Chapter 231 Widow Maker
Aubrey's P.O.V.
"I'm so sorry, Aubrey. I should have protected you better. I promise when I find the person who did this to you, they will not take another breath." Dakota? Is she holding my hand and comforting me? I have never had anyone do that since my mom died.
"When you wake up, I'm going to have you stay at my house while you recover. I promise you will be safe there. You don't have to worry about working for me; I just want you to get better." What? She actually wants me to stay at her house. I need to see her and talk to her. This has to be a dream. No one cares about me. I try to squeeze her hand, and I feel her other hand stroking my head gently.
"That's right, Aubrey, open your eyes. You are way too strong to stay asleep for too long." Did she say I'm strong? I'm nothing compared to her. That's why I hated her so much when I first met her. She was everything I wanted to be, but I knew I never would.
I try to open my eyes again and see a little light, while Dakota continues to hold my hand and stroke my head. I feel like crying; she's treating me with such kindness and gentleness. It brings back so many memories of my mom. I open my eyes, and everything is blurry at first, so I close them again.
"Take your time," Dakota says softly. I try again, and after blinking a few times, I can see the hospital room I'm in.
"Ari, go tell the nurse she's awake," Dakota says. I look toward her, and my eyes fill with tears. She's crying. Her eyes are red, and tears are running down her cheeks.
"I'm so sorry, Aubrey. Can you ever forgive me?" She's crying for me.
"Not your fault," I whisper. I can't believe she's crying because I was hurt.
"I put you in a position that caused you to get hurt." I shake my head to make her stop talking, but I instantly regret it because I begin to feel dizzy. I close my eyes until I feel like everything is no longer spinning.
"I don't think the man who did this had anything to do with you. You don't owe me anything, Dakota." I glance at the door when Ari returns with a nurse. He steps back out of the room and shuts the door as the nurse begins to examine me.
"My name is Andy. I'll make this quick. I just need to check your vital signs, and then I'll call the doctor," he says. I don't say anything as he checks my blood pressure and temperature and listens to my lungs. When he's done, he tells us he'll be back with the doctor, and Ari comes back in, but he stays next to the door.
"Are you in pain? I know they've given you some pain medication, but is it working?" Dakota asks as she retakes my hands. It must be instinct for her to comfort those who are hurt because she does it so naturally.
"I hurt, but I'm happy to be alive. I think he was trying to kill me, but I don't know who it was. I didn't recognize his voice, and I never saw him. The more I think about it, the more I believe he may have been waiting in my room for me, because after I called you, I went back to the hotel and was going to take a bath. He didn't break down my door or anything; he just appeared and grabbed me from behind. Dakota, I have been beaten up worse than this, so I know I'll be fine. You don't have to let me stay at your house. I'll be okay." She shakes her head and squeezes my hand.
"Aubrey, we may have had our differences in the past, but you don't deserve what happened to you. Until we find this man and determine whether someone else sent him, I want to know you're safe. I've already arranged for a nurse to be with you and a doctor to check on you daily. I'll get you out of here as soon as the doctor comes in and gives you the all-clear. I don't trust hospitals; people can get to you here. Are you okay staying with us? I don't want to make you uncomfortable." I smile slightly.
"I'm okay with staying with you. Did you mean what you said about one day we may be friends? I've never had a friend, and when I heard you talking to me, I had to open my eyes to make sure you were real. No one has treated me so kindly since my mom died." She smiles and strokes my head.
"Yes, I meant it. Now more than ever, I think you need a friend. Aubrey, you have a lot more potential than you give yourself credit for." I see now what I was too selfish to see before. Dakota isn't a normal person; she has a heart of gold but can kick someone's ass at the same time. I see why so many people would do anything for her because she would do anything for them, and they know it. I never thought I would be one of those people, but she has done more for me in such a short time than anyone has my whole life. Most of all, she sees me as the real me, not the person I pretend to be. That's all I ever wanted. I wanted to be seen and given a chance to prove myself.
"Thank you. I need to tell you what I saw at the mansion." I glance at Ari nervously and then back at Dakota. "The Widow Maker was there, and he was shaking hands with the Tarasovich brothers."
"Are you sure?" Ari asks as he puts his hands on Dakota's shoulder.
"Yes, I'm sure," I reply.
"Who is The Widow Maker?" Dakota asks.
"He works for my dad, and as far as I know, he only works for our family. My dad pays him a lot of money to be loyal to us because of what he does," Ari tells her.
"What does he do?" Dakota asks, looking up at him.
"He makes people disappear. They call him The Widow Maker because he primarily only kills men, leaving their wives widows. He's brutal, and from what I heard, he tortures the people he kills because he loves hearing their screams. If he's meeting with those brothers, then he's preparing to kill someone, and it's most likely one of us."