CHAPTER 5: The Save

It's been two days and she is still unconscious. Leonard sat on the couch opposite the bed, where she lay still, his long legs crossed as he watched the doctor change the drip after he'd finished dressing the bullet wound. He had come out to look for her before he left the auction but had heard the gunshots, the building seemed to be a little too thick or just soundproof because he hadn't heard any noise from inside, and he couldn't see clearly who the shooters were but he looked around for any sign of a white dress, he'd taken the stairs down into the parking lot and that was when he saw two men entering into a car, and driving off, he didn't see their faces, then he saw her laying on the floor, motionless, he took long and hurried strides to her wondering if she was dead, he looked around cautiously ensuring he was alone. He carried her up and into his car when he felt a weak pulse, he had then brought her here and called his doctor to attend to her.

"How is she Carlos?" Leonard asked his mind wondering what her deal with those men was that they had to bring her this close to death.

"A lot better than I expected, she's fierce this one" Carlos replied with a warm smile on his face.

"Then why isn't she waking up?"

"She will, when her body is ready, just give her time" Carlos advised packing up to leave.

"Do give her the medications if she wakes, let her be well rested, and stop her from using her right hand vigorously for at least a week and a few days" Carlos continued to advise then packed up and left.

Leonard sat still watching her after the doctor left, she was beautiful even in her current state, she had a tan complexion that suggested she was originally from a warm country.

He laid his head back on the couch, a bit tired from the day's work he closed his eyes and drifted off to a short sleep.

Bella opened her eyes to an unfamiliar room, she tried to get up but was pulled back down by an overwhelming pain that felt like her right shoulder was being ripped off, then the headache hit her too all at once and she cried.

"I wouldn't advise that sweetness" the voice came to her so deep and unfamiliar. Bella turned her head towards the voice and confusion clouded her thinking.

"I found you passed out in the parking lot" Leonard explained reading her expression, he walked over to her and took out a bottle of medicine Carlos had instructed he gave her once she was awake.

"Open" he ordered pressing the tablets to her lips.

Bella was too weak to argue so she obeyed, opening her dry lip, he slipped in the medicine and then gave her a little water.

"Sleep now sweetness, you're safe" he said, robbing her on her head and for whatever reason Bella felt soothed. She mouthed a "thank you" before drifting off to sleep, waking up twice during the night to ask where she was and what year it was, Leonard had assured her she was safe and it was still May 2018.

Bella opened her eyes to bright lights, she stretched and was immediately filled with regrets.

" Morning sweetness " the deep voice came to her suddenly and she jumped a little, turning towards the voice before memories of everything came flooding her head.

"It appears I owe you, my life sir, I'm very grateful," she said, trying to crawl out of bed with her left arm.

"Hmm you're right there, you owe me your life, and drop the sir sweetness, you know the name" Leonard said reclining into the couch with a toast in hand and a smile on his lips as he watched her like a hawk watching a chick.

For some reason Bella knew his aura and personality seemed different from the way she remembers it at the auction. She got out of bed and hurriedly got back in, under the blanket when she felt the breeze graze her thighs.

"Huhhhm did you change me?" She asked, holding the blanket up to her chest.

"Hmmhmm, yours was covered in blood," he said without paying attention to her as he buttered another toast.

Bella couldn't tell why she was feeling embarrassed and why he was acting as if it was totally normal. She looked down at the singlet she was in, it barely managed to cover her breast and was just a little bit below her hips.

"Eat!" Leonard said ordering her as he brought a glass of juice and some toast to her.

Bella didn't argue she ate all of the toasts, it only dawned on her how hungry she was.

"Thank you, " Bella said, wiping her mouth with her hand after drinking the juice.

"Now I intend to mind my business but as your saviour, I'm interested in knowing what business you have with those men that almost had you killed" he asked, his gaze fixed on her.

"It's rather too personal to say, I'm afraid" she responded avoiding his eyes for some reason they made her uncomfortable.

"Hmmm, just wondering how you intend to pay back my generosity" he said, his eyes fixed on her still.

"How do you want to... I mean what, what do you want?" Bella stuttered, feeling a bit intimidated.

"You owe me your life, you might as well be mine," he said, going over to her. He took the plate from her, then lifted her chin up towards him, and he used his thumb to wipe across her bottom lip.

"Crumbs," he said with a little smile, he took the glass out of her hand and walked back to the couch.

Bella felt her heart race and her brain was befuddled, she didn't know how to act or what to say, and good lord why was he so good-looking?

"I don't belong to any man, every man I have known has paid for my time and service" she blurted out without thinking and instant regret washed over her.

"Haa I see" he watched her bite her bottom lip maybe in regret or shame but it reminded him how soft it had been when he touched it, he clenched his hands into a fist, forcing himself to think of anything else.

"This isn't the hospital I noticed, did you treat me yourself?" She asked, trying to change the topic.

"It wasn't that serious, the doctor was here two days in a row" he said looking at his phone.

"I know I'm indebted to you Leonard and I..."

"Don't sweat it, sweetness, we will find a way for you to pay your debt" he interjected with a mischievous grin.

Bella eyed him a little, she knew she owed him her life, and would have probably bled out if he hadn't found her but wasn't he being a bit shallow, well on second thought, it is normal to repay kindness in their line of work. Bella swallowed hard then raised her eyes to him as he approached her with a box in hand.

"We should get that changed " he said sitting himself beside her, he began to unwrap the bandage gently after which he cleaned the surface of the wound as gently as he could.

"You're one lucky girl, Bella Charles," he said looking into her soft brown eyes, she held his gaze for a moment and he had to fight the urge to lean in and kiss her.

He was too close Bella thought, she didn't realise she'd been holding her breath, she met his really dark eyes and forced herself to look away, what is this, what's wrong with her, he's just a man, possibly another client, why was it suddenly stuffy in the room. She felt his hands move so gently on her shoulder, and she wondered how a man so big and intimidating could be so gentle, she remembered the singlet barely covered her breast, she wanted to pull the blankets up, but she couldn't move, she was a bit embarrassed knowing he'd seen it all already, she wondered what she was embarrassed about, different men had seen it every other night so why was this man different.

"There you go," he said, getting off the bed when he was done.

"Thank you," she said, her eyes cast down, refusing to meet his.

A knock sounded at the door making Bella pull the blankets over herself.

"Come in," Leonard answered calmly.

A man in a suit who Bella realised was a bodyguard opened the door.

"Sir, Drago is in the building with one Hugo Bridge"

"What does he want this time?" Leonard said more rhetorically.

Fright took over Bella and she knew she wasn't safe anymore.