“I think you’re entitled to be a little out of sorts,” I told him.
“How have you been? Did you have any luck finding a new therapist?” he asked.
“I’m good. I’ve been doing better. You don’t have to waste energy worrying about me,” I replied firmly.
I completely avoided the therapist question, since I hadn’t even tried to look for a new one to talk with yet. I was still leary of the whole idea after the disastrous sessions I’d had with Dr. Bhabra.
Luckily, the bedroom door opened, saving me from the topic. I glanced up and saw Dio walk in, followed by Cal.
“He’s gone,” Dio told us.
“Where did you find him? He scared Cara too. I don’t want any unknown men in this house again.” Rafe ordered.
“He scared you? What did he say?” Cal asked as he crossed the room and came over to me, dropping to his knees awkwardly, before me as I sat up. He was still in a cast, but it was a lighter one now, with a boot over that he was able to weight bare on, so at least there were no more crutches.
He had showered, his hair still damp and pushed back from his face. He had changed into clean shorts and a black henley that fit him deliciously.
“He just gave me a bad feeling. I don’t know,” I shrugged. “I guess I have a radar for jerks or something.”
“Not a bad super power,” Dio joked, and when I glanced up he was closer now too, helping Rafe into a sitting position.
“You okay?” Cal asked as he studied me closely.
“Fine. He’s gone now.”
“Sorry mate,” Dio told Rafe. “We were desperate for someone to start right away, since you wouldn’t even entertain the idea of spending another night in the hospital, and he was all that the agency had available. I didn’t even think about Cara being wary of him in the house. Sorry,Piccola,” he added as he looked to me.
“Rafe doesn’t want any more nurses in here, so I told him we’ll find a way to check his vitals between us. We can do that, can’t we?”
“Yes. I can handle it, as long as the doctor is still going to come in to check Rafe over too?” Cal questioned.
“As long as it’s a female, and she knowns I’m not a fucking toddler!” Rafe growled.
“I’ll handle it,” Dio nodded. “How about you let me and Cal help you get comfortable in bed now?”
“I need to check your vitals anyway,” Cal added.
“Fine,” Rafe acquiesced, finally
“I need to shower and change, but then I could come and sit with you for a while. Maybe we could watch a movie or something?” I suggested to him, and he smiled a little.
“I’d like that, sweetheart.”
I nodded and then stood, leaving the room without another word. I pulled the door closed behind me and then just froze there for a moment.
I hated seeing Rafe so distressed and I couldn’t shake the knowledge that he was in that position because of me, because he had saved me.
My guys had tried hard to instil in me that what happened wasn’t my fault, but how could it not be? The most likely scenario was that the people who ambushed us at the hospital had been Adamian’s men, there to get hands on me so they could use me for their sham of a marriage. If I hadn’t been there – if I’d have stayed well away in Chicago – Rafe would be whole and maybe Gia would be alive too. Dante would be at home, where he belongs, with his family who would all care about him and not be angry for a mistake he made.
How could I not believe that I was like a curse, turning everything I touched to shit, when it was so obviously true and backable by facts?
I glanced across the hall to Gia’s closed bedroom door. As far as I knew, it was exactly as she had left it. Rafe hadn’t spoken about clearing it out, and I was pretty sure it would be a long time before he felt up to doing that, if he ever did.
Gia had been no angel, but that didn’t change how much Rafe had loved her. It didn’t change the fact she was our little sister.
I startled when strong arms wrapped around me from behind, but I calmed instantly when I glanced down and recognised them to belong to Arran. The scent of his aftershave and shampoo surrounded me and I sank back against him in utter relief.
“Yer cryin’ lass.” It wasn’t a question. Just a fact. Tears were running down my cheeks.
