I tore today’s card open with trembling fingers, my heart already struggling to keep up with my frantic breaths.
La mia bella ribelle,
Want to break a few more rules with me?
– S
Shit. A hot flush caused my silk blouse to stick to my skin as I stared at the notes. Even his handwriting leapt off the page like his presence: sharp, alluring, and annoyingly confident.
This was bad. Really bloody bad. But surely if I ignored them, he’d stop. Did he really think I’d be lured in by beautiful flowers now that I knew who he was? I had to get them away from me.
Snatching up the first vase, I flung open my office door and headed down the corridor, feeling Damiano walking behind me silently. I backed into the swinging doors of a ward and moved towards the first bed, where a frail old lady was sleeping. I placed the flowers on her bedside table and headed back for the other two. They were too beautiful to throw away, and at least this way, they’d be appreciated.
“Who are they from? A boyfriend?” Damiano asked as we walked back to my office. My back bristled as I shot him a sideways glance. I knew I should probably tell him, but it annoyed me that he’d asked so boldly, as if my personal life wasn’t my own. Did he have the right to ask personal questions, or was his job simply to protect me from any imminent threats? And was sending me flowers really threatening behaviour that needed to be reported? If I told him, more questions would follow. The flowers would stop soon. Santino wasn’t actually planning on sending me flowers every damn day.
“It’s a… subscription service.” Why was I lying? “Brightens the place up and lifts the patient’s spirits.”
He nodded once, his eyes briefly flicking down to my breasts before I disappeared into my office. This whole situation was so uncomfortable. And I’d curseSantino Buccini to hell for it.
I spent most of my shift in my office, trying to catch up on the growing mountain of paperwork, but by three a.m., my energy and concentration were on life support. When I finally stood up after hours hunched over my desk, my back cracked in protest. Great, I was back to memories of his hands, the hands of a criminal, who could make that ache disappear so easily. I needed a break. A jug of coffee and one of those chocolate eclairs from the vending machine in the ER were calling my name, but as I opened the door to my office, Damiano slid in front of me, blocking my path to the corridor.
“SignorinaCaruso, I advise you to stay in your office for your own safety.”
I frowned, my eyes darting past his broad frame to scan the empty corridor. “Why? What’s wrong?”
“Code yellow. A potential threat has been identified. Please stay inside your office.”
“Potential threat?” I blinked. “What type of potential threat?”
He sighed, pressing his finger against the earpiece as if we were in some over-the-top action film. “A man from your father’s list has been spotted at the hospital. The situation’s contained and under control, but it’s still wise to stay here.”
My heart did a little dive-and-flip in my chest. “Who?”
“Santino Buccini.”
My eyes widened as I gripped the file tighter. “What’s he doing here?”
“He’s been admitted to the ER.”
“As a patient?” I gasped.
“It seems so.”
I swallowed, biting my bottom lip. Was this truly a threat or merely a coincidence?Coincidences follow that man like shadows.I knew the sensible option was to stay in my office and listen to these professionals who were only trying to keep me safe, but rage and curiosity were replacing fear. This was my hospital, my workplace, and I had a job to do. And to hell with Santino Buccini if he thought I’d hide away in my office trembling with fear, hunger, and thirst.
“I have to take these files to registration.”
“Signorina, that is right next to the ER. Can you find someone else to do it for you?”
“No,” I argued. I definitely could, but out of principle, I wouldn’t. “I’m not going to interrupt other people’s important jobs to do mine for me. And anyway, isn’t that what you are here for? To keep me safe? What can happen to me in a public hospital?”
I stormed past him, refusing to wait for an answer because I knew he probably had a long list of horrifying possibilities, but I wasn’t willing to hear them. Withmy chin held high, I walked purposefully down to the main reception and could feel Damiano’s intensity at my back. He was hypervigilant, and I couldn’t deny that it was putting me on edge. But my curiosity has always been my biggest downfall.
After filing the paperwork, I headed to the vending machine directly in front of the ER ward. I bought a coffee and a chocolate eclair, telling myself not to look up and search the ER beds for his face like a mantra.
“Would you like anything?” I asked Damiano because he hadn’t had a break from watching over me since we left my father’s house.
“That’s very kind of you.” He gave me a quick smile. “But I’m fine.”
