Awakened
1559 Words
Dana POV
I moved slowly, feeling a piercing pain behind my eyes, my hand moving to clutch at the back of my head as I sat upright, my eyes glancing around the bedroom I was in, confused. Where was I? This was not Nova’s house. The room was large and spacious. I was lying on a four-poster bed, and the room itself consisted of cheerful white wooden furniture and a pink rug on the floor, decidedly feminine and not anywhere near Nova’s taste. I frowned, moving off the bed and feeling as though my head was filled with concrete. I didn’t know where I was or how I had gotten here. The last thing I remembered… I scowled, remembering Jackson’s threatening hold on me and the heavy thud I’d made as I hit the floor. After that...I couldn't remember anything at all. Had somebody brought me here? Where was Jackson?
I winced, poking my head cautiously out of the door. Silence. I spotted some stairs and began to carefully make my way down them, the bright light in the hallways causing me to become disorientated. I assumed I would come across somebody as I made my way down, reaching the base of the stairs and listening intently for any sounds that indicated that somebody, anybody lived here. I had a suspicion that Jackson hadn’t brought me here, but rather whoever my savior was back at the house, the man who had tackled him and managed to free me. Was this where my rescuer lived?
I made my way towards the sound of voices, peering into a living room where not one, but three men stood looking grim-faced. I jolted as I recognized one of them. It was the man I had met at the bar, the one I had almost gone back to the room with. I blushed, wondering what he was doing here, even as I looked at the older man, who was frowning, while the third man looked as though he might be some sort of doctor.
"She has a minor head injury. Without doing an MRI or cat scan, I couldn’t tell you just how badly she was hurt. She probably has a concussion. She’s breathing fine, her vitals are good" the doctor was saying to the other two as I eavesdropped unashamedly, "she just needs plenty of rest and fluids. I’ll leave some painkillers for her". He passed the older man a box "for her to take with some food," he warned, "not on an empty stomach."
The older man shook his hand, looking appreciative. "Thanks for coming and checking on my daughter," he said as my mouth dropped open, and I stared in shock, wondering if I had somehow misheard him. "I appreciate it, Dr Montgomery," he added.
"A pleasure. Just try not to call me away from any more important golf games" the doctor sighed, shaking his head and smiling "I’ll see myself out" he added, winking and turning on his heel.
"What do we do now?" Hunter speaks to the older man, who looks deep in thought. "She’s going to wake up eventually and demand answers."
Damn right, I wanted answers, I thought, still hesitating in the doorway. For starters, where the hell was I, and why had Hunter taken me? Who was this older man who claimed to be my father? It was impossible. I didn’t have a father. I didn't have any family whatsoever. This was all some sort of prank or lie. But what could be the motive for doing this to me?
"We’ll deal with that when it comes" the older man’s voice is grave. "I imagine she’s going to be upset when she discovers what you’ve done" he adds, glancing at Hunter, who looks annoyed with him now.
"What I’ve done? Lionel, you’re the one who requested I bring her back here," he reminded the other man. "If anybody has any explaining to do, it’s you. What do you think is going to run through her mind when she wakes up? She’s going to be frightened out of her bloody wits," he exclaimed, his nostrils flaring.
"Calm down", Lionel sounded irritated. "Everything is going to be fine. I took care of the situation with that asshole boyfriend of hers, didn’t I? Everything has been squared away. Nobody’s pressing charges, and he won’t step foot near her again if he values his life," he growled.
Jackson? What had they done to Jackson? Part of me hoped they had hurt him, a vicious little streak in me pleased at the mere thought they might have laid their hands on him or done far worse after what he had put me through. I bit my lip, hesitating to speak out loud, not wanting to interrupt their little discussion as they continued to divulge everything that had happened since I was unconscious.
"Should have dropped the bastard over the edge of a cliff," Hunter muttered, running a hand through his hair and regarding Lionel warily. "Nobody would have missed him”, he added with a glower.
"Except for my daughter. I don’t think killing her boyfriend, even if he is an asshole, would make a good first impression, do you?" Lionel’s voice is soft as he regards the younger man.
I could see Hunter open his mouth to protest, and then he glanced up sharply, his eyes meeting mine as he saw me in the doorway. s**t. I was busted. He knew that I had been eavesdropping. It was too late to deny it now. I gave a weak smile and forced my trembling legs to carry me into the room as I began to apologize.
"I’m sorry, I wasn’t sure where I was," I gestured helplessly, watching the older man, Lionel, turn to me, his eyes softening as he looked me up and down with a smile on his face.
"Perfectly understandable my dear, considering you haven’t been here before", Lionel beamed, as I stood there, uncertain what to say.
Hunter casts the old man a scathing look and then sighs. "Lionel, maybe you should tell her, I think it would be best…"
"I owe you a huge thanks for what you did back there" I interrupted, wringing my hands together and eyeing Hunter nervously. "If you hadn’t come along when you did, I don’t know what Jackson would have done."
Except I did know. I knew exactly what Jackson had been planning to do, and my mouth went dry as I visibly shuddered at the thought. He would have taken what I had denied him for so long, as punishment for breaking up with him. I knew it instinctively. It was what he had been leading up to. I had been lucky enough to escape, but only because of Hunter. I shot him a smile, but he didn’t look pleased by it. If anything, he scowled, a ferocious expression on his face.
"Bastard deserved what he got" was all Hunter would offer as I nodded silently and then turned to Lionel, whose eyes were sparkling as he gazed at me.
"Listen, Dana" Lionel's voice is shaking, and I feel my chest tighten as the old man reaches out and grabs my hand.
I can feel his hand trembling, shaking. He looks on the verge of tears. I’m in a state of disbelief. Hunter looks between the two of us, anxiety written all over his face.
"Are you really my father?" I blurt the words out, shocking them both as I gently pulled my hand away "Forgive me, but my parents are dead. You must be mistaken," I told him softly. "I think you might have me mixed up with somebody else."
It would have been nice to have a father like Lionel though. Even if he did strike me as the overprotective sort. I feel envious as he blinks at me.
"Dana, I am your father," he says, his voice rising slightly as Hunter nods in agreement, folding his arms across his chest and observing me with a crooked grin "I can prove it to you. I have the blood test results, DNA, private investigator reports, everything. You are mine," he says almost possessively "I’ve been looking for you for years. I’m sorry that you grew up without me, but I have no intentions of you continuing to live the life you’ve been leading now that I’ve found you."
His tone is almost condemning, and I stare at him, wanting to believe him, but knowing that the probability of this being real, of being true, is undeniably just wishful thinking.
"That’s impossible" I stammered, even as I desperately wanted to believe him.
I’ve been alone for so long, and the thought of having a family, it’s a dream I never would have thought was possible.
"Believe it" Hunter’s voice is hoarse as he gazes at me, "You’re the missing Grant girl and my stepsister. Your whole life is about to change, and it’s only going to get better", he vows, and I stare at them dumbfounded, wondering if I’m still dreaming or unconscious and if this is real at all. There was only one way to find out, but could I take that leap of faith and ignore the part of me that was screaming that this was nothing more than just another cruel joke at my expense?
- Writer
