Chapter 31 The Answer
Jordan's P.O.V.
The last two days have been hell. The only thing that has kept me together is having Dakota here. Every second that Anushka didn't open her eyes, I began losing hope that she would wake up. The doctors and nurses have been incredible and haven't made a fuss about Dakota and me being in the room or the security men who have been rotating.
I had planned on waiting until Anushka was at home to ask her to marry me, but Dakota kind of blew that out of the window. Now that the words are out of my mouth, I hope she says yes. My heart will break completely if she says no, even though I know it's way too fast. I look into her beautiful eyes and wait.
"Yes." Tears run down my cheeks when she says the one word I had hoped for. I kiss her forehead before placing a soft kiss on her lips.
"I love you so much. A part of me thought you were going to say no or that it was too soon," I say as I stroke her face.
"I almost died. Life is too short to wait for things that we know we want. Water." Anushka's voice gets hoarser the more she talks.
"Here, Mommy." I slide over so Dakota can put the little sponge in Anushka's mouth. She's careful not to spill anything as she dips the sponge in the water.
"Is that better?" Dakota asks.
"Yes, sweetheart. Thank you." Anushka smiles as Dakota kisses her cheek.
"We'll take care of you, Mommy, until you're all better," she says, rubbing her mom's forehead, just like I imagine Anushka has done to her.
"I know you will," she replies. Dakota jumps down and goes into the restroom. We have made this room our temporary home.
"Who shot me?" Anushka asks softly.
"The man who tried to kidnap you. He shot you when you tried to get away from him. He's dead, and Raymond is looking into who hired him. I have security right outside the door, in the hospital lobby, and outside near the entrance. We're done taking chances. You died twice, and they had to bring you back. The thought of losing you made me feel like I couldn't breathe. I don't know what Dakota and I would do without you." I put my forehead against hers. I didn't realize how numb I had been the past two days, and now I'm feeling every emotion all at once. It's a little overwhelming.
"Will you legally adopt Dakota? I want to make it official that you're her dad in case anything happens to me." I look into her eyes in surprise. Getting married is one thing, but for her to want to share Dakota with me is a whole other thing.
"What is adopt?" Dakota asks, coming from the restroom and getting into the chair beside me.
"That's when someone who doesn't have a mommy or daddy finds one that they love. If Jordan adopts you, he will be your daddy, and everyone will know it." Anushka explains to her. Dakota looks at me.
"Are you going to adopt me?" She asks, raising her eyebrows as though she's daring me to say no. Once again, she looks like her mother.
"I don't know. Do you think I should?" I glance at Anushka and wink. Dakota jumps onto my lap, puts her hands on my cheeks, and looks me in the eye.
"Listen to me. You're my daddy, and if you don't adopt me, then I will adopt you so I can put you into time-out." She says seriously.
"I guess I'd better adopt you because I honestly don't want to sit in time-out." Dakota throws her arms around my neck and kisses my cheek over and over while I laugh. Anushka tries to laugh, but then gasps.
"Are you okay?" I ask.
"I just realized I can't laugh or move much right now," she replies. I can see the pain on her face, so I push the call light.
"I'm calling the nurse to check on you." I expect her to argue, and it concerns me when she doesn't. That means she's in more pain than she's letting on.
"Okay." I take her hand, and Dakota puts her hand over both of ours.
"Is everything okay in here?" Laura asks as she walks into the room and puts hand sanitizer on her hands.
"Anushka tried to laugh, and now she's in pain." Laura puts on gloves.
"Let me take a look." She lifts the sheet and begins pulling back the bandages. I hold Dakota so she can't see. I don't want her to see the incisions on her mom. I find them hard to look at, and I definitely don't want to scare her. Laura carefully examines the incisions, covers them up, and checks Anushka's vital signs.
"Everything looks okay. Let me give you some pain medication. I'll be right back." She washes her hands and then leaves. Anushka grips my hand, and I let Dakota turn back around.
"Nurse Laura will help you, Mommy. Don't be scared." She gently strokes her mom's arm. She truly is the sweetest child I have ever met. I haven't said anything to her, but Bill is already working on her room while we've been at the hospital. I told him what was going on during one of the times Gavin took Dakota to get snacks. I have one of Todd's men staying in the penthouse just to make sure no other rats show up. He let Bill in today to get started. Laura returns a few minutes later.
"This should help the pain and may make you sleep for a little while." She says as she pushes something into her IV.
"Thank you," Anushka replies. I stroke her head while the medicine begins to kick in. Dakota hums softly while she rubs her mom's arm. I don't know what she's humming, but within a few minutes, Anushka is asleep. At least this time, I know she'll wake back up.