Page 81 of My Ghost

They glare silently at each other over my bed for several seconds and I am beginning to enjoy the entertainment, so I decide to let them bicker some more before I intervene.

Matteo caves first.

“Motherfucker,” he curses.He lets out a frustrated breath and turns to me.“Amore.”

I look up at him with a barely suppressed chuckle at the exasperation written all over his face.

“Marry me.”

“Wh-what?”I squawk.Of all the things I expected him to say…

“Marry me,” he demands again, a stubborn set to his jaw.

This man is definitely deranged.

“Yes…” I hear myself reply.“I’ll marry you.”I probably bumped my head harder than I thought, my brain is not in control of my mouth anymore.

A slow grin spreads across Matteo’s face and he leans down to kiss me gently on the lips.Then he turns toward the doc with a victorious smirk.

“You’ve heard, I’m her fiancé.Congratulations accepted.”

The doc glowers at him for a beat longer, then he looks at me, probably to assess if he should have my head rechecked.

I let out a quiet chuckle, still feeling too weak to laugh out loud.But I smile at the physician and nod my consent.He asks me for the circumstances of my injuries and I recount them as best as I can remember.He then proceeds to explain my condition, but all I am able to hear is “dehydration,” “concussion” and “no brain damage” before my eyes drift shut again and sleep pulls me under.I dream of floating in a very nice smelling cloud of familiar cologne and of warm hands holding me while firm lips are brushing over mine.

When I open my eyes again, Lily and Damiano are there.Lily jumps up to hug me.

“Oh my God, Erin.I was so worried!”Her voice breaks.I find that I am strong enough to lift my arm to hug her back.

“Lily.Good to see you, too.”My voice is stronger now, even though it still sounds rusty.Out of nowhere, a glass with a straw appears in my line of sight.I look up to see Matteo holding out the glass.He has dark circles under his eyes, and his usually perfect stubble seems a bit scruffy.He looks disheveled like he has been raking his fingers through his hair.But the intensity of his eyes is the same as always, and they are solely focused on me.There is so much I need to tell him.

A throat clears and I snap my gaze away, feeling heat creeping up my cheeks.Damiano is standing behind Lily and smirks down at me.“Good to see that you are awake, Erin.The signal was a genius move.”

I smile up at him and Lily.Then I remember Lydia and I bolt upright, only to be plastered against a very broad and delicious smelling chest.

“Amore, no sudden movements.”Matteo’s voice rumbles against my ear.

I push back a fraction to look up into his eyes.“Matteo, there was another woman with me, Lydia.Did she…did you—”

“Yes, we rescued her.She is two floors up, being taken care of.She was in a bad state of malnourishment.Jade is with her.”

I nod, relieved.“And…Rourke?”

Matteo looks up at Damiano and a silent conversation goes on before he leans down to me again.“He’s dead.”

I nod again.“Okay…” I don’t know what happened, but from what I saw, I know that I won’t be mourning him.“And Manticore?”

Their faces darken.“Rourke was working with a large web of corrupted politicians and cops, we’re still digging,” Damiano chimes in.

I nod.

Then Lily hugs me a last time and they leave, letting Chiara and Lucas come in for a few minutes before Matteo shoos them out unceremoniously.

I sit up and slide my legs out of the bed.But before they touch the floor, Matteo has me in his arms.

“Do you need to go to the bathroom?I’ll carry you.”

“No, I am feeling strong enough to walk, just let me down so I can see for myself.”I roll my eyes.