Leaving the cell, I head straight for the restroom and wash Marco off my hands. I grab a cloth and wet it before wiping the drops of blood from my face, neck, and chest.
“You good?” Georgi asks.
“Hmm…”
“Okay. Should I update Christiano and the others?”
I nod, and after drying my hands, I turn to look at my friend. “Thank you.”
“Always. Nina asked if she can visit Laurie at the hospital.”
“I’d appreciate it.”
Georgi follows me to the chair, and while I put on my shirt, he asks, “Want to see the ring I got her?”
“Yes.” I force myself to focus on him because his happiness is important to me.
I watch as he pulls a velvet pouch from his pocket and shakes a flawless twenty-carat princess-cut diamond sat high in a platinum ring into his palm.
The corner of my mouth lifts. “Nina is going to love it, Georgi.”
“I hope so. It took me months to find the right ring.” He slips it back into the pouch, then meets my eyes.
I can clearly see how much he loves her, and now that I have Laurie, I understand the bond they share.
“I’m happy for you.”
He pulls me into another hug, patting my back. “I’m happy for you too.”
Letting go of each other, I glance at Marco’s body before I leave so I can get back to my wife.
The drive to the hospital feels too long, and by the time I walk back into the private room and my eyes land on Laurie, the itch beneath my skin is close to driving me insane.
As it subsides, I lean over her and press a kiss to her mouth, hating that she smells like antiseptic fluid.
Her eyes open, and seeing me brings a smile to her face. “You’re back. Where were you?”
“Just took care of some business,” I say, sparing her the details. Only then do I look at my parents. “Thanks, guys. You can head home.”
“Are you sure?” Mom asks. “We don’t mind keeping Laurie company.”
“I’d like to be alone with her,” I say so Mom will leave. They need to get some rest.
“Okay.”
I watch as they say goodbye to Laurie, then give them each a hug.
When we’re finally alone, I sit down on the side of the bed and rest my forearms on either side of my wife’s head.
Staring at her, time slips away, and I get lost in drinking every inch of her beautiful face.
Eventually, Laurie’s eyes drift shut as she falls asleep, and needing to be closer to her, I carefully lie down on her left side, holding her like the precious being she is.
Chapter 27
Laurie
Sitting up in bed, I stare at the bandage around my right arm.