Bella smiled. His big body was barely fitting into the small hospital bed.
“In about five minutes, he gonna jump up and look for you. It’s so cute.” Donatella sighed.
Bella returned to her comfortable position and looked up at her sister. Since Donatella worked undercover, she hadn’t spent much time with her in the past months.
“How are you, Telly? I’ve missed you.”
Donatella leaned over and rested on the bedrail. She used her thumb to swipe a renegade strand of hair from Bella’s forehead. She smiled down at her twin. “I’ve missed you too. All you had to do was call me. You didn’t have to get shot in order to see me.”
“Well, now, I know,” Bella scoffed.
Donatella looked toward the door and then back to Bella. She smiled with wide eyes. “Bitch, the governor is out there!” Donatella giddied.
Because she had a feeling that it would hurt, Bella suppressed a chuckle. She had spent so much time around the governor as of late until she’d become accustomed to his presence.
“He is Tay’s fiancé,” Bella pointed out.
“Girl, and his fine-assbrothers… I want one,” Donatella declared breathlessly.
Bella shook her head at her sister’s brashness. “Umm…don’t you have a man?”
“Bitch, fuck him!” Donna blurted out. “Jack Motherfuckin’ Storm is out there too!”
A laugh escaped before Bella could stop it. Her sister’s presence was so comforting that even the pain in her chest was tolerable. Donatella was on a roll. She closed her eyes and raised her hand to the sky, no doubt about to continue to express her approval of the alpha-male testosterone floating around the waiting area.
“Not only that, Belly. Victoria was looking—”
Thankfully, Donatella’s declaration was interrupted when the hospital door opened. Lincoln, the younger Creed brother, stuck his head in the door.
“Is he up?” he whispered.
“Yes!” Donatella lied.
Bella cut her eyes at her deceitful, desperate little sister. “No, he’s not, Lincoln. But you can come in.”
Lincoln entered the room and held the door until it closed so as not to make much noise. With his eyes never leaving Donna, he walked over to Bella’s bed. He leaned over and kissed her forehead. Since she’d only come in contact with Lucas’ brother a few times, she was surprised by the display of affection. He looked down at her with his brother’s green eyes and smiled.
“How are you feeling, Detective?”
“I’ll live,” Bella grumbled.
“I’m glad. My brother made quite a scene until he was sure that you were going to be okay.”
Bella smiled because she wasn’t surprised. Besides, the fact that his bed was next to hers gave her a feeling of peace. “I don’t doubt it,” Bella scoffed.
“Well, Bella, you look great. I hope you’re feeling up to visitors because I gotta warn you. My parents and the rest of my brothers are outside getting ready to invade your space.”
“You tell them that Bella needs her rest,” Lucas rasped to Bella’s surprise.
All heads turned in his direction. He was sitting up in bed with his arm in a sling. His dark hair was falling wildly around his face, and he had a five o’clock shadow that made him look dangerously alluring. His hospital gown had fallen off of one shoulder, exposing his strong bicep. Bella was sure that no one else in the room was affected by Lucas the same way because the sight of him made her heart skip a beat.
“Lucas,” Bella said breathlessly.
Lucas lifted the sheet and climbed out of bed. He looked well for a man who had recently come out of surgery. With a sexy grin, he walked over to Bella. He placed his warm hand on her cheek. Relishing in the pleasure of his touch, Bella closed her eyes and rested her face on his hand.
“How’s my girl?” he whispered.
“Alive and happy to see you.”
