"I uh, there was an intruder—"
"An intruder?" Her eyes bug out. "Are you okay? Were you robbed?"
"He broke into Axel’s hospital room."
"Axel?" She frowns. "So, he was the emergency, the reason you were incommunicado for the last few weeks?"
I nod.
"He’s also one of the Sovranos, I take it?"
"He is." I shift in my seat. Why can’t I get comfortable?.
"Why were you in his hospital room?"
"I was uh, watching over him while he was in a coma."
"He was in a coma," she says the words slowly, "and you were watching over him?"
"Yeah." I blow out a breath, "The thing is, Axel looks like Xander."
"Hold on; back up." She places her cup back in its saucer. "So, this Axel guy looks like your ex-crush?"
"He’s also Xander’s triplet."
"Holy shit," she opens and shuts her mouth, "is it too early to drink something stronger?"
"It’s barely 9.30 am," I say dryly. "Oh, and by the way, he took a bullet for me."
"Wait, what?" She gapes at me, "Someone shot at you?"
"Not me, per se. It was intended for one of the Sovranos, but I got in the way."
"And he stepped in front of you? Is he in love with you?"
"He didn't know who I was. I think it was instinct that had him placing himself between me and the bullet."
"Instinct, eh?" Her forehead creases.
"The bullet grazed his temple. He suffered significant blood loss, so the doctors had to induce a coma to help him heal."
"Wow," She leans a hip against the counter. "So, he was in a coma for the last two weeks and you were with him?"
I nod.
"But he's better now?"
"Yes," I drain my espresso and place the cup back in its saucer, "and now you know everything."
"Not everything."
I crunch down the biscotti, "Sure, you do."
"You mean, you and this Axel didn’t," she places the fingertips of both hands against each other.
My cheeks heat. "No, we, didn’t," I mutter. "For heaven’s sake, the man was unconscious until two days ago."
"But he’s recovering quickly?"