Page 97 of Betrothed
The faster beeping on a machine drew her attention and meant my blood pressure was rising. “You remember what happened.”
“I remember enough to know you weren’t truthful with me.”
“I think you know why. But I was as truthful about my life as I’ve been with anyone. I want no part of my uncle’s world.”
“So you’re admitting your uncle is with the Irish mob.”
She tried very hard to pull her arm away. “He is the Irish mob and my father might as well claim the same position as you’ve done with your Pakhan. Now, let me go. You need your rest. I won’t tell you again.”
Her glare was likely the same as mine. A few seconds passed with neither one of us wanting to budge. Finally, I gave in, releasing my fingers one at a time. How was it possible that even in my tender state I was still so aroused? When she jerked her arm away, she noticed, huffing as soon as she did.
While she busied herself checking the monitors, I scanned the hospital room. There was nothing to indicate anyone had come to visit or where my clothes were.
“Don’t worry. Your things are in the closet, but as you might imagine, I kept your gun so security wouldn’t find it. And your wallet. You’re listed as a John Doe but your anonymity won’t last for long.” As soon as she shot me a wistful look, I sensed she was still hiding something from me. “Your gun came in handy when I went to talk to my uncle.”
That was it. I sat straight up in bed, ripping at the monitors attached to my chest. “You did what?”
“You don’t understand. My family’s corporation is a benefactor of this hospital. It wasn’t as if I could bring you into the hospital in secret.”
Fucking Christ. What in the hell had I stepped into?
She tried once again to get me to lie down. “Just rest.”
“We need to talk.”
Her lower lip quivered and there were dark circles under her eyes. “I know we do but you really do need your rest. I was worried about you.” As her expression softened, all I could think about was pulling her into my arms.
“Have you been here the entire time?”
A single nod brought a growl from my throat. “I couldn’t leave you. It really was touch and go for a little while. Even now, I’m not certain you won’t have lasting effects of kidney damage.”
“Answer my question. Who is outside that door?”
“Um. Dante and Cormac, I think?”
At least I could breathe. “Sit down. If you want me to stay here for any longer, then we will talk.”
As she pulled the chair closer, I tried to figure out what to say to her. This was an experience that I could never have imagined.
“You were dreaming just before you woke up. I could tell you were upset. I tried to wake you.”
There was such anxiety in her voice that I was taken aback. I had no idea how I should feel about her, but I knew what I did feel and what I wanted.
Her.
“Something from my past.”
“But you don’t want to tell me. You screamed no as if something horrible happened.” Her touch was so warm, yet her smile was pained.
“I was engaged to be married years ago. An arranged marriage, but I liked the girl very much. In fact, I thought I could fall in love with her. But in my world, violence is prevalent. She was killed because it was easier and safer to murder her instead of me. Women are expendable. Not trained soldiers.”
I took a deep breath, closing my eyes briefly and allowed a single image of Arina to shove aside the ones of Vivian that had obviously crowded my mind during the time I was unconscious.
“I am so… so sorry.” As always, there was a comforting sound to her voice, a lilt that could easily shove away any man’s suffering. “You didn’t love her.”
There was no emotion in her tone and when I studied her reaction to her own words, I sensed she was taking a survey, not wishing for an answer. “There is no place for love inside our worlds, Vivian. You must know that.”
She half laughed, half choked while peering out the window. “That’s exactly what my uncle said, surprised when I’d acted as if I’d been in love with someone. Don’t worry. Not you. There’s no way Uncle Sean would ever believe I’d fall for a barbarian such as yourself.”
