He briefly closes his eyes, looking pained. “We’re all set. Ready to go home?”
Home.
I have no idea where that is or what it looks like. However, I’m ready to go anywhere with Tommaso.
Both Dr. Albans and Dr. Moretti have gone over my discharge instructions and for my care at home. They’ll be coming daily to the house for the next while.
I may not have memories, but I know that a doctor, especiallytwodoctors, making house calls isn’t the norm. I study Tommaso’s powerful form encased in that perfectly tailored suit as I stand.
He grips my elbow. “Gina, let me help you.”
I smile up at him, trying to hide that I’m already tired from the bit of movement I’ve done this morning. “They won’t let me leave the hospital if you baby me. I need to be able to do things myself.”
“They’ll do whatever I tell them to do.”
I laugh lightly. “Pretty sure that’s not how these things work.”
He brushes my hair back from my temple on the unbruised side of my face. “You’ll see,” he murmurs.
My brow pinches as I frown at his comment. He wraps his arm around my waist, securing me to his side, and picks up my bag with his free hand.
We leave the room, and Tommaso leads us away from the main nursing station down the hall and to an elevator. I glance out a window as we pass, seeing what looks like the back of the hospital.
“Isn’t the parking more to the front?” I ask, looking up at him.
He pushes the button once we’re inside the elevator. “We’re going out the back.”
I don’t ask why, as the elevator’s descent makes me sway and my vision blurs momentarily.
Tommaso’s arm tightens around my waist to steady me. Then he scoops me into his arms and shushes me when I protest.
I’m a sucker for the feel of him and the safety I feel nestled against his powerful body, so I let him carry me without further protest.
The elevator door opens, and I startle seeing Marco and Silvio there. The back lobby entrance of the hospital is eerily empty, except for men who look an awful lot like security guards. They surround us, keeping Tommaso and me in the middle, and Tommaso cradles my head against his chest.
I glance up at him. His jaw is hard and set, and his eyes are ice as he scans the area.
A shiver of alarm moves through me, but I stay silent.
We move outside, and the sun is warm, but I don’t have much time to luxuriate in the feel as Tommaso gets into the back of a vehicle. Setting me on the seat, he buckles me in as the vehicle starts to move.
I’m disoriented and fuzzy, trying to get my bearings, when I realize we’re alone in the back of a limo with the partition closed to give us privacy.
“Are you rich?” I stare at him like a simpleton. The car, his security, his suits…the power that rolls off him.
His low chuckle sounds a bit forced. “We’rerich. What’s mine is yours.” He kisses my forehead. “Rest. We’ll be home soon.”
I do as he says, leaning against him while I stare out the window. Nothing looks familiar; nothing is sparking that fuzzy feeling in the back of my mind of something that is lurking and hiding in the borders of my consciousness.
I finally close my eyes, because not remembering is exhausting, and it’s compounding on top of the physical exhaustion.
I must doze because I startle awake when Tommaso lifts me out of the car.
“You’re safe.” He kisses the top of my head. “Let me carry you inside.”
I turn my head so I can see where we are, and my mouth parts in surprise. The grounds are immaculate and expansive, with a manicured lawn and trees giving some shade. I never knew there were yards this big inside a city. But this isn’t just a yard, it’s…grounds. Protected by an imposing high stone wall, which has an equally imposing metal gate with men standing beside it.
To keep people out.
