Free Cinderella's Guardian by Khloe Wren

eyes were barely open. Her skin appeared dull, her hair limp. Depression was a ghastly disease, one which had its claws firmly embedded in his precious mate.
    "She's been sedated, Conner. We had to calm her down. It was the only way we could get her shoulder back in place. She's a lucky girl to only have a dislocated shoulder from a run in with a van."
    Conner couldn't form words. His chest ached as he took in the bright white bandages covering her left arm. Oblivious to Kit and Adele's presence, he crumpled to his knees beside her, tears burning his eyes as he pressed his face against her right palm, her cold flesh against his hot skin searing him.
    "Why baby? Why'd you try to leave me?"
    ~ * ~
    Wiping her sweaty palms on the crisp linen of her pants, Robyn licked her dry lips as she paced her shop. Tina was missing. Had been for at least an hour. Where would she have gone? She stopped still as the obvious slammed into her. Of course, she'd seek out that boy.
    "Barbara, Conner's a firefighter, right?"
    "Sure is, you think she went up to see him?"
    She snatched up her keys. "Soon find out."
    Before she got out the back door, her phone rang. Pulling it out, she saw the number was international. Fuck. The one time Dale calls her, Tina's missing.
    "Hello, Robyn speaking."
    "What the hell is going on, Robyn? I just got an urgent phone call from the hospital about Tina. Her chair was hit by a van—while she was still in it. Am I not paying you enough to keep my daughter safe?"
    "Ah, hi Dale. I'm not sure what's going on. I, ah, was about to go looking for her. She snuck out without letting me know where she was going."
    "She snuck out? She is an adult, Robyn. You are not supposed to be keeping her locked away. No bloody wonder she's suffering depression!"
    "Oh, don't be silly, Dale. I would never lock her away," although the thought was temping right about now, "I simply meant she went out without letting me know. I was getting worried for her. Did the hospital tell you she's suffering depression?"
    "Yeah, they did. Said a witness saw her roll in front of the van on purpose. Why didn't you bother to inform me that she wasn't doing well?"
    Robyn was flustered, how could she answer? "I, ah, hadn't noticed any change in her myself, she kept it well hidden, Dale."
    "Whatever. I'm doing what I can to cut short my contract so I can come home. I should never have left her. I'll only need you to continue to look after her until I can get back. Hopefully it won't take long."
    "Sure, Dale, Tina's a pleasure to care for. Now, I need to run along and get down to the hospital right away to see how she is."
    "Okay, keep me informed, Robyn. No excuses. Bye."
    With a low growl, she thrust her phone back in her pocket.
    "What is it, Robyn?"
    "The stupid girl got herself run over by a van. She's at the hospital. They rung Dale claiming she is suffering depression of all things. You'll be right to close the salon tonight? I have to go deal with this mess."
    "Sure, let me know how it goes."
    Without responding to Barbara, she headed out to her car. Rage building with each and every step. How dare she! Now Dale was mad at her, when it wasn't her fault. Damn it. She needed Dale to fall in love with her, not be out for her blood.
    Within fifteen minutes she was at the hospital. Marching in with shoulders back and head held high, she demanded at the front desk to be taken to Tina. The receptionist told her the room number and how to get there with no offer to show her. With a huff, she headed in the direction indicated by the stuffy nurse. She easily found Tina's room and went to enter when a tall muscular female stepped into the doorway, blocking her entry.
    "Get out of my way."
    "I don't think so. There is no way in hell I'm letting you near Tina."
    Robyn eyed the woman from her flame red hair to her bright red boots. Her muscled arms crossed over her chest, her legs shoulder width apart. This woman was a fighter. No way would Robyn be able to