Page 132 of In My Heart
“As long as it has you, Arran, and Dio as a part of it, it looks pretty good to me.”
“And Dante?”
“Dante and I need to talk. I don’t hold what happened in Chicago against him, but I need to know for sure it will never happen again, Cal. I love him, and I want to be with him, but I have to be able to feel safe with him too.”
“Absolutely you do,” he agreed. “Just make things very clear with him when you speak. Lay down your boundaries and ensure he knowns them backwards and forwards. Even then though, Cara, it’s okay to feel wary with him for a while after what he did. It will take time for him to earn your trust back, and I’m sure he knows that too.”
“I hope so,” I nodded. “but I guess we’re a long way from that when he can’t even be allowed to wake up right now.”
“It’s going to take time. I think he’ll be in survival mode for a while, and I don’t think that will be a good time for you to talk with him, at least not if you want rational answers.”
“I’ll wait. He needs time to recover. I think we all do, to be honest,” I sighed.
I leant back into his chest, careful to stay well away from his shoulder. I felt exhausted, despite the fact I just woke up, and being there with Cal, feeling secure and loved, it was a piece of calm I needed.
I was almost asleep when the door opening, a short while later startled me. I looked up with alarm, but relaxed again when I saw it was just Arran. He had changed from the blood coveredclothes he wore earlier, into blue jeans and a dark wool sweater. His hair was pulled back messily, tied in a top knot, and he looked tired, the hint of his red stubble covering his face.
“Ye alright lad? I just saw yer message,” he asked in a panic as he strode to the bed.
“The nurses aren’t answering when I press the buzzer. Cara’s in pain. It’s hours since she was given anything,” Cal explained.
“Yer head, lass?” Arran asked with just a glance at me.
“When did I get so easy to read?” I laughed weakly.
“Yer squintin’ at me as I speak. No’ much to read,” Arran chuckled. “I’ll grab someone to gi’ ye something.”
“No more strong drugs, please, Arran. Just some aspirin or acetaminophen will work,” I spoke up.
“Cara…” Cal tried, but I cut in before he could say anything more.
“I took them last night because I was numb and didn’t care. Today I care and I’m not taking any more. I don’t need anything strong. The pain is tolerable.”
“Let’s see what the doc says, aye?” Arran suggested, then he slipped from the room.
“Do you know how Rafe is?” I asked.
“Dario was in here earlier. He said Rafe was still fast asleep, still on oxygen. The doctor had told him Rafe would be fine after some rest. He just pushed too hard.”
“Because of me,” I stated. It was a fact, after all. “I was such an idiot. I never should have trusted a word Grigor said. I don’t know when I got so ridiculously naïve.”
“So you did go willingly? We weren’t sure. The cameras out front were the only ones working and they only showed those men dragging you and shoving you in the car.” I didn’t miss the sharpness in Cal’s tone at those words. He was mad, or disappointed. Maybe both.
“All I could think about was getting Dante back. Grigor said it would be only forty-eight hours, then Dante and I could walk. He gave his word and I…I believed him. I thought I could handle it,” I tried to explain.
“Cara, men like Grigor Adamian…their word is worth shit. Of course he wasn’t going to let you go. That’s why Rafe told him where he could stick his offer when he received it. He wanted to use you as a pawn against Rafe. And Dante…he never would have gotten out alive no matter what deal we struck with Adamian. That’s why Rafe and Dio were preparing an attack. It was the only way Dante had a chance.”
“I worked all of that out myself, but it was too late by then,” I admitted.
“They hurt you?” It wasn’t really a question, I knew Cal and Arran had seen the bruises and wounds on my body, but clearly he needed an answer anyway.
“I’ve been hurt worse,” I shrugged.
“That doesn’t make any of this better, Cara,” Cal growled.
“I fought back,” I explained. “I thought if I could just get to Dante, maybe I could get us out of there. I got one of the guards down and had his gun in my hands, but Daniel…he was faster. He stopped me, then dragged Dante up and threatened to kill him if I fought again.”
“Christ, Cara. The thought of you trying to fight those bastards…fuck…” he pulled me close and held me almost too tightly, not that I protested. “I never want you in a situation where you have to do that again. Never.”
