“S-stupid Brits and their s-stupider dark humor. You c-cannot joke about this, Jack!” she choked. “Ishotyou!”
“Yes. You did. As I said, gaping chest wound.”
Her replying look clearly stated that she wanted to smack me. She leaned over and kissed me instead, a gentle lingering peck on my cheek.
“Mmmm.” I turned my head toward her. “You missed a spot.”
She had never been slow, thank goodness. She kissed my lips. First the top. Then the bottom. She smelled of sugar and vanilla but tasted of salty tears.
“Heavens. I must be doing a poor job of it if you’re still crying,” I said.
She hiccupped. “You almost d-died, Jack.”
“Yes. I’ve been sort of straddling the divide between life and death for a few hundred years now. It’s been my thing.” My tone may have been a touch too blasé.
A shuddering breath escaped her. Another.
“Hey—” My brows furrowed. “That was another stilted attempt at humor. You’re supposed to laugh.”
She sank into the chair beside me, sobbing into my hand.
“I’m sorry,Chiara mia,” I murmured. “That was unfeeling of me.”
She shook her head, refusing to look up. “J-just give me a moment. Trying to pull myself from Hysterical Hot Mess to just D-disheveled Hot Mess.”
I laughed at that. A laugh that quickly turned into a panting groan of pain. “Don’t make me laugh.”
“Sorry. I’m so sorry.”
I studied her beloved face. Chiara didn’t know it yet, but she was stuck with me now. She needed to prepare herself for a decidedly serious courtship, British lord style—
A knock sounded at the door and Dante poked his head into the room.
“Chiara, you’re needed out here—” He paused, eyes meeting mine. “Hey, Jack. Glad to see you’re finally awake and fully in the land of the living.”
“Thank you,” I said.
He nodded at me and then beckoned toward his sister. “Chiara, there are two police detectives out here. They need to chat with you.”
“Me?” Chiara pointed at her chest. “Right now?”
Dante shrugged. “They’re being insistent.”
“But—” Chiara turned back to me, squeezing my hand. “Jack is going to be okay. They’re not here to arrest me, are they?”
Arrest?! I tried to sit up more, my instinctual reaction to protect Chiara from harm leaping to the forefront.
“No, no, Jack.” She instantly pressed a gentle hand against my uninjured shoulder. “Stay down.”
Dante shook his head. “I think they just have more questions about the events. It’s all part of their larger sting operation for the entire Tempeste organization.”
“Tell them I’ll be out in a just a minute, okay?”
Dante nodded and left the room.
Chiara turned her head back to me.
“I’m so sorry. I’ll deal with this and then I’ll be back.” She pressed a lingering kiss onto my forehead.
