Free The Confession by Sierra Kincade Page A

didn’t know that I was okay. I wanted him to know, for some reason, but the thought of facing him, too, seemed overwhelming.
    Amy gave a sober nod. “Sure. I’ll tell him visiting hours are over.”
    â€œOkay.”
    She took a deep breath. “Which probably means I should go, too, otherwise he’ll never believe me.”
    â€œYeah.”
    I didn’t want her to leave, but I was getting sleepy again. I didn’t understand why. I’d slept for three days. I should have been more awake. Must have been the drugs in my system.
    â€œI’ll be back tomorrow with real food,” she said.
    â€œCorndogs and Hamburger Helper?” My eyelids were getting heavy.
    â€œWatch it,” she said, pointing a finger at me.
    One more hug, and I was alone.
    *   *   *
    For the first time in three days, I dreamed.
    I was lying in the back of a car, my cheek pressed against the smooth, cool leather of the seat. Fuzzy images, just flashes, nothing I could hold on to. Nothing that should have been terrifying.
    I woke up screaming.
    My arm was tangled in wires. From behind my head came the beep of the heart rate monitor. I gasped for air.
    â€œAnna, it’s all right.” I blinked, but the room was dark, and I could barely focus.
    â€œIt’s all right, I’m here.”
    Alec.
His voice wrapped around me like a soft blanket. His hands found my shoulders and slid down my arms. The touch was soothing, and I gripped his forearm with both hands, using him as an anchor.
    â€œAnna?” A nurse in pink scrubs raced into the room. She moved directly to the side table and flipped on a light. I turned away, blinking, while my eyes adjusted, and found my forehead pressed against Alec’s hard stomach.
    I didn’t move.
    â€œTell me what’s wrong,” said the nurse. “Are you in pain?” She sounded younger than the one from earlier. There must have been a shift change.
    I focused on the warm feel of Alec’s chest against my cheek, and the place right below his elbow where my hands gripped his forearm. His skin turned white around the indentation of my thumb, but I couldn’t seem to let him go.
    â€œB-bad dream,” I said. “I’m fine.”
    The beeping of the heart rate monitor gradually began to slow. The IV was gone—I remembered the other nurse had taken it out before she’d left.
    â€œLet me give you something to help you sleep,” she said. “A mild sedative.”
    â€œNo!” I didn’t mean to shout. The beeping accelerated. “No drugs.”
    â€œWe’re okay.” One of Alec’s hands moved to my hair, smoothing it down my back. I closed my eyes, savoring the feel of that simple caress.
    We’re okay,
he’d said. Not
she’s okay
. Right then I would have given anything for that to be true.
    A moment later the light went out, and the nurse’s shoes squeaked away.
    As soon as the door closed, I became aware that Alec and I were alone. The last time we’d been alone together had been at the safe house, when we’d made love half the night. I didn’t know why I was thinking of that now.
    I meant to ask what he was doing here, but I didn’t want to draw attention to the fact that he could have been somewhere else. I could have asked if he knew more about what had happened to me, too, but I knew it would just make him go cold. Maybe it was pathetic of me, but I wanted him close, just for a few more seconds. Reality could wait.
    â€œI can’t let go of your arm,” I said.
    â€œI don’t mind,” he said. But he stopped stroking my hair, and gradually began to ease back.
    â€œNot yet,” I whispered.
    He stilled.
    I nuzzled closer against his chest, listening as his heart sped up to match the monitor. Just a thin layer of fabric between my cheek and his skin, not enough to hide the heat of his body, but enough of a barrier to remind me he