Page 113 of Never and Always
“When I say.”
Alive.
I’d never forget Corvo telling me that he had her, that it was too late. Those moments had been filled with pure terror.
“Everett, you all right?”
I looked up to see Ro and Caden. I hadn’t even clocked them approaching. I straightened and nodded. “She’s alive.”
Ro’s expression filled with understanding. “It’s damn hard when they’re in danger, especially when they hold your heart.”
“I’m in love with her.”
His lips twitched. “I heard. We all heard.” He clapped a hand to my shoulder. “Take a few days off. Both of you. Rest and recover.”
“Thanks, Ro. My team?—”
“Will survive a few days without you. And despite what Piper thinks, Langston Hotels will run perfectly okay without her for a few days.”
I snorted. “She’ll want to get back to work. Especially with the setback to the construction.”
“Luckily, I’m the boss and I’m ordering her to take a few days off.” He smiled. “Plus, I’m sure you can think of a few ways to distract her.”
“Corvo is in police custody,” Caden added. “With everything he did, he’s at a minimum facing arson and attempted murder charges. He won’t be seeing daylight any time soon.”
“Good.” I couldn’t give a single fuck about Hugo Corvo.
Behind the curtain, the bickering between Piper and the nurse intensified.
Ro looked like he was trying not to laugh. “We’ll catch up with you both later.”
I nudged the curtain aside. “Take the painkillers.”
Piper pouted, holding an ice pack to her cheek. “Everett?—”
She was a disheveled mess, in my flannel with no shoes, her blonde hair tangled and her skin streaked with bruises, scrapes, and soot. I thought she looked beautiful.
“I’m perfectly healthy.” She lowered the ice pack. “What I need is a shower, a change of clothes, and then time to mourn the loss of my Prada coat and my favorite pair of Gucci heels.”
“I’ll get you new heels.”
She cocked her head. “They weren’t cheap.”
“I know. I’ll still get them for you.”
She smiled.
Yep, beautiful.
“Take the pills and I’ll sort out your discharge papers,” the nurse said.
“Fine.” Piper ungratefully took the pills.
I stepped in front of her and brushed my fingers over her swollen cheek. I wanted to punch Corvo all over again. I lowered my head and pressed a gentle kiss to her cheekbone. She let out a small sigh, her hands gripping my arms.
I cupped her jaw. “Tell me again.”
She didn’t need to ask what. “I’m falling in love with you, Everett Murray.”
