“But it did happen, Diesel. And I’m okay. That’s all that matters.”
She could say whatever she wanted to make me feel better, but it wouldn’t change my perspective. I asked her to be my wife, and that meant she was the single most important thing in my life. I’d have to do better now, to commit myself to her well-being every single day. “It won’t happen again.” I brought her hands to my lips and kissed them. “I promise.”
She squeezed my hands. “I know.”
I sat beside her and held her hands in silence. I savored the feel of her pulse against my fingertips, the sign of life underneath her skin. She was still with me. She was still right beside me. And she would still spend her life with me.
“Is he dead?” she whispered.
I nodded. “You killed him.”
“Good.”
I was glad she didn’t feel any remorse for it. Even if she took a life, it was in self-defense. It was her or him—and she’d made the right decision. “You never have to worry about him again.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t believe you in the first place, Diesel. Now I know I was wrong…and I paid the price.”
“Please forget about it.” We’d lost some time together, but we found each other again anyway. It didn’t matter what had happened in the past. Only the future mattered, and that future included both of us.
“I’m still sorry, Diesel. I know how much I hurt you.”
“And you made up for it by asking me to marry you.”
She smiled. “I thought you asked me.”
“I did. We both did.” My large hands covered most of hers. I was twice her size, overshadowing her in every way. I knew that made her feel safe, and as long as I sat there, she would never have to worry about anything again.
Thorn stirred from his chair in the corner, and after wiping the sleep from his eyes, he looked at Titan. The last thought he had disappeared because Titan was the only thing in his mind. He left the chair and walked to the other side of the bed, his eyes trained exclusively on her. Love and fear were heavy in his eyes. The corporate executive who never showed a single expression was reduced to an emotional man. He stopped beside her and stared down at her, seeing the paleness I noticed the second I looked at her. His eyes roamed over her body, seeing the gauze poke out from underneath her gown. His hands rested at the edge of the bed. “I was so fucking scared, Titan.” He released a deep breath, as if he’d been holding it since the moment she’d been shot.
I released one of her hands, knowing I couldn’t hog both.
She grabbed his hand and held it tightly. “I’m okay, Thorn.”
He pulled up a chair and sat directly beside her, his hand still in hers. “I wouldn’t know what to do without you…you’re my best friend. You’re the only person who really knows me…” When his voice shook, he stopped speaking. He hid the emotion as quickly as it came, forcing his expression to return to masculine stoicism. Maybe it was because I was sitting there. Or maybe he just didn’t wear his heart on his sleeve.
I’d have offered to leave, but I refused to walk away from her.
“You’re my best friend too,” she said quietly. “And I’m not going anywhere. I’m right here, Thorn. I’ll be here every day to tell you when you’re being an ass and set you straight…”
He cracked a smile.
“This is just a bump in the road. I’ll recover and be back to normal soon.”
“I know you will.” His fingers interlocked with hers. “I’m so proud of you. That asshole had a gun pointed at your face, and you didn’t even flinch.”
“Like I’d give him the satisfaction.” Her voice was still gentle but full of hatred.
“You didn’t give up,” he continued. “You’d been shot in the chest, but that didn’t stop you. There are no words to describe that kind of strength…that kind of bravery.”
“It wasn’t either one.” She squeezed both of our hands. “I just had so much to live for.”
Once the staff no longer deemed her critical, they moved her to a new floor. She had a private room with her own living room and kitchen, and her hospital room looked nice enough to be a hotel suite. She was allowed to have more visitors, but I kept everyone away for the next day or two.
I wanted her to rest.
I was starting to get delirious from not sleeping. I hardly ate anything either. I knew she would be alright at that point, but I couldn’t leave her. My clothes started to feel uncomfortable, and my hair started to build up too much oil.
But I wasn’t leaving.
“Diesel.”
I was sitting on the couch near her bed, watching the mute TV while she slept. I turned my gaze to her. “Yes, baby?”
“Go home and get some sleep.” She looked small in the large bed, wires still hooked up to her body. Her hands rested on either side of her, and the engagement ring sat on her left hand. She still hadn’t taken it off—just as she promised me.
“When you go home, I’ll go home.” I turned back to the TV.
“Diesel,” she repeated. “You’re exhausted. Please go get some sleep.”
“This couch is perfectly fine.”
She sighed under her breath, her patience waning. “Thorn left.”
“He’s not your fiancé.” We weren’t married yet, but I already saw myself as her husband. If she was bedridden in the hospital, so was I. “I am.”
She rolled her eyes.
I caught it in my periphery, so I turned back to her, my eyes narrowed on her face. “Don’t test me, baby.” She might be on her way to recovery, but I was still on edge. Until I saw her strength returned to her and she
