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And I can’t ask her.
We’ve been in here for about six hours, and every time she wakes up she’s an inconsolable mess, screaming and babbling words we can’t understand.
Except my name.
She screams for me, and it’s my undoing because I’m here, holding her, and she doesn’t realize it.
“I’m so sorry, Sunshine.” I hate how badly she’s hurt. I should have found her sooner. Even in sleep, tears slip out of her eyes, and fuck.
Fuck, I hate it.
“I’m right here, baby. I’m okay. Please calm down so I can tell you that everything is going to be okay.”
She instinctively curls into me, but she whimpers because I know that, even with pain meds, her body hurts.
“We cleaned you up,” I say softly, needing to talk to her. I press my lips to her forehead. “Got that filth off you. Asgood says your shoulder will heal up just fine, but you have to be careful.”
Pressing kisses to her soft skin, I hold her gently and take a long, deep breath.
It’s over.
Damien isn’t dead yet, but he will be. I want Rina to have the option to see him die.
I must have fallen asleep for a while, because when I open my eyes, I find that Rina’s are open and she’s looking at me like she almost can’t believe that I’m here.
“Are you real?” Her voice is a hoarse whisper, and her lower lip trembles.
I let my knuckles drift lightly down her cheek and lean in to kiss her. “I’m real, and I’m fine, my love.”
Those beautiful eyes fill with tears, and I kiss her again.
“Shh, baby. You’re safe.”
She pushes back and starts to unbutton my shirt, and with a frown, I let her.
“I saw it,” she says, trembling as she works at the buttons. “I fucking saw it. Where is it?”
“Hey.” I cover her hands with mine, lift them to my lips, and then work the buttons open myself and spread my shirt apart so she can touch my skin. She shakes her head, and I can’t take it anymore. “I promise, I’m completely fine.”
“He shot you. I saw it. And you went down, and oh my God, I can’t lose you again. I can’t. Because it would destroy me. Am I dead and you’re a ghost with me?”
“No. Rina St. James, we are very much alive and well. We’re in the infirmary on our property. Our entire family is in the house, waiting to see you to make sure you’re okay.”
“But you—”
“I was wearing armor, Sunshine. I got knocked back because he shot me point-blank and I hit my head. That’s why I was knocked unconscious, but I came to quickly, I don’t have a concussion, and my chest will just be a little sore for a few days. I. Am. Fine.”
“Oh God.” She starts to cry, but it’s not the inconsolable, terror-filled screams from earlier. This is normal relief, normal Thank fuck that’s over, and I can totally handle this.
“You’re safe,” I repeat. “It’s over, sweetheart.”
“He’s dead?” She looks up at me with hope, and I brush her tears away with my thumb.
“He’s in the cell,” I tell her. “And he’ll be dead very soon. I wanted to give you the choice to see it. Or do it yourself.”
She shakes her head. “I don’t want either of those. You take care of it. I just want it over so we can live our lives together, Carson. I want to be able to love you and trust that I get a whole lifetime with you.”
“I’ll take care of it,” I reply and smile softly as she wiggles closer to me, whimpering a little but wanting to be flush against me. Her legs tangle through mine, and she holds on tight. “Be careful of your shoulder.”
