Page 87 of The Specialist

I glared at him. “It’s a scratch. He barely hit me.”

She pushed off the counter. “You let him get shot, Damien? No one told me? I would have been ready!”

“I’m fine,” I repeated, even though my arm ached like a bitch. “You should be resting, iubirea mea.” I narrowed my eyes at Damien. “And you should be leaving.”

“You be quiet, Egan Vulpe. I’m so mad at you. Damien, bring me the medical kit.”

He opened the cupboard, handing her the medical kit every safe house contained.

“Where?” she demanded, opening the kit on the table.

“My arm.”

“Take off your jacket.”

I did as she requested, still glaring at Damien. I had planned on telling her gently. Maybe tomorrow. I would have cleaned it myself. I had done it many times, and I knew it wasn’t life-threatening. He grinned and winked at me, enjoying causing trouble.

“Egan was really awesome, Sofia. Kicking ass, taking names, all after being shot.”

“Shut up, you idiotule,” I snarled. “You’re making it worse.”

“Nope. My work is done.” He left the room as Sofia leaned over me, muttering under her breath.

In moments, she had cleaned and dressed the wound, winding a thick white bandage over it. Something wet splashed on my arm, and I slipped my fingers under her chin, lifting her face. I was horrified to see the tears in her eyes, dripping down her cheeks. “Sofia,” I murmured. “My love, everything is fine.”

She let me pull her to my lap, and I cradled her close. “Do not cry. It hurts me when you cry.”

“You left. You left without saying goodbye.”

“I wanted you to rest after your ordeal. Not sit and worry.”

“I woke up, and you were gone,” she sobbed. “All I could think was you didn’t give me the chance to say goodbye. To kiss you one last time. To tell you how proud I was of you. How much I loved you.”

“I’m sorry. But it’s over now.”

“Ivan is dead?”

“Yes,” I replied.

“And the rest of them?”

“All dead.”

“When Julian said it was all handled, the other man and his family…” She trailed off.

“Dead,” I replied flatly. “They were not good individuals, Sofia. They killed a lot of innocent people.”

She nodded. “I know.” She drew in a ragged breath. “So, it’s over? You ended it?”

“Yes.”

She let her head fall to my chest, breathing deeply. Silence descended, and I sighed. “Did I also end us, Sofia?”

She snapped up her head, meeting my eyes.

“Sofia?” I asked.

“Did you end us?” she repeated. “That’s what you think?”