Despite the setbackand her fragile condition, the doctors were pleased that Ori hadn’t slipped back into a coma. Twenty-four hours after her emergency surgery, she opened her eyes and stared up at the darkened room.
She heard Maceo’s breathing, steady and regular. He was asleep, and Ori decided to let him rest. He looked exhausted, dark circles under his eyes, his skin wan. She sighed, pressing the little button to release morphine into her system. She was getting way too used to it and decided that as soon as she could bear it, she’d stop using it.Easier said than done,she thought now, as pain screeched through her body. She had no idea what had happened to her, but she presumed it had been a bleed, obviously. There were new dressings on her wounds, and even a new site, just above her navel. Maybe they’d had to open her up.
Fuck.She was so tired of feeling like this, so sick, so vulnerable and useless. She wanted to go out into the world, be with Maceo, enjoy their life, but at every turn, something or someone stymied them. Was this the price she had to pay for finding happiness with him?
She turned her head so she could gaze at his sleeping form.I could not imagine my life without you.But she felt depressed, run-down, and dirty from spending so much time in bed. Her skin still felt sticky with blood even though she knew she had been cleaned up.
Her thoughts went back to the night of the stabbing. It had been so quick, so brutal, so cruel. Her would-be-killer kissing her.This is how I show my love.It was all so fucked up. She could still feel every inch of the steel slicing through her body, ripping her apart. Feral. Ferocious.
She felt sick and press the call button, hoping it wouldn’t wake Maceo. The nurse came in and asked her if she needed anything.
“I feel like I might throw up,” Ori whispered, “but I’m scared of ripping my stitches.”
“I’ll get you an anti-emetic, honey. Just take some slow deep breaths.”
Maceo lifted his head as the nurse left the room and Ori smiled ruefully at him. “I’m sorry I woke you, baby.”
Maceo rubbed his eyes, looking like a lost little boy. Ori hid a grin. “It’s okay,mio caro,I’d rather be awake. Are you okay?.”
“Just a little nauseous.”
“I sometimes have that effect.”
Ori laughed softly. “Never.”
Maceo laced his fingers with hers. “How’re you feeling,bella?”
She stroked his cheek as the nurse came back in. “I’m … okay.” She gave a soft laugh. “I’m sick of being asked that, and I bet you’re sick of asking it.”
Maceo grinned at her. “Then let’s make a deal. I won’t ask if you promise to tell me the second you don’t feel good.”
“Deal.” Ori winced as the nurse injected her, but the relief was almost instantaneous. She relaxed back against her pillows.
“Do you want a sedative?” The nurse, a middle-aged woman with thick black hair pulled up into a bun, smiled down at her, but Ori shook her head.
“No, thanks. I think I’m tired enough to sleep for a year. He might need one, though,” she grinned and nodded at Maceo. “I think he’s trying to set a record for staying awake.”
Maceo shook his head, laughing. “I’m good, thanks.”
The nurse chuckled and left them alone. Maceo shifted his chair so he could sit closer to Ori. “Listen, I was thinking, when you’re a little stronger, we should move you to a private facility in Venice. Be closer to home.”
“Agreed. Not that Florence isn’t beautiful … what little I’ve seen of it,” she said in a wry voice, gesturing out of the window, and Maceo laughed.
“I promise I’ll bring you back when you’re ready.”
Ori sighed. “Going home does sound good.”
He stroked her hair. “It does. But please,mio caro, don’t push yourself.”
“I won’t. Say, is Seth okay? He called me earlier and kept apologizing for leaving me alone that time. Jeez, he only went for some water. It wasn’t his fault.”
Maceo nodded. “He feels guilty. I’ve tried to persuade him otherwise, but he’s very fond of you. Which reminds me, two things. One, Shiloh says unless she sees you before she and Benoit go back to Paris, she’ll beat my sorry ass’—her words.” They both laughed.
“I want to see her.”
“No problem. And the other thing.” His smile faded. “Alex is going back to America.”
“Okay.”
