Page 76 of Taken By Sin
She nods fervently. “Yes.”
Their family doctor arrives moments later, stitching him up as I watch on like a moth to a flame. Everyone keeps telling me he’s going to be okay.
That he gotlucky.
No, he was having a nice date, telling me he loves me, then violence erupted.
None of this is normal. He can’t go on like this. We can’t go on like this.
I stay by his side, long into the night, until I hear the whir of his breathing pick up. His eyes open, and he looks over at me smiling. “Hey there, Bella.”
I want to scold him, to peel him away from this dangerous life, but he looks so tired and pained.
Instead, I lean up and kiss him as furiously and carefully as I can. “I love you too,” I tell him.
He pulls out the IV the doctor used to pump him with fluids, wrapping his hands on my face to bring me closer.
I cry into his shoulder. “I’m calling off the ball.” I tell him.
“No, you’re not,” he coughs.
“Sin! You’ve endured a trauma. You’ve been fucking shot!”
He lifts my finger to trace the scar along his face, then trails my hands down to his abdomen. “I have plenty of scars, Bella, but nothing compares to you. I want to see you in that dress.”
“When will this end?” I ask quietly.
“When every member of the Rusco regime is not breathing.”
TWENTY-NINE
Istill can’t believe that Sin insists on carrying out this party regardless of being freaking shot last night. But here we are, eating a simple breakfast near the garden window acting like nothing happened as we watch the swarm of workers prep for the event.
“Are you okay?” I murmur with worry.
He laughs, setting down his horrendous cup of black coffee. That used to be my go to, but now the bitter taste makes me cringe. “For the fifteenth time this hour, I’m okay.”
I raise my hands in the air, letting a smile slip. “Sorry, I mean, typically when someone gets shot, they’re in the freaking hospital. They certainly don’t just continue with life like nothing happened.”
“I’m not your typical person.” Even I can’t deny the truth of that statement.
He stands, coming to place a kiss on the top of myhead, but I hear the groan escape him from the movement. “You’re right about that,” I respond, helping him without letting him know by picking up his cup and following into the kitchen. “Why don’t you rest?”
He rolls his eyes. “I rested all night. I’m okay, Magnolia. My shoulder fucking hurts, but the lack of blood is what made things so bad. I’m good now; we did fluids again this morning. The shot on my stomach is nothing more than an inconvenience.” He grips my shoulders. “I’m okay.”
“None of this is okay,” I press.
He shrugs, wincing from the movement. “It’s part of my life.”
“It doesn’t have to be,” I say under my breath.
He crooks his finger underneath my chin, beckoning my attention. “I know why it happened,” he sighs.
“Why?”
“Retaliation for me being across the treaty line.”
My breath hitches in my throat. “So it’s my fault?”