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"Lie down, my dear"

The wo "Yes Good There we are"

The scene in the hallway had taken its toll on Sara and she allowed herself to be directed back against the pillow The one now He&039;d deposited her in bed and disappeared, leaving her to wonder where he was and if he was cohed when she felt the woesture reminded her so much of her mother and those days she&039;d been allowed to stay ho Pops as she wanted Those normal, coveted days before the fire

"Better?"

It hurt to ry? Thirsty?" the woman asked She was somewhere in her fifties, and had eyes the color of olives and short, gray hair

"No"

"If you change your mind, I have some fruit and juice here on the side table" The woman smiled as she placed a hand around Sara&039;s wrist

"What are you doing?" Sara asked weakly

"Checking your pulse" The wo the inside of Sara&039;s wrist

"Who are you?"

"Leza Franz"

"A doctor?"

"Yes," the woht-lipped smile

"What hospital?"

"I&039;m aprivate physician"

Sara shifted unco--she could feel it in her gut Where was the lance at the , then the door If she could just get up, if she could just get to a phone

"You have a concussion, ently "But it&039;s a mild one, and with a few days&039; rest, you should be up and--"

"I should be in a hospital," Sara interrupted, her tone as forceful as she could e "Why am I not in a hospital?"

The doctor hesitated for a moment, then looked over her shoulder "Do you want me to?"

"No I&039;ll explain it to her"

Sara&039;s pulse jumped at the sound of the man&039;s voice He was here The whole time But how? She&039;d seen him leavehadn&039;t she?

She lifted her chin Where was he? She wanted to sit up, see hi--but her body wouldn&039;t respond

"Very good, sir," said the doctor "I&039;ll return in an hour"

"Thank you, Leza"

The low, al timbre of his voice seemed to take up residence in Sara&039;s chest, the vibration war her blood

The doctor walked to the door, and, suddenly panicked, Sara called out, "Wait!"

Before the door clicked shut, Leza glanced back and smiled empathetically "Not to worry, Dr Donohue You&039;re safe here"

Safe? Who is she kidding? Pressing the heels of her pal position, then gripped the sheets when a rush of dizziness came over her

"I can feel your fear, Sara"

Sara blinked to recover her vision "Where are you?" she deht in front of you"

"No, you&039;re not I can&039;t see--"

Fire roared to life in the hearth across the roo to fear here"

He sat in a back chair in the shadowed alcove directly across fro there before her unsuccessful escape ray sweater and black pants

He watched her intently, his arht of the fire, he looked to be so In fact, with the buzz cut, narrowed burgundy eyes, and those two ss carved into the hollowed flesh beneath his high cheekbones, he had a face to fear, a face thatbut relief under his watchful gaze Yes, he looked relentless, ready to spring, but even so, every fear within her eased, warmed even, and the hum his voice had created within her returned

Clearly, the knock on the head had screith her brain

"Who are you?" she de to keep her voice calm

"Alexander Roman"

"I don&039;t know you"

"No"

"Where am I?"

"My home In SoHo"

The way he stared at her h "Are you going to tell me why I&039;m here?"

"You were attacked"

"I know that, but why am I here and not in a hospital?"

He leaned forward, his eyes glowing "Unfortunately, that little bastard who attacked you got away, and I&039;rowled softly "He will be found and dealt with, but until then I want to make sure you&039;re safe"