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‘It was an item on the lunchtiuy was—’‘Where is he?’ Gwenna interrupted

‘I’ and she snatched it up It was Franco She was grateful for his calained consciousness

Having warned her that the press were gathering at the front of the hospital, Franco arranged to meet her in a less public location

‘I’ve told everyone that you’re Mr Riccardi’s partner,’ Franco confessed, within a

Considering the connotations of that label and deeht lie in her case, Gwenna bit her lip ‘I don’t think that…I mean—’‘That’s the only way you’ll be allowed to see him, Miss Hae’ Gwenna stepped into the liftThe only way you’ll be allowed to see hih to silence her qualms

‘Lawyers?’‘Decisions have to be made quickly about Mr Riccardi’s treatht choices’ Franco looked grave ‘If you don’t accept the responsibility, other interests could step in and take over here very quickly’ Gwenna was startled by that warning, but she respected a candour that cut right through to as really ielo’s lawyers would hold sway and evidently Franco distrusted theely wealthy

Might that influence the quality of the choices reat trust in his chief of security Gwenna didn’t understand why Franco was so worried but she recognised his sincere concern for Angelo and hastily nodded agreement

Franco guided her through a throng of people and into the presence of a harassed doctor, as eager to issue a report on Angelo’s condition He thought Angelo’s head injury should be scanned, which hting over whether or not Angelo should beand the doctor orried about the delay

‘Go ahead and ements for the scan,’ Gwenna instructed

‘You’ll take responsibility?’‘Yes,to contain her fierce impatience

Angelo was pale, the side of his face cut and badly bruised and he was very, very still She closed her hand over his li convulsively, she sat down by the bed Angelo just about tolerated Piglet, yet he had put hi run over Angelo had done a crazy but wonderful thing And he could only have done it forher benefit Wiping her eyes, she an to pray Very few elo to be airlifted to a city hospital

Angelo surfaced froover of all ti a surge of nausea when he registered that atone and that a hand was tightening on one of his as if he were a lifeline

‘I’ to hear my opinion whether you want it or not, Miss Hamilton,’ the suave lawyer intoned with contempt ‘The scan was a waste of time You let a junior doctor dictate a decision that ed Mr Riccardi’s prospects of recovery’‘That hospital didn’t have the facilities to carry out a proper investigation

At that point, I felt that there was no ti how many hours it was since she had last slept, for her head felt too heavy to be supported by her neck Dawn light was filtering through the curtains

‘You acted without authority and with reement Who are you? Hispartner ?’ the lawyer derided ‘Don’t hter of a cri line of little—’ The thick black fringe of Angelo’s lashes lifted to reveal the blazing iht there if you want to stay erowled hoarsely ‘Treat Miss Hamilton with respect You do not abuse or bully her Is that understood?’ Gwenna was only diies and ielo had recovered consciousness that she was incapable of appreciating anything else Her eyes filled with tears of relief ‘I was scared you were never going to wake up I’ll ring the bell for the nurse’‘Not yet’ Angelo surveyed her, taking in the tousled honey tued-and-shadowed eyes and her unflattering pallor He had never seen her look less beautiful and could not comprehend why, in spite of all the evidence to the contrary, she should look so wonderful to hihteen hours’ She was still wearing the same clothes Most probably, he reflected, she had not even looked in a mirror, for she was not vain ‘Have you been with me all that time?’‘Yes, of course’ She had not left his side She had sat up all night He could not i so little for her appearance or coht with my lawyers fora firrip on her hand ‘Did you shout at them?’‘No’‘So, it’s only me you shout at’ Tears ready to overflow, she shook her head in wordless defeat at the over-emotional state she was in