“I was shot.”
Angelos whimpers at my side. “I’m sorry, Mum. I never meant to?—”
Dan reaches for his hand. “Hey, we talked about this.” He pulls Angelos closer, his voice quieter, steadier. “I know what it feels like to blame yourself for something you can’t change. But you’re not responsible for any of this. You hear me?”
Angelos’ lower lip trembles, but he nods, gripping Dan’s hand tightly. “I was so scared.”
“I know, kid.” Dan squeezes his shoulder. “But you don’t have to be anymore. You’ve got me now.”
Angelos blinks up at him, his tired face a mixture ofemotions. He doesn’t say anything else, but when Dan gives his hand one last squeeze, Angelos doesn’t let go.
My chest blooms at seeing them together like this.
“Dan’s right, sweetheart. I don’t want you blaming yourself for any of this. I’m fine now.” I hide the pain gripping my abdomen and hope he doesn’t see the sweat beading on my forehead.
“You lost too much blood. Your liver—” Dan swallows hard, taking my hand in both his palms.
“Will I be okay?”
“Yes. I’ll make sure of it.”
“What about you? Will you be okay?”
He smiles and lifts his t-shirt, revealing a large surgical pad and gauze dressing surrounded by the beautiful ink that I love. “We’re both gonna be fine. We have matching scars now.”
“I don’t understand. Did the bullet get you, too?” My fingers trace the outline of his dressing.
“Dad gave you his liver.”
Hearing Angelos say the worddadmakes me recoil, but I gaze into Dan’s eyes and know he’s the dad Angelos is talking about.
“Well, only part of my liver. Or I’d be dead.” Dan smiles and ruffles Angelos’ thick dark hair. “Maybe less gaming and more biology lessons, kid.”
Angelos just smiles, tears filling up his eyes.
I flick my gaze between the two of them. “Is that true?”
Dan places my hand over the hospital gown that covers the dressing. “You’ll always have a piece of me, fiore mio.”
My head is light and dizzy, as if the room is tilted on an axis. I look at him again, really look at him. The exhaustion in his face, the paleness of his skin, the way he moves carefully and slower than usual.
“You did this? For me?”
Mum wheels her electric chair around the bed and nods to Angelos. “Let’s give them a moment.”
Angelos frowns, reluctant to let go, but Mamma nudges him gently. “She’s safe now. Let’s go get you something to eat.”
He leans over and kisses my cheek. “I love you, Mum.”
“I love you, too.”
Dan rubs Angelos’ shoulder as they share a look. Both have the same quiet understanding.
Tears sting my eyes as Mamma wheels out of the room, Angelos trailing behind her, glancing back at me one last time before the door clicks shut.
The air thickens, my heart breaking and swelling at the same time. I squeeze Dan’s hand as tightly as I can manage, my throat aching with unshed tears. “You—” My voice fails me, the weight of it all too much. “You really are my guardian angel.”
He shifts, leaning forward slightly, his forehead nearly brushing mine. “You’re stuck with me now.” His lips ghost against my knuckles. “I gave you a piece of me.”
