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“Hi.”
    “Bad dream?”
    “Yes,” she whispered. “Really bad.”
    He sat on the edge of her bed. “Do you want to tell me about it?”
    She blinked back tears and shook her head.
    “You don’t have to. The dreams will come, honey. Just know they’ll fade away.” He kissed her palm. “And I’m here, okay?”
    She didn’t say anything. As much as she loved him and as much as he said he wanted to be there, she knew he didn’t deserve to be saddled with this. Macey had to figure out a way to break up with him. For good.
    “I told a few of your friends you’re not up to seeing them,” Dallas said.
    “Who?”
    He scowled. “Bruce for one. He’s been here for a while and he won’t leave.”
    Macey’s heart raced, fear rearing its ugly head for no apparent reason. “I don’t want to see anyone.”
    “Did you hear that, Alec?” Dallas asked. “No one to see her.”
    “I heard her, Dal. I’ll make sure it’s noted in the records.”
    “Thanks,” Macey said. “What happened to the man?”
    “Brock killed him, honey. He can’t hurt you anymore.”
    “Are you sure?”
    Dallas nodded. “Promise, baby.”
    Alec pulled open the door and nodded at someone before returning to Macey’s bedside. “I need to check your stitches now that you’re awake.”
    Macey swallowed. “Right. I had surgery.”
    Dallas leaned down to kiss her, but she turned her head. “No.”
    “It’s all gonna be okay, Mase,” he promised.
    “Time to go, Dallas,” Alec said.
    “Not leaving,” Dallas replied.
    “Go, Dallas,” Macey said.
    “Babe.”
    “Please?” she begged.
    He stared at her few seconds before nodding, and then Alec pushed him from the room and one of the on-call nurses walked in. She must have been new because Macey didn’t recognize her.
    “Mase, this is Vicki,” Alec said. “She’s on nights.”
    “Hi, hon,” Vicki said gently. “I’m going to sit you up.”
    Macey tried to smile, but it hurt. “Why does my face hurt so bad?”
    “You had surgery on your abdomen and face, Macey.”
    “I had surgery on my face ?” She reached for the bandages, but Vicki pulled her hands away. “How bad?”
    Alec crossed his arms. “Do you want me to talk to you like a patient or a nurse?”
    “Nurse.”
    He nodded. “As well as the stab wounds to your torso, you have a few facial lacerations.”
    “A few,” she repeated, her voice flat.
    “Four to be exact.” He stepped forward and started to cut the bandages secured behind her head. “But Dr. Isaacs fixed those.”
    “ Four ?” she cried. “Ow.”
    “Yes, but Dr. Isaacs said the scars will fade.”
    “How bad are they, Alec?”
    “I won’t know until I have a look.”
    “Bullshit. Tell me how bad.”
    He sighed, but continued to unwrap her bandages. “Six stitches in one, nine in the other, two in the third and four in the last one.”
    “Oh my god.” Macey choked on a sob. “That’s why I tasted blood.”
    “Don’t panic on me, Mase. There was no muscle damage, so you’ll make a complete recovery.” He smiled. “Let’s just have a look, okay?”
    “Mirror.”
    “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Alec said. “They’re going to look much worse for a little while.”
    “I want a mirror, Alec.”
    He frowned at her, but nodded to Vicki who retrieved one from a drawer. Macey laid it mirror-side down and waited while Alec finished with the bandages. She waited while he studied each cut and she waited while he gave Vicki general care orders and information to load into her chart.
    It wasn’t until he stood that she raised the mirror to her face. And lost her shit. She threw the mirror across the room as she screamed, which brought Dallas and Payton running to her side.
    “Get out!” she bellowed. “Get out, get out, get out.”
    “Babe.” Dallas tried to walk toward her, but she pulled the sheet up to her face.
    “Get out, Dallas. Go home. Don’t come back. Ever !”
    “Baby, it doesn’t matter,” he