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“That's not a fair answer, princess.”
“Maybe. But it’s the truth,” she said. “It’s my turn.”
“Yeah. True.”
She pushed away from me just for a second, just so she could look into my eyes. “Will you kiss me?”
The question hung in the air between us like an electric charge, sending my heart into overdrive. "That's not a fair question," I managed to stammer out, struggling to keep my voice steady. My mind was racing, replaying her words over and over.
“And why is that?” she asked, her gaze never leaving mine. Her eyes were filled with a mix of emotions, warmth and uncertainty prominent among them.
"Because I don't think I can refuse," I admitted softly, gravitating towards her as if she was my own personal magnet. The distance between us seemed negligible now even though we were still inches apart.
“Good,” she said. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
And then, before I could utter another word, she closed the remaining distance between us.
Chapter Eight: Teo
Iwoke up to harsh fluorescent light overhead. The sterile brightness stung my eyes. My body felt heavy, and a rhythmic throbbing pulsed from the back of my head. Hospital. Immediately, I remembered Sofia. I tried to sit up but found that my body wasn't ready to cooperate yet.
"Easy there, Teo," a soothing voice instructed from somewhere to my right. I turned my head slightly, grimacing at the effort it took. Grayson stood there, looking as grim as ever.
"What...what happened?" I managed to croak out.
“How much do you remember?”
“Waking up, going under, waking up, going under,” I said. “It’s been rough.”
Grayson sighed. His face was scratched, his clothes dirty and bloodstained. "You were hurt pretty badly. They think some of the shrapnel hit an artery or something? I think a doctor will be in to talk to you soon enough. You’ve been out for a day and a night. The morphine worked, I assume?”
“Yeah,” I replied, trying to shake off how groggy I felt. “I mean, I’m not in pain. Just feel like shit.”
“Sounds about right,” he said, his tone dry but not unkind. He paused for a moment, and I could see the worry etched in the lines around his eyes and the tight set of his jaw.
“I need to know about Sofia,” I urged him, desperation creeping into my voice. “Is she…” I couldn’t finish the sentence, couldn’t voice the fear that gnawed at my mind.
“She’s alive, Teo. She managed to get in touch with Jace,” Grayson said, rubbing his temple. “He traced them to an underground bunker somewhere in Miami after Victor swiped the phone off one of his capos, I guess.”
I let out a long breath, relief washing over me, but the fear wasn't completely gone. "And?" I prompted, my impatience seeping through.
Grayson's expression hardened. "And that's all we know so far."
"Not exactly reassuring," I muttered, closing my eyes briefly. My mind was racing again - scenarios of danger and peril involving Sofia played out one after the other and I felt the cold grip of dread clutch at my heart.
"Boss," Grayson began, his voice stern yet comforting, "we're going to find her. I promise you."
“Why aren’t we already there?”
“Well, I don’t know if you’ve noticed this, but you’re literally in the hospital, Jace checked himself out against medical advice and Sam is still not saying a fucking thing. Last time we approached without a plan, all of us almost died.”
I nodded, holding on to his words like a lifeline. "I need to be there," I said firmly, ignoring the dull throb in my skull as I tried to push myself up.
“All due respect, boss, you need to take a fucking breath right now.”
“I don’t have time to—” I tried to argue, but a ferocious wave of dizziness washed over me. I had no choice but to slump back onto the sterile sheets.
Grayson shook his head, a ghost of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “You can barely stand, Teo. Don’t be stupid.”
