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A nurse hurried up to Trent and offered a blue scrub shirt. He accepted with a quiet, “Grazie.”
“Barring no complications,” the doctor continued, “he will be discharged the day after tomorrow.”
Wow. Trent’s hand landed on her shoulder, halting her progress just before they turned a corner. He nodded toward the opposite hall. Walking toward them, pushing a wheel chair, was Simone with Rachel.
Halli gave a soft exclamation and rushed forward to hug her sister. A moment later, she pulled back, wiping her tears with one hand and Rachel’s with the other. “You’re just in time. We’re headed to Ben’s room. He’s okay.”
Rachel sniffed. “I was so afraid I’d never see either of you again.”
Too choked up to speak, Halli answered with another brief squeeze before standing. She smiled at Simone and motioned them ahead of her. Once at Ben’s room, the doctor told them he’d give them a few minutes, and Simone wheeled Rachel in first. Halli hung back at the door. More tears welled as Rachel grasped their brother’s hand and leaned over to press her cheek to his. She wished she could figure out a way to turn off the faucets.
“What are you waiting for?”
She jumped at Trent’s deep voice in her ear. Swallowing hard, she managed to blink the tears away and tried to think of an answer that would make sense. All she came up with was a befuddled shrug.
“Your family is safe, Halli.” Trent gave her a one armed hug and a reassuring smile. “You can finally go home.”
Home.
The word she’d been praying to hear for what seemed like forever, and yet, even in his low, gruff voice, it sounded sad and empty. Not what she wanted at all, if it meant leaving him. But she had no choice.
She took a deep breath and nodded. Squared her shoulders and forced herself to step away from his support.
At the hospital bed next to Rachel, she leaned over to give Ben a careful hug and kiss. Seeing his bruised face up close made her chest ache, but Trent was right, he was safe. Ben looked from her to Rachel as she straightened.
“Some vacation, huh?” His half-smile was tired, but no less cocky than usual.
“Well, I spread my wings, but I lost a whole lot of feathers.”
The three of them laughed together. At least one part of her world was right again. She couldn’t help but look at Trent where he stood on the other side of the bed with Simone. They’d both played a big part in this reunion.
Ben followed Halli’s gaze and smiled toward Trent. “Thank you hardly seems adequate.”
Trent’s gaze landed on Halli. “No thanks necessary.”
God, the look in his eyes made it hard to remember they had no future together. She averted her gaze to Simone, hoping to keep her heart firmly entrenched in reality. Ben hadn’t met Simone, so she made the introduction and explained her connection.
A brisk knock on the door drew everyone’s attention. Greg Tomlin stepped aside and Halli surveyed the beautiful, petite Italian woman who entered the room. Waist length curls matched a black T-shirt stretched across her well-endowed chest, serviceable kakis hugged her hips, and to round out the ensemble…a gold badge on one side of her belt, pistol on the other.
The sight of the gun sent an instant surge of alarm through Halli. She drew in a calming breath, reminding herself the bad guys were behind bars and she could trust la polizia. It helped that the woman wore an aura of authority as if she’d been born with it, and introduced herself as Agente Evalina Gallo.
Ben’s tired eyes sparked with clear male interest. He attempted to push himself up a little straighter and Halli smiled to herself. Leave it to her brother to not let a little thing like surgery from a gunshot wound cramp his style. The woman nodded at Trent in a way that made Halli wonder if they knew each other.
Rachel smiled at the newcomer. “I knew you were nice.”
The Italian’s brows rose in an elegant arch. “Too nice, apparently. You two almost blew my cover.”
Ah ha. Sultry-voiced Agente Gallo must be the undercover cop Eva Tony had mentioned earlier. Ben’s reaction made a little more sense, but the last thing she expected was for the police officer to step right up, prop a hip on the bed, and glare at her brother.
“Especially you. More trouble than you are worth, and still kicking.”
Ben grinned. “Does me no good to be dead when you change your mind about dinner, does it?”
Ebony curls swept along her back as she shook her head. “Cocky and stubborn.”
“When it matters.”
Anot
