Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

The intensive care unit was guarded by two heavy doors, each with a small window just big enough to peek through.

Whitney, anxious and out of breath, shoved the door open, glancing up at the little window as she did.

That one glance was all it took her heart just about stopped. She saw Ludwik.

There he was, sitting tall in a jet-black wheelchair. His posture wasn't great, legs long and bent awkwardly, knobby knees making creases in his slacks. His upper body was tense, almost rigid, as if just sitting up was a battle.

His nose was straight and strong, brows dark and knit together in a deep frown.

Anyone could see it he was in real pain.

Whitney sucked in a sharp breath.

Who the hell let a guy who'd been shot in the gut sit up three days later?

Looking at the sharp lines of his face, a hot anger sparked in her chest. She stormed in, ready to demand what on earth he thought he was doing-

But voices from inside the room made her pause.

"Geez, Sammy, you traitor! You totally sold out Mom!" Danny was glaring at his little brother, then shot a guilty look at the pale man in the wheelchair-clearly worried about him but too annoyed to stop scolding. "Sis is fine, and you two just teamed up to freak Mom out!"

with you, Danny? You're listening to this old

a look, his voice calm but carrying a warning.

was nothing if not stubborn. He rounded on Sammy instead. "You're wrong, bro. When

just pushed himself to come see Sis- wanted us all together for a bit. That's

he watched Mr. Doonan wheel

Ludwik was so tall his shoulders were level

eyes were fixed on his tiny daughter under the

of his hand. Her skin was pink and soft, and she looked

her little

air Her breaths were steady, and her eyes-black as midnight, just

whispered, lips

Parker, standing nearby, saw

tighten on

tension in those

betraying just how

emotion was churning inside.

want me to ask a nurse to take her out so

her?"

Don't say it