Lover (Betrothed 3)

She set her purse down then pulled her chair closer to the bedside.

When I looked at her face, I saw the same woman that I loved, the same beautiful and fiery woman I wanted to keep for the rest of my life. I didn’t see Maddox in her gaze; I didn’t see the things he’d done. My feelings for her were exactly the same.

The longer she stared at me, the more her eyes began to fill. “Oh my god…” Her hands reached for one of mine, and she squeezed it with both of hers. She took a deep breath to control her tears, but a few escaped anyway.

“I’m okay, baby.”

She sniffled and more tears fell.

“We’re going to be okay.”

“You shouldn’t have done this for me…”

I brought her hand to my lips and kissed her knuckles. “I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

“We’re gonna kill him,” she whispered. “We’re gonna burn him alive.”

I loved seeing the fire in her eyes, that ferocity that made me fall in love with her in the first place. She had the same spirit, the same strength I found so endearing. “I know we will.” I didn’t feel the resentment in her gaze; I didn’t feel the accusation or the blame. She looked at me just the way she used to…like nothing had changed at all.

She drew back her hand and opened her purse. She pulled out the black wedding ring I hadn’t taken off since the day I became her husband. She grabbed my left hand and slid it back where it belonged. “Don’t take this off again, okay?”

I squeezed her hand as the tears welled in my eyes. “Never.”

10

Sofia

I stayed at his bedside day and night.

Most of the time, he wasn’t awake. The drugs made him drift off to sleep, which was a good thing because he needed to rest. I sat by his side, putting new flowers in the room and helping him eat his meals. I didn’t look at him differently in his weakened state.

And he didn’t look at me differently either.

After a week had come and gone, the doctors said he could leave soon.

“You must be excited to go home.” When I sat at his bedside, I always held his hand. Our fingers were locked together like a couple madly in love.

“I’m just excited to get out of bed.”

“Well, don’t expect to start running around again. You’re going to be in bed at home too.”

He rolled his eyes playfully. “Okay, nurse.”

“I’m not a nurse. I’m your wife.”

He squeezed my hand gently. “That’s a lot sexier anyway.”

I continued to hold his hand and stare at his face. His once perfect features were marred by bruises and discoloration. He’d had a skull fracture that needed to be repaired, so they’d had to shave his head. His hair had never been long, but he looked different with the shorter strands. Staying in bed caused him to get smaller because he wasn’t working out anymore, so his body was slowly changing.

But he was my husband all the same.

Ash stepped inside the hospital room. “Smells like a funeral in here.” He approached the bedside wearing a long-sleeved t-shirt and black jeans. With his hands in his pockets, he approached the bed and looked down at his brother. “I’m looking for Hades Lombardi… I must be in the wrong room.”

Hades gave him a cold look. “Shut the hell up, asshole.”

“Oh wait, that is you!” he said with a slight laugh. “You sound like a whiny bitch, just like my little brother.”

This time, Hades couldn’t slow the smile that slid across his lips.

Ash’s smile faded away as he looked at his brother seriously. “You look like you’re in good shape.”

“It could be worse,” Hades said. “But thanks for visiting on my last day here. That was convenient.”

“You have a wife for that,” Ash said. “I know you didn’t want to see my ugly face.”

“You’re right,” Hades said. “You do have an ugly face.”

Ash turned to me next. “How are you doing, sweetheart?”

“I’m just happy he’s okay.” I brought his hand to my lips and rested it there.

Ash stared at me for a moment before he turned back to his brother. “So, you’re going to be home tomorrow?”

“That’s the plan,” Hades answered.

“Does that mean I should move out? It’s nice getting free meals from Helena and pleasant conversations with your mother-in-law.” Ash stared down at his brother, slight playfulness in his eyes.

“No, you should stick around.” Hades squeezed my hand. “Thanks for taking care of my wife while I’ve been out of commission.”

“Oh, I’ve been taking care of her.” Ash winked.

“I can get out of this bed and kick your ass,” Hades threatened.

“Maybe if I let you,” Ash said with a laugh.

Now that Ash had dropped their feud, I realized how lighthearted they could be. They were like any other brothers who teased each other all the time. It was nice to make a few jokes when things were so somber.