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“Oh,” I say. “Well … I’m his wife,” I blurt out.
The nurse glances at the computer. “His file doesn’t say he’s married. Who are you?”
“Oh, did I say wife?” I laugh—it’s strained and awkward. “I meant his sister. I’m his sister.”
She raises an eyebrow. “Sorry, honey. I don’t believe you. No visitors.”
“Can’t you at least call his room and tell him Cecilia is here to see him? Do that for me, at least. Please.”
She sighs and nods, grabbing the phone. “Fine. I can do that.” She calls and explains I’m here, and after a few moments, she hangs up. “He’s in room 232. Down the hall.”
“Thank you.” I rush down the hall to his room, but I pause once I reach the closed door. Theo is on the other side. He obviously told the nurse it was okay for me to come in, but is he just being nice? Does he really want to see me? Or am I being a nuisance?
Only one way to find out.
I knock on the door as I open it. Theo is in the bed, his face battered and bruised. He has a bandaged wrapped around his torso. His eyes soften when I come in, giving me silent encouragement to approach.
“Cecilia.”
“Hi,” I whisper, grabbing my cross and holding it tightly in my hand. “My mom told me you were attacked. What happened? Are you ok?”
“No. I had internal bleeding because of what those men did to me. Thankfully, the paramedics got me here fast enough, and I was brought into surgery. The doctor told me after I woke up that they were able to fix everything. I’ll just be sore for the next few weeks, but I’ll recover fine.”
I walk over to his bed and rest my hands on the rail. “Who attacked you?”
“Just some men. I’ve never seen them before in my life. But … I think I know who sent them.” He leaves the implication heavy in the air.
“You mean Salvatore.”
“I do.”
I turn my cross over and over. “But why would he do that? You’re my bodyguard. Why hurt my bodyguard?”
Theo huffs, then winces. “Because he doesn’t want me getting in the way.”
“Getting in the way?”
“Of him. And you.” He looks away from me as he says it.
“But that’s crazy. You’re my bodyguard. Nothing more.”
“Right.” He still won’t look at me.
I shake my head. “Salvatore doesn’t just to get to hire men to beat you up. That’s horrible. I’ll tell him to back off.”
Theo grabs my hand, making me gasp. “No.” When I look at him, his eyes are staring at me intently. “You think Salvatore will listen to you? He doesn’t respect you. I’ve seen the way he treats you. Heard the way he talks to you. If you confront him, it will make things worse.”
“But he doesn’t get to get away with this.”
“What’s done is done. Salvatore made it clear where I stand.”
“Well,” I say, some of my anger deflating, “I’m just happy you’re alive and okay.” Without even thinking about it, I lean in and kiss his cheek. His stubble his scratchy against my skin, but I don’t care. It feels glorious.
Theo sucks in a breath. I pull back slightly, my face still close to his. “Sorry,” I whisper. “That was inappropriate?—”
I get cut off when Theo kisses me.
At first, I don’t believe it. This can’t be happening. This isn’t real. Theo sees me as his job, nothing more. So, then, why is he kissing me right now? And why aren’t I kissing him back?
