Forever (Betrothed 7)

She slowly lifted her gaze to meet mine.

“I wish I had taken that bullet instead of you. But…it means a lot to me that you did.”

“I love you, Damien. I can’t live without you. I would do it again in a heartbeat…and I wouldn’t do it for anybody else.” Her eyes became coated with moisture, but they didn’t form tears. She squeezed my hand, wearing her heart on her sleeve. “I loved Liam with my whole heart. Before anything bad ever happened, I was very happy. But even then, I didn’t love him the way I love you. This is different. This is special. You’re the person I was supposed to be with all along. Maybe all those terrible things happened because they were supposed to…so I would find you.”

Her medications made her sleepy, so there were several times throughout the day when she would nod off and rest for a few hours. I would utilize that time to take care of emails and business and, occasionally, take a nap.

I stepped into the hallway outside her door and spoke on the phone to Hades. “They’re supposed to discharge her tomorrow.”

Hades was at the bank covering my ass while I was out. He took care of my clients as well as his own. “Good. You must look like hell right now.”

“A little,” I said sarcastically.

“I mean because you haven’t slept.”

I was so fucking tired, I almost couldn’t see straight. Getting a few hours throughout the night simply wasn’t enough. But I couldn’t go home and leave her there, especially since she was awake. I wanted to enjoy every minute with her, given that I’d almost lost her just days ago. “I’ll sleep tomorrow.”

“I’m guessing you won’t be back at the office for a while.”

My eyes drifted down the hallway when I noticed a large man heading my way. My guard was sky-high, so I noticed everything around me. And since I’d been expecting this, I anticipated the situation quickly. My heart started to race as adrenaline became readily available for my body to utilize in a fight. Hades was an afterthought at this point. “Liam is here.”

He paused. “I’m on my way.”

“Don’t bother. I’ll handle it.” I hung up and shoved the phone into my pocket. I was in the center of the doorway, blocking the path to Annabella entirely. There was no way in hell he was going to get past me to see her. Motherfucker had no right.

His eyes locked on mine as he moved forward, undeterred by the murder in my gaze. He was in jeans and a shirt and didn’t seem like he was packing a weapon in the back of his pants. He kept going until he stopped a few feet away from me.

I wanted to kill him for everything he’d done to Annabella. I honestly believed the world would be a better place without him in it, without the man who’d shot an innocent woman while she protected the man she loved. I couldn’t bring myself to speak because I was so livid, flashbacks of that night hitting me.

This man almost killed my woman.

Liam glanced at the entryway to her room before he turned back to me. “How is she?”

How could he ask me that after what he did to her? “Your bullet pierced her stomach, liver, and kidney. How do you think she’s doing?”

At least he had the humility to look devastated. He wasn’t the aggressive serial killer anymore. Now he was just a heartbroken man. “Tell me she’s going to be okay.”

“I don’t have to tell you a damn thing.”

He didn’t have the same blood lust anymore. His murderous desire had been tamed by the tragedy. Otherwise, he would probably choke me on the spot. “Then step aside.”

“No.” He would never be in the same room with her again. “You aren’t her husband. You aren’t her friend. You’re the man who broke in to my fucking house and tried to kill me—and instead, nearly killed her. Get the fuck out of here.” The stakes were high now that I was no longer restrained. I didn’t have to fight with one arm tied behind my back. I could kill him the second the perfect opportunity arose. I wanted to fight him, just not near her, not in a hospital with innocent bystanders.

Liam stared at me for minutes, the tension rising like smoke from a fire. He was bigger than me, but he knew that wasn’t everything. I was quicker, smarter, better than him in every way but size.

“Leave. Before I kill you.”

His eyes narrowed on my face.

“She gave me her approval. Give me any reason to do it, and I will. Come near us again, and I’ll slit your throat.” I spoke quietly so the passing nurses and doctors couldn’t hear the threats leave my lips. “The situation has changed. You aren’t fighting a man who will spare your life. Now you’re up against a monster that will tear you to pieces without mercy.”