Free From Roses To Thorns - Sequel To "From Nanny To Wife" by kate hopkins

let them know what was said. He gave Hope his card and told her if she had any questions or remembered anything to give him a call.
    "Love," Hope whispered to Ryan. "I have a few questions."
    Ryan perched on the side of the bed and took her hand. "I will try to answer them."
    "How did you find out I was kidnapped and Alex was shot?"
    "Maggie called me and told me," Ryan said. "She said she was taking the dog out to use the bathroom when she heard the police sirens. She ran outside and saw Alex lying on the ground and you were no where in sight. She knew then you had been kidnapped. I hurried home to find the front yard full of chaos. It was a horrible sight, sweetheart and the fear that I might never see you again-" He broke off. "I had been home for little over two hours, pacing the floor and going out of my mind, when the hospital called and said a man had found you lying on a bench in the hospital parking lot."
    "How long do I have to stay here?" Hope asked.
    "For a few days." Ryan stroked her hair. "I will be right here with you."
    Hope's eyes drifted shut. "I'm so tired, but I'm afraid to go to sleep."
    "Don't be afraid," Ryan said quietly. "You're safe now. No one is going to step foot in this room without me knowing about it. Sleep, sweetheart."
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 12
    Ryan awoke the next morning with an aching back and a stiff neck. Groaning, he slowly rose from the chair beside the bed and rubbed his lower back. After kissing Hope, who was still asleep, he slipped out of the room and made his way down the hallway to the nurse's station. Once there he asked a nurse where he could go to get a cup of coffee. She gave him directions and he walked away, massaging the back of his neck.
    Across from the elevator was a small room that contained a refrigerator, vending machine, microwave and a coffee pot. Ryan picked up a Styrofoam cup and poured him some coffee. He took a cautious sip of the steaming liquid, added a packet of sugar, and then left the room. On the way back to Hope, he called home to check on Zoe and learned from William that she was eating breakfast.
    When Ryan entered the room, a few minutes later, he found a nurse redressing Hope's burn. Not ready to face the proof of her torture he quietly returned to the hallway to wait for the nurse to finish. While he stood there, drinking his coffee, his thoughts turned to last night and anger sprang to life inside of him. The urge for revenge swept over him and he fought for control of his emotions. The time for pay back would come soon.
    "Ryan."
    Hearing Pam's voice, he turned and saw her and Harvey approaching.
    "Maggie told us what happened," Harvey said. "How is Hope doing?"
    "She's doing okay," Ryan said. "The nurse is with her right now."
    "Have the police caught the one responsible?" Pam asked.
    "Not yet," Ryan said. "I have a good idea it was Laura and her husband though. I'm just waiting to hear back from the detective working on the case."
    "I hope you hear something soon," Pam told him.
    Ryan looked at her. "Why don't you go in and sit with Hope for awhile?"
    "All right." Pam kissed Harvey and then went in to see Hope.
    Ryan took a drink of coffee. "How are things between you two?"
    "Good," Harvey said. "We're taking it one day at a time. So tell me, what have you got in mind in the way of revenge?"
    Ryan arched a brow. "What makes you think I'm planning something?"
    Harvey smirked. "Please, Kendall. You're talking to me, not some stranger. I know how you think. You're not about to stand by quietly and do nothing. Let me know if you need any help."
    Ryan nodded. "I will."
    At that moment, the nurse emerged from Hope's room. "Good morning, Mr. Kendall."
    "Good morning," Ryan said. "How is my wife doing?"
    "Not very well right now," she answered. "She's experiencing some pain. I gave her something for it. If she needs anything please let me know."
    "Thank you," Ryan told her. He and Harvey moved past her and into the room.
    Hope turned her head on the