, a company—"
"Ms. Harper," Marcus interrupted, his voice dropping. "You're... different to him." Before I could question what he meant, he gestured down the hallway. "Please, follow me."
Marcus led me to what appeared to be a luxury VIP recovery suite. The room connecting to Devon's hospital room looked more like a high-end hotel than a medical facility. A comfortable-looking queen bed occupied one corner, with plush furniture and amenities filling the rest of the space.
"This is ridiculous," I muttered, taking in the surroundings. "Why me? There are doctors, nurses, professional staff here."
Marcus busied himself checking something on his tablet. Without looking up, he said, "You're not like the others to Mr. Kane."
"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, a warmth creeping up my neck despite myself.
Finally, he met my gaze. "Your help tonight... I personally owe you one, Ms. Harper." His professional mask slipped for just a moment. "Anything you need, anytime. Just ask."
With that cryptic statement, he politely nodded and left, closing the door behind him.
I stood alone at the window, staring at the city lights. Devon's blood still stained my hands, faint rusty smudges I hadn't completely washed away. I recalled the intensity in his eyes as he'd gripped my hand during surgery, the pain and trust intermingling in his gaze. The vulnerability I'd witnessed felt like a secret I wasn't meant to know.
"You're not like the others to Mr. Kane." Marcus's words echoed in my mind.
I shook my head with a bitter smile. "Don't be stupid, Aria Harper. Don't imagine things that aren't there." I walked to the bathroom, scrubbing the last traces of his blood from my skin until my hands felt raw, as if I could wash away the growing attachment I felt.
The hospital had provided simple sleepwear. I changed, grateful to be out of my wrinkled dress, and collapsed onto the bed. Despite my racing thoughts about what Devon meant to me—and what I might mean to him—exhaustion claimed me almost instantly.
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Sunlight filtered through a gap in the curtains when I stirred next. Still half-asleep, I burrowed deeper into the warmth surrounding me. Something felt different—the pillow firmer, warmer than it should be.
The door had opened silently. Devon, in a hospital gown, leaning on an IV stand, had slipped into the room. Into my bed. His arm now wrapped securely around my waist, his body radiating heat against my back. His breathing was steady but shallow, mindful of his wound.
I frowned slightly in my sleep but didn't wake. Devon watched my face, a hint of amusement playing on his lips, but his eyes held something deeper—a longing he would never admit to in daylight.
"Such a sound sleeper, little prey," he murmured, his voice holding none of its usual sharpness. "That makes you too easy to catch."
Unconsciously, I shifted toward his warmth. Devon's gaze softened as it dropped to my lips, lingering there for a heartbeat too long. Then something complicated passed over his face—desire, hesitation, and a flash of something that looked almost like fear.
"I'll collect on that later," he whispered, his fingertips ghosting across my cheek with a gentleness he never showed when awake.
Half-asleep, I swatted at his hand. "Stop it," I mumbled, rolling over and continuing to sleep.
I felt the gentle pressure of lips against mine—so light it could have been a dream. The warm touch lingered for a moment, tender in a way I hadn't thought Devon capable of. The unexpected intimacy pulled me from sleep, my eyelids fluttering half-open.
"Sleep well," he whispered close to my ear. "I have to leave the hospital for a while."
His words cleared the fog from my mind. I opened my eyes fully, concern pushing away the last vestiges of sleep. "Leave? You just had surgery yesterday. Where are you going?"
Devon's expression hardened, though his eyes remained softer than usual when they met mine. "I'm going to find the person who shot me. We have unfinished business."
"But you're injured," I protested, fully awake now, pulling myself up to sitting position. "You shouldn't even be out of bed."
A dangerous smile played at the corner of his lips. "Don't worry about me, Aria. This isn't the first time someone's tried to kill me." He stood, adjusting his hospital gown with a grimace. "I'll be back before you know I'm gone."