Eden
I wake up and immediately know I’m in a hospital. It’s far too bright to be anywhere in Matteo’s home. The only other place it could be is heaven, but I know that the bullet just barely grazed my arm, so that can’t be it.
Although, why I’m in a hospital is lost on me. I can tell from how my body barely aches that I’m not injured enough to be here.
I look over and see Matteo holding my hand like I’m about to die, staring at me with relieved eyes when I open mine. He exhales deeply, reaches over the hospital bed, and hugs me.
“I’m so glad that you are okay,” he says.
I scrunch my nose. “Did I miss something? Because I don’t feel that injured.”
I move my arms and legs around, realizing the only part of me that is even taped up is my arm, and it barely hurts. I have an IV that could be feeding me pain drugs, but they wouldn’t make me feel this much better.
“You were shot in the arm.”
I smile. “You brought me here because I was shot in the arm?”
He nods, still frowning and not understanding while I’m smiling.
“Yes, you were also passed out, and I was afraid you might die.”
I bite my lip to keep from smiling brighter as I stroke his cheek.
“You do know I survived an injury to my leg that was a lot worse than this without going to the hospital?”
“That was a mistake,” he says coldly.
I raise an eyebrow. “Did the doctor say that something was wrong with my leg?” I’d be surprised if he did. My leg feels amazing.
“No, he said it seemed to have healed nicely.”
“Then, what’s the problem?”
He sighs.
My heart falls in love a little more, seeing him risking losing me to bring me here.
“How did…?” I ask, not being able to ask how many men he lost when he saved me instead of staying and fighting.
“Clive and Erick are taken care of. We only lost two men. It’s going to be hard for the men to lose them. But their sacrifice wasn’t in vain. Just like yours wasn’t.”
I swallow. I hate that anyone died, but I’m glad it’s over. We’re safe. For now at least.
I hear the knock and look up to see a doctor walk in smiling at me brightly.
“Can I have a moment alone with Eden?” she says, looking at Matteo.
“No, I’d lik
e to be here for whatever you have to talk to her about,” Matteo says, glaring at the woman for even suggesting that he leave my side for a moment.
I don’t care if he stays or leaves, but I like that he wants to stay.
The woman gives him a snide look back. “I’m not asking. I have private information that I need to discuss with Eden, and I will not have you here when I talk to her.”
He doesn’t budge. “I’m her husband.”
She laughs. “No, you’re not. Now get out of here, before I call security and have you thrown out. I don’t care if you are the king of Italy, I want you out.”