Page 83 of Ravaged From Fate

She presses a button on the side of my bed and, soon enough, the door swings back open.

And in steps her dad.

Yeah, the doctor.

41

CASPIAN

My body goes stiff as Dr. James Barlowe enters the room.

The man hates me; I know. I’ve been dating his daughter. I wonder if Elsa’s told him about my past, that would certainly give him a million more reasons to hate me.

“You’re awake,” he says to me in a monotone voice. He’s clearly not surprised at my consciousness. He’s wearing scrubs and holds a clipboard in one hand; presumably, it has my diagnostics written on it. Looking like this, he could very easily become a stock image model. He’s the perfect stereotype of a doctor.

“What’s your diagnosis, Dad?” Elsa asks.

James purses his lips. “You were lucky, Caspian. The bullet missed your heart and any major organs. Very lucky indeed. I had to do some work on you…”

“He’s going to be okay?” Elsa can’t conceal the concern in her voice.

Her father nods. “He’s going to be okay.”

Elsa lets go of my hand. I see the relief flow through her, and it makes me happy.

James walks straight up to my bedside and takes my hand in a firm handshake. The act surprises me, but what really hits me are the words he says next.

“Thank you, Caspian, for saving my daughter.”

I know how hard it must be for him to say that, for him to admit that to the mysterious stranger who’s dating his daughter. I feel so deeply honored. Man to man.

I nod back solemnly. “You don’t blame me for getting her into trouble with that gang? It was because of me that they went after her.”

The doctor grumbles. “Elsa has sat by your bed for the last week, barely moving. We’ve practically had to feed her right here. She refused to leave your side. There’s no way I can blame someone my daughter loves that much.”

Man, I could cry now. And I never fucking cry.

“East Springs must really be falling apart if it hasn’t had Elsa in a week,” I say, and the room erupts into laughter.

“Trust me, bro,” Cyrus says. “It definitely is.”

The doctor lets go of my hand and gives me one final manly nod before he backs out of the room, gesturing for Cyrus and Juniper to follow with a wave of his hand.

“We’ll leave you and Elsa together in peace for a minute,” he says. “I’ll be back later to run through all the details with you, Caspian.”

When they close the door, I look at Elsa. She smiles back.

To win the grudging respect of her father has been the biggest surprise of today.

And now Elsa and I are alone.

We need to talk.

42

ELSA

“I’m sorry, Elsa.”