His collateral

Chapter 14

"Excuse me, ma'am. This area is off limits." A woman's voice stopped Elena in her tracks. She drew in a slow breath, her eyes closing briefly as footsteps approached.

“Ma'am." A light touch brushed her shoulder. "Did you hear what I said earlier? No one is permitted on this floor."

Elena turned slowly. A woman in formal clothes stood before her, files tucked under her arm, studying her with open curiosity.

"Who are you? I haven't seen your face before." The woman fired instantly. "You must be among the new batch of maids recently hired. Weren't you informed of the rules?"

"I'm not a maid." Elena said, slightly taken aback.

"Then who are you? There's no way you would have been allowed on this floor at this hour."

"I stay in the room across the hall. I couldn't sleep so I came out for a short walk." Elena explained with a half smile. "Don't mind me. Go on with your work. I'll return to my room." She said, turning and hurrying away.

This was a bad idea. She had known it from the moment she turned the handle of her door and it unlocked. This was the first time she had been allowed out of her room without supervision, yet she hadn't thought of escaping. Instead she was here, going to check on the very man who held her captive.

Something was definitely wrong with her. Something she couldn't figure out.

"Mrs. Dalton."

She paused, turning toward the voice. A tall man walked toward her. Elena's eyes widened in recognition. This was the guard she had seen the first time she met Lucien. He wasn't easy to forget, a scar across his face and a gun hanging at his belt.

What she had forgotten was his name.

"Why are you still up at this hour?" He said, his baritone voice filling the corridor. "Unless I've missed something I presume you aren't yet allowed out of your room."

Elena scoffed. "Well, jokes on you. I'm allowed to leave whenever I want now." She said, crossing her arms and staring at him with annoyance. "If you'll excuse me I'd like to return to my room." She said, turning to leave.

"Anne told me you were going to see the boss." The man said quietly. "It's my shift to guard his door. You should grab the opportunity now. The next man on duty won't let you anywhere near it."

Elena stopped. She turned back slowly. He had already started walking away. She followed in silence, careful not to make a sound.

At the door the woman from earlier stood waiting, files still tucked under her arm. Her eyes lit up when she saw them approaching. "You took too long James. I've been waiting almost—" She paused, eyes shifting to Elena beside him. "Who is this woman? She came here earlier."

James glanced back briefly, pausing for a moment. "She's the boss's guest. Thank you for watching the door while I was away. I'll take it from here." He dismissed her.

"Okay." She said, shooting Elena one last look before walking away.

James dipped a hand into his pocket, pulling out a key card. He held it close to the sensor, and a soft beep followed and pushed the door open. "You can go in now, Mrs. Dalton." He said, gesturing her inside.

Elena stood at the threshold, examining the room.

The room was dim and quiet. Heavy curtains blocked whatever moonlight existed outside. A large bed dominated the center, dark sheets, solid dark wood frame. Everything about the space was commanding, everything except the IV line running from Lucien’s arm and the quiet beeping of the monitor beside him. Those felt wrong here. Like an intrusion on something that was supposed to be untouchable.

She stepped inside.

Sara sat at the edge of the bed, Lucien's hand held carefully between both of hers, her head bowed. She hadn't heard the door open. Hadn't heard Elena's quiet footsteps enter the room.

Elena stood there for a moment watching her.

"Sara." She said softly.

Sara's head lifted slowly. Her eyes were swollen, her cheeks still carrying the evidence of hours of crying. She blinked at Elena like she had forgotten the world outside this room existed.

"Elena." She whispered.

"You should rest." Elena said quietly. "You've been here for hours."

Sara shook her head, her grip on Lucien's hand tightening slightly. "I can't leave him."

"He isn't going anywhere." Elena said, moving closer. "Go eat something and rest. I'll stay."

Sara studied her face for a long moment. Then slowly and reluctantly, she set Lucien's hand down with a gentleness that made Elena's chest ache quietly.

"An hour." Sara said, rising. "Just one hour."

"Okay." Elena nodded calmly, watching as she left the door closing gently behind her.

Her gaze shifted back to the bed. Even in this stillness of the room Lucien Black looked nothing like the man who had carried her through his mansion without flinching. Nothing like the man who had threatened to force food down her throat that night.

He looked human.

Elena pulled the chair Sara had vacated and sat down. She didn't touch his hand. She simply sat there, studying the slow rise and fall of his chest like she needed to confirm it was still happening.

What came next was unplanned. It arrived without permission, soft and unbidden, rising from somewhere she hadn't visited in a long time.

"Please." She didn't know who she was asking. Just that she was asking."Don't let him die.”