“Yeah.” I sighed. “Well, you would’ve died. I think. Maybe. Pretty sure. From where I was, it looked bad.” I shrugged—or tried to. “If it makes you feel any better, it’s not like I planned to get shot.”
He didn’t say anything. Just stared. I couldn’t read him, and honestly, I didn’t have the strength to try. So, I went for the thing gnawing at my thoughts. “I heard Lina scream,” I said quietly. “Did she think it was me? Was she screaming for me?”
Dorin shot me a confused glance, halting his pacing.
“She knew you got shot right away. Before I even realized what happened. She didn’t think you’d actually show up, but she told our men what you’d most likely be wearing. Lucky she did—otherwise you’d definitely be dead.”
I let out a weak laugh. She was slowly accepting me. Or maybe I was delusional enough to think she was. Regardless, I’d cling to the fantasy until it killed me.
“Cezar, really though, why?” Dorin pressed.
“I wasn’t gonna just stand there and watch you die. She cares about you, and I care about her. What else is there?”
Dorin looked like he wanted to saywhat the actual fuck, but he held it in. Probably because he knew I meant every word. Maybe I was more attached to all of them than they were to me. Whatever. Things were changing. Slowly—but changing. Just needed more time.
“Hey, can I make a call?” I asked.
“Codrin’s already on his way. Lina called him when you woke up,” Dorin replied, dropping into a chair.
Hearing that made me feel all warm inside. Or maybe it was the morphine. Either way, I felt good as fuck right now.
“I am sorry that I fucked shit up,” I admitted with my head hung low, feeling ashamed for disrupting her perfect plan.
“You didn’t ruin anything,” Dorin said. “Yeah, we intended to lure all those people in, but we were outnumbered faster than we expected.”
He stood, moved closer, then actually kneeled beside the bed. “I would have died, Cezar. You saved my life. Thank you. I’ll repay you however I can.”
He meant it, and even though I thought he was being dramatic, some part of me understood—because I remembered what it felt like when Lina saved my life. Or at least didn’t let me die on multiple occasions.
“Well… you’re welcome,” I said, a grin sneaking in. “And honestly? I’ll take your cooking as repayment.”
He huffed a laugh and shook his head.
The hallway suddenly erupted in noise. I thought it was Lina, but Codrin walked in first—with Lina right behind him. A wave of jealousy hit me. Why the hell was she standing so close to him?
“I got your weird noodles.” She looked at me with disgust.
Codrin walked over to me. “Cezar, fuck, are you okay?” He didn’t look at me, though. Why was everyone avoiding my eyes?
“I am good, thanks for coming. Does Darius know?” I asked.
“Sort of. I told him what I told Father—that you got hurt. Not why. And that you’d probably be gone awhile.”
“What do you mean, gone for a while?”
“You need physical therapy, Cezar. So, I figured you’d stay with her while you heal.”
“Lina?”
He nodded.
OH. MY. GOD.
I was going to live with Lina.
Live with her.
Sleep in the same room.
