The elderly doctor works silently, but efficiently on Cian’s deeper gashes. “He has a mild concussion, but nothing to worry about for now. He has quite the thick skull. Let him rest, and let me know if his symptoms get any worse.”
“Thank you,” I tell the doctor.
Wolfe escorts him out, then disappears around the corner.
Alone with my sleeping husband, my anger and worry marginally fade. I lean down and press my lips to his, relieved that he’s alive and not irreparably damaged.
“Are you worried about me,broc meala?”
Startled, I jolt upright. “I thought you were asleep, or unconscious.”
“I am. Mostly. Sleeping.” He cracks open a swollen eyelid, taking me in. “You’re covered in blood. Are you hurt?” Fully alert, he struggles to sit up.
I grip his shoulders and try to shove him back down, but even in his weakened state he’s so much stronger than I am. Giving up, I fold my arms and glare at him.
“No, I’m not hurt. This isyourblood, you damn fool.”
Relief washes across his rugged, bruised features. His shoulders slump and he relaxes against the pillows.
The corners of his lips twitch. “Damn fool, huh? So you do worry about me.”
“I’m half-tempted to kill you myself after what you put not only me, but Wolfe, through. Watching you get beat to a pulp is not my idea of a good time.”
A deep chuckle rumbles in his chest. “Wolfe can stomach it. And I warned you not to come.”
“That’s completely beside the point,” I grumble. “Don’t you dare turn this around on me. You’re the one who insisted on taking that beating. You could have ended that fight long before you were knocked unconscious, but you didn’t. You’re a goddamn masochist.”
Heat rises up my chest and neck, and I clench my fists. This man infuriates me by simply existing.
Cian grunts. “So I might be.” His gaze flashes with interest. “But you… you care about me. Act mad all you want. You’re only upset because you care.”
I open my mouth, only to snap it shut a moment later. How can I argue with that? I mean, I could argue, but we’d both know it was a lie, and I promised never to lie to him again.
“That’s what I thought.” He drags me on top of him, his mouth claiming mine. His kiss bold, desperate, and a challenge in itself. He’s daring me to try to reject what’s growing between us. “You’re so sexy when you’re mad at me, baby,” he murmurs against my lips.
“Cian,” I chide, trying to climb off of him. “You’re supposed to be resting. Doctor’s orders.”
“Yeah. Mm-hm.” He nuzzles my neck as his hands slip beneath my skirt, resting on my thighs. “It’s over and we’ve come out of it alive. And together. I don’t want anything to ever tear us apart again.”
I gaze into his pale blue eyes, seeing the sincerity in them. “Neither do I. Promise me,Irlandese.”
“I promise to never let you down again. You’re mine and I’m yours, until death do us part.”
“Until death.” I seal our promise with a kiss.
CHAPTER 23
Ravenna
The frozen winter ground must have given the grave diggers a challenge. I sympathize with them as I stand before Papa and Mama’s coffins, with Elena at my side, in the frigid weather. Today the cemetery is full of Italians,mifamiglia, the truce is too fresh for Cian to be here in person, though I know he and his security men lurk at the perimeter.
This is a family event, so I’m under my uncle’s protection. As the new don, Uncle Davide is the ultimate authority now and I feel much safer with him than I ever did around my own father. So I’m not worried for myself.
It’s Elena that I’m concerned about. My cousins and Aunt Rosa had to literally drag her out of their house this morning. Now she stands beside me, quiet, but in a vacant kind of way. She should be crying over the loss of our parents. She’s always been sweet and emotional like that, not hard as stone like she is right now.
As far as I know, Mama and Papa never abused her. She was our brother’s favorite. He doted on her while he harassed me. Even though we’re identical twins, our personalities are so unique to each of us that we have always been treated differently.
I don’t know why I’ve always been everyone’s punching bag. Because I can take a hit? My strong personality hasn’t done me any favors, that’s for sure.
