The pain is dull, with a persistent throb radiating down my left arm, but I've had worse.
Elena sits beside me, her hand still gripping mine. She's staring out the window, her breath fogging the glass slightly.
I turn my head and see the fountain in the square. The one where I kissed her for the first time, where half the town saw us and I didn't give a damn because all I cared about was her lips on mine.
I glance at Elena and she turns at the exact same moment. Her eyes meet mine and she smiles.
I squeeze her hand and she squeezes back.
We keep driving and then turn down a narrower road, climbing upward into the Schei neighborhood.
We turn by the little shop on the ground floor where we'd walk down to get fresh bread sometimes, and take Strada Curcanilor all the way up to the base of the mountain.
Through the trees, the Ionescu estate comes into view.
It's a massive fortified area. Our father bought four homes side by side in a not so friendly manner to build it when we were little.
The iron gates swing open as we approach, and the SUV pulls through and makes its way to the main house.
Lucian already has men stationed at every corner, rifles slung over their shoulders, eyes scanning the perimeter.
The SUV rolls to a stop in front of the main entrance.
One of our men opens my door and helps me out. My legs are steadier than they were on the plane, but the movement sends a sharp spike of pain through my shoulder.
I grit my teeth and ignore it as the nurse helps steady me.
Elena climbs out after me, her presence the only one I want.
Lucian comes over to us.
"We have a room prepared," he says. "Medical supplies. The doctor just arrived."
I nod.
Lucian's eyes shift to Elena.
"You need anything?"
"No," she says. "Just focus on him."
Lucian doesn't argue. He looks at his men and gestures toward the entrance.
"Take him."
We all walk inside and I glance around. I'm instantly reminded of the countless times I've been here, both with my family and the times when it was just with Elena.
If I didn't have two bullet holes in me that needed fixing, reminiscing about those times when it was just us would be making me hard right about now, especially as we pass the love seat in the hall.
We climb a staircase to the second floor, then down another hallway until Lucian gets in front of us and stops in front of a heavy oak door.
He pushes it open and it's the large guest room we have here. The room I snuck into when she was here staying with us.
I turn back and look at Elena. "Remember our favorite room?"
She shakes her head and rolls her eyes. "Oh God."
I look and see that a table has been set up near the window, covered with medical supplies: gauze, antiseptic, surgical tools laid out on a sterile cloth.