Dropping to my knees, I cradle his face in my hands. “Oh, baby. You’re going to be okay. I promise.”
Behind me, Matthias holds Sam who can’t stop sobbing. “I’m calling 911. Marius, don’t worry. The paramedics will be here in no time.”
He takes her out of the bedroom, leaving just Marius and me. The gunshot wound doesn’t look too bad, but I can’t tell with all the blood.
“Duck, she didn’t hurt you, did she?” Marius asks in that sweet way of his.
I shake my head and smile even as I fight back tears. “I’m fine. All she did was hit me on the back of the head with the gun. It’s you I’m worried about. She shot you. I wasn’t even sure she had bullets in that gun, but she shot you. Are you in pain?”
Marius looks down at his arm and winces. “I think I’m in shock. I don’t feel much of anything right now. I’m just happy you’re safe.”
Looking into his dark eyes, I smile at how much I love this man. “You saved my life, honey. You’re a hero.”
He frowns and shakes his head. “I’m not a hero, Duck. Sam would have never been here holding you hostage with a gun if I hadn’t invited her to Ava’s party. I was trying to make you jealous, and look what it did. You nearly got killed because of me.”
I lean in and kiss him softly on the lips. “You’re my hero, Marius. I’m so sorry I ever went to see that divorce attorney. I never wanted us to break up. I was so stupid.”
Even sitting here after being shot, he’s willing to blame himself for all that’s happened. “You had every right to. I was the stupid one. I wasn’t ashamed of you, though. I hope you know that. I’m prouder than any man alive to have you as my wife.”
“Well, no more talk of divorce or leaving. We’re together now, and I forgive you. Do you forgive me?” I ask, worried that if I don’t say these things and the paramedics don’t get here soon that I won’t have time to tell him all I have in my heart.
He smiles in that way that reminds me of a pirate and shakes his head. “There’s nothing to forgive. I was never angry with you for serving me with those papers. I had it coming. I was acting like a selfish jackass for way too long, and you had every right to put your foot down.”
I throw my arms around him, not caring if I get covered in blood too. “I’m so sorry. I never should have let Sam come over the other day, but she was so sad about you saying you weregoing to fire her. I guess I thought I was helping, you know, like a big sister, and look what happened. The crazy pick-me bitch pulled a gun on me.”
When I sit back, he looks at me strangely. “Duck, I never told Sam I was firing her.”
Suddenly, it all dawns on me. She was planning this the whole time. That first visit to see me was to get on my good side so I’d let her up when she really intended to do me harm. And to think all this time I thought she just needed a friend to talk to. So much for my being a big sister to her.
This is why women don’t try to make friends as adults. Everyone’s goddamned out of their minds.
“She told me you did. That’s why I let her into our home today. I told her I’d talk to you and tell you not to fire her.”
Marius sighs. “That’s my fault too. I honestly never meant to lead her on, but I can’t say I never flirted with her. You know me. I’m all about the good time.”
He stops and takes my hand in his right hand. “But I swear I never slept with her. I promise you that, Eden.”
“I believe you, baby. And for the record, I love when you call me by your nickname for me. Don’t stop, okay?”
“Okay, Duck. I love you. I hope you know that. I’d be lost without you.”
I kiss him again and whisper against his lips, “Then you should know I plan to stick around as Mrs. King for a long time.”
Relief washes over me when I hear the sound of the paramedics’ footsteps coming down the hallway. “By the way, Ava’s going to be furious at you for missing her party,” I say to him as help arrives.
“And just as I was getting her back on my side.”
The paramedics need me out of the way, so I kiss him one more time and say, “I love you, Marius.”
When I step back to let them work on him, his first words are, “Please check my wife. Sam hit her on the head with a gun, and I worry she may be hurt.”
The female paramedic looks back at me and smiles. “I’ll check you out at soon as we’re done with your husband, ma’am. Are you feeling dizzy? If so, please be sure to sit down.”
I wave off her concern for me. “I’m fine. Please, there’s no need to worry. My husband is the one who needs your attention.”
Matthias stands off to the side still holding Sam who hasn’t stopped crying after shooting my husband. I want to walk over and slap her across the face like Ava did with Marius, but I know my focus needs to be on him and not his crazy assistant.
“The cops are on their way, Eden,” Matthias says in his cool, steady way. “How are you doing over there, Marius?”
