One of the men with him tapped his arm and pointed at her. Carlos switched directions, coming toward her.
She planned to slow before she slammed into him, but it didn’t quite work that way. They collided, and he grunted, taking a step back. His arms slid around her, and she wound hers over his shoulders, linking her fingers behind his head. “You’re alive.”
His arms flexed around her, the strength he had keeping her grounded. Reassuring her that she hadn’t lost him. “I could say the same.” His voice sounded scratchy.
She tugged his head down so his face was closer to hers. “I thought I might’ve lost you.”
His gaze flitted over her face, those dark eyes assessing her. One hand came up, and his thumb touched her cheek.
She held on tight.
“I’m right here.”
He swept her up into his arms and touched his lips to hers. Everything inside Eliana settled into place with a click that resounded through her, but which only she could hear.
The past. The future. Her. Carlos. The entirety of who they were merged in that one moment as he eased his lips against hers, and she matched him step for step, trying not to push for something he didn’t feel.
But she didn’t need to worry about that.
He swept her away with the strength of his passionate embrace.
Eliana’s thoughts shuttered, and the world seemed to disappear into a wash of noise and sights she lost track of in the heat of the moment. In finally having everything she’d ever dreamed she might have.
And being who she was always meant to be.
He pulled back, a kind of wonder in his gaze as he stared at her.
Eliana bit her lip. “Um, that was…” She couldn’t think of the words to finish.
“Yeah.” His arms tightened around her for a second. “It really was.”
She smiled. “We should talk about that.”
Carlos chuckled. “Don’t worry. We will.” He pulled her to him, hugging her against his chest with his chin on her head. Then he leaned down and kissed her cheek. “We will.”
“Um, guys…” Maizie wandered into view beside them.
Carlos didn’t let go of her. “Hey, Maze.”
Her sister pointed up the street. “Incoming.”
A shiny RV had pulled onto the street and now headed this way.
Eliana smiled. “Mom and Dad are here.”
Chapter Forty-Two
Four days later
The slender man, wearing a custom Italian suit and three-thousand-dollar loafers, entered the hospital front entrance just after three in the afternoon.
He bypassed the reception and headed straight for the elevators with his briefcase. Going to the fourth floor, where he asked for the doctor by name.
The white-coated doctor, with her red hair pulled back in a bun, appeared tired as she emerged from the floor through the restricted area doors. Brushing back hair from her face. Dark circles under her eyes. “Mr. Manneton?”
He nodded. “That’s correct.” He opened his briefcase on the reception counter and handed over a piece of paper. “This document provides me with medical, legal, and financial power of attorney for all matters concerning Lydia Rosenberg.”
“Right. As I stated when your office called, there isn’t much that can be done. Given the size of the tumor in her brain, she would have had a matter of weeks to live at best. Afterthe extensive injuries she received as a result of the explosion, the damage is too great. I’m afraid the prognosis is inevitable. Unless, of course, you decide to terminate life support.”
