I’m awake!
My eyes flew open and I sucked in a gasp of air as I heaved upright. But the moment I did, my side flared with pain, and Krista reached out, grasping my shoulders to keep me from falling back in bed.
“I knew that would work,” she smirked.
“Thanks,” I muttered, grimacing as my side burned. “Could have done without the slap.”
“Serves you right for staying asleep so long after surgery.”
I settled back into the bed as she adjusted the pillows. “I was recovering.”
“Well, you’ll have plenty of time to do that in Montana.”
“Montana?” I grimaced. “It’s cold there.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll keep you warm,” she said with a twinkle in her eyes.
Sinner pushed up from his seat and strode toward the door. “If I stick around, I’m gonna be sick.”
“I’m out,” Derek said, getting up. “Let us know when you get released. We’ll be looking for food. You coming, Knight?”
“I’ll stand guard,” he said, walking to the door.
“Hey,” I said, stopping him. He turned back to me, his eyebrow lifted in question. “Keep them the fuck out of my room.”
“You keep them out of your room,” he grumbled, swinging the door open and striding out.
“So, did you see the light?” Krista asked, sitting on the side of my bed. “Did you hear voices or meet Dumbledore in a train station?”
I was confused by the last reference, but understood in general what she meant. That was a good thing. At least all my faculties seemed to be intact. Which made sense, considering I was shot in the side and not in the head.
“Are you okay?” Krista asked when I didn’t immediately answer.
“Sorry, I’m being philosophical at the moment.”
“About what?”
“Language, mostly. So, any word from the Ratti Family?”
“That, you would have to ask Knight. I’ve decided that I don’t particularly like your line of work, and frankly, I don’t want to know anything else unless I’m about to be attacked and need to defend myself.”
Her words struck something deep inside me, though they really shouldn’t. It was understandable that she wouldn’t want to be involved in my life after what happened. How many women had to walk into a situation with a mafia underboss and then shoot their way out?
Still…if she didn’t want any part of my life, where did that leave us?
“So, I was thinking that we’d go back to my house where you can fully recover. The doctor said it would take several weeks until you were able to do any lifting over ten pounds, whichmeans I have several weeks to keep you to myself,” she grinned. “I’m thinking a naughty nurse costume and lots of bed rest,” she said, leaning forward, pressing her lips to mine.
But I barely moved. I was still stuck on the wholeshe wanted nothing to do with my lifething.
She pulled back, frowning down at me. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah,” I croaked out, forcing myself to grin. “Just…waking up still. My brain isn’t one hundred percent online. Must be the drugs.”
“Are you in any pain?”
“Not even a little, as long as I’m laying still.”
“Do you want me to ask the doctor to lower the pain meds?”