For his entire adult life, he’d done everything he could to avoid getting close to any woman. And up until the day he met Jenna, that goal hadn’t been difficult to accomplish.
But with her, it was different. With Jenna,everythingwas different, and suddenly Adrian couldn’t wait to say those three not-so-little words to her again.
This time, I’ll make damn sure she hears them.
Through his blurred vision, he squinted toward the chair on the right side of his bed. Disappointment left his shoulders sagging when he found it empty.
Jenna had said she’d be here when he woke up. Or at least hethoughtthat’s what she’d said. Damn place probably had strict visitor policies. Since she wasn’t family…
We’ll have to see what we can do to change that.
Another wave of dizziness struck, making him feel even more lightheaded than before. Staring up at the tiled ceiling, Adrian gave himself another minute to gain his bearings. While he laid there, he made a mental checklist of his plans for the immediate future.
See Jenna and make sure she was okay. Tell her he loved her. Get her the hell out of this city.
In. That. Order.
Huh. What do ya know…I have plans.
Feeling ridiculously giddy, Adrian started to smile, but a dull ache in his left leg started to gnaw at him. He lifted the heavy blanket to inspect the damage, but he couldn’t actuallyseethe damage thanks to the miles of gauze wrapped around his thigh.
Wiggling his toes to make sure they still worked, he clenched his teeth and drew in steadying breath. Pointing his left foot forward, he stretched the muscles in his leg. There was a slightly painful pull, but nothing he couldn’t handle.
Deciding to push himself a little more, he flexed his foot upward, bringing his toes back toward his chest. A sharp, burning sensation ran up the back of his thigh, stealing his breath.
Fuck me.
“About damn time you woke up.”
What the…
Adrian turned to his left, his drug-induced haze forcing his vision to play catch-up. Blinking quickly, he hoped the man he’d seen was nothing more than a disturbing hallucination.
He looked again, and…nope. No such luck.
Gabriel Dawson was actually here. In his room. And he looked fucking pissed.
Shit. How did he not see him before now?
Probably because you’re high as a morphine-fueled kite. Just a guess, though.
Adrian smiled at his unexpected visitor. “I’m touched, Dawson.” Damn, his voice sounded scratchy as hell. “You come all this way to kiss my boo-boo?”
The Bravo Team leader crossed his arms in front of his broad chest and stared. Between Gabe’s narrowed gaze and a jaw made of stone, it didn’t take a genius to see that he was in no mood for jokes.
“Where’s Jenna?”
“Have you checked the waiting room? ’Cause last I knew, that’s where people went to…you know…wait.”
Curling his fists at his sides, Gabe took an angry step toward him. “You were supposed to protect her.”
“What the fuck do you think I’ve been doing?” He grimaced as he shifted his injured leg. “In case you haven’t noticed, big guy, I’m the one who took the bullet. Not her.”
It could’ve been her.
No. Adrian refused to let his mind go there. Jenna belonged to him now, which meant he’d kill anyone stupid enough to even think about touching what was his.
“Where is she?” Gabe interrupted his thoughts.