All of Max’s numbers were in her cell phone, but she knew Ben’s by heart, and he could call Sean and get her out of here. Then she’d call Ryan and tell him she was fine. The last thing she wanted was for him to see her like this—her face was a mess, bruises, a black eye, her lip swollen, stitches across her forehead. No Skyping for a couple of days. She’d tell him she was in a little car accident—well, she’d have to admit that someone ran her off the road—but he didn’t have to know the details.

“Can I use this phone to make an outgoing call?”

“We can call whoever you want.”

“I want to make the call.”

“Now you don’t have to,” a voice said from the door.

Ryan.

She heard him before she saw him. “How did you get here so fast?”

“I was already on my way. Eve and I decided to come early.”

“Eve?”

She didn’t like seeing the worry and concern on his face.

“I’m fine,” she said.

“And you are?” the doctor asked.

“Boyfriend,” Ryan said. “What happened? How is she? What’s broken other than her ankle?”

The doctor didn’t say anything, and Max said, “Tell him.”

“Ms. Revere was in an accident. Another vehicle ran her off the road, according to the police report when she was brought in. She has two cracked ribs, a broken ankle, and a concussion. I’d like to keep her overnight, but she has been arguing.”

Ryan stared at her. It made her very uncomfortable.

Ryan asked, “Internal bleeding?”

“No. But she needs bed rest and to be monitored. Head injuries can be extremely dangerous.”

“I’ll monitor her.”

“Thank you,” Max said.

“You have a lot of explaining to do.”

“I need to get some papers to Lucy.”

“Lucy’s downstairs with Eve.”

“In that bag,” she said. “I wanted to talk to you about it, because you understand these paper trails.”

“Was it intentional?”

“Of course it was. Big black truck came barreling behind me on the interstate and hit the back of my car.”

“She’s going to be very sore tomorrow,” the doctor said. “And she’ll need a full follow-up with her doctor.”

“When can I go back to New York?”

“I’d give it a couple days before you get on a plane.”

“Can I have a minute with Ms. Revere alone?” Ryan said.

“I’m done,” the nurse who was putting the cast on said. It went from her toes to just below her knee. It was awful. Max hated it already.

They left, and Ryan made sure the door was closed. Then he leaned over and kissed her. Gently, as if he was afraid she’d break. “You’re so lucky you’re not dead.”

Max didn’t comment. Ryan’s voice sounded … different.

“What really happened?”