“I need you to keep your eyes open,” Grim said. “Talk to me—tell me the first thing you want to do with your dad when he’s healed.”
“I…I can’t.” I curled into his arms. “It hurts…”
“I know, beauty.” Grim replied. “But if you die on me, Cobra’s gonna kick my ass.”
I managed to chuckle then groaned.
“We’re going to take care of you, Ellie.” Grim promised. “You hold on.”
It wasn’t easy. I tried my best to focus on Grim, his flawless dark skin, big brown eyes and flat nose that made him absolutely one of the most handsome men I’d ever seen—my eyes closed.
“Ellie?” Tarek called. “Keep your eyes open.”
I did as he said because I wanted him to be happy. But my body didn’t seem to be interested. I gripped the front of Grim’s shirt.
“I’m going to have to press on the wound,” Grim said. “It’s going to hurt but we need to stop the bleeding.”
I nodded.
“Ready?”
“Not really, but…”
Grim removed his shirt, bundled it up and pressed it into my shoulder. I gritted my teeth and swallowed the scream I knew had built up from deep inside my soul. I couldn’t hold it anymore. I closed my eyes and the darkness came.
It was strange slipping from light to dark, wake to unconscious. The noise of a siren swarmed in on me at one point but, I couldn’t be sure. Something soft dropped against my cheek, then my forehead, then my nose. I fought to open my eyes and looked up into the most beautiful green eyes I’d ever seen. I managed a smile.
“Tarek…”
“I’m here.” He framed my face and kissed me. “I’m so sorry. I should have kept you safe.”
“Stop.” I sighed. “I’m so tired—stop it. You were saving my father. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“You scared me.”
“I’m sorry.” I accepted his kiss. “But I’m okay—right?”
“You’re great.” He leaned back. “The doctors only want to make sure you don’t get infected.”
“And my dad?”
Tarek released me and sat in one of the chairs beside my bed. He’d withdrawn from me with that one question. I tried sitting up but only managed to flop to the bed. It was probably the medication. I closed my eyes. “Tarek…”
“He’s alive.” Tarek told me. “But he doesn’t want me anywhere near you.”
“He doesn’t get to make that decision!” I snapped. “After what you’ve done for him?”
“Ellie—I’m a cop.” His voice cracked. “I knew your father wouldn’t have been impressed seeing my face. Even though he knows I hadn’t done anything wrong.”
“Um…I haven’t told him.”
“I’m going to go.” Tarek rose.
“Tarek! Please!”
“Please?” He snapped. “You’re saying please? Ellie, you made me fall in love with you and your father still thinks I’ve violated you in the worse possible way! Do you understand how much that hurts?”
“I get it.”
