Chapter 29

Teresa floatedin that space where she was aware of things, but not at the same time.

The murmur of voices danced along with the dull ache in her head. A slight throbbing in her leg beat in time with her heart, and when she breathed, it hurt a little.

Where was she?

What had happened to her? Something had.

This feeling she was experiencing wasn’t like the one and only time she’d drunk tequila and had the hangover from hell.

This was different.

Although with the way her head hurt, maybe she and tequila had become reacquainted.

The soft brush of…lips or was it fingers, tickled her cheek. Whatever it was, it was pleasant and reassuring and loving.

Teresa wanted more of it. Wanted to ask whoever it was to keep doing that.

Wait.

The scent teasing her nostrils, she recognized it.

Angelo!

“Tre! Yeah, babe, it’s me.”

His smooth voice comforted her, and she worked out that she’d said his name out loud.

Teresa willed her eyes to open, and with a bit of effort, she blinked a few times until Angelo’s features went from blurry to clear. “Angelo,” she whispered again.

“Teresa.” He smiled and there was a sparkle in his eyes, and it wasn’t the usual sparkle of mirth. This was—tears.

Now she was awake, and other things began to come into focus. The combined smell of antiseptic and bleach. The beeping of a heart monitor—how had she not noticed that before, considering how loud it was?

“Good to see you’re awake, Ms. Carter. Can you tell me what month it is?” A smiling nurse appeared behind Angelo.

Was this one of the voices she’d heard while she was in that in-between place?

What did it matter if she was? Teresa was alive. That was a miracle because she’d been shot.

Holy hell, I was shot.

“Yes, Ms. Carter, you were. One gunshot wound to your thigh. It lodged in the fleshy part of your upper leg, so you had surgery when you arrived. Can you remember anything else?”

Hang on, the nurse had asked an earlier question, and she hadn’t answered. She’d gotten it wrong, she’d been shot twice, she remembered that much. “The month is May. And I was shot twice, not once. In the leg and in the…chest,” she finished softly. “I was shot in the chest. How am I alive?”

The beeping of the heart monitor increased, and Teresa wasn’t surprised. She could feel the organ pumping madly in her chest. Right in the same spot where she’d felt a bullet hit her.

“It was a dummy bullet, Tre. One that, once it hit you, released what looked like blood on your clothes. Whoever shot you wanted someone to believe you were dead.” Angelo answered her questions, giving her hand a tight squeeze. “Can you remember anything else about what happened to you?”

“Let me check her over before you badger her with questions,” the nurse admonished.

“It’s all right. I’m okay.” Teresa immediately jumped to Angelo’s defense. She didn’t like the way the nurse was speaking to him.

She laughed. “Still, let me do what I need to do, and then you two can talk. Do you mind giving me a few minutes?” The question was directed at Angelo and the way his lips turned down Teresa could tell he wasn’t happy with being shunted out of the room.

“It’s fine. Go. You probably need to stretch your legs,” she said, trying to convince Angelo with a look that she was okay. Hell, if she could, she’d be jumping up and down in delight at knowing she was alive.

“I’ll be right outside,” he grumbled but stood and then brushed his lips across her forehead.

Her eyes drifted shut at the sweet gesture. She loved it when he did that.

“He hasn’t left your side,” the nurse commented as the door shut behind Angelo. “Your friends had to convince him to go take a break and he only did it because they all assured him that they would stay and watch over you. That man is totally in love with you.”

I love you.

A whisper of a memory floated across her mind.

Had Angelo said that to her before?

It felt like he had, but she couldn’t be too sure.

“The feeling is mutual,” Teresa said, keeping her eyes shut as the nurse did what she had to do. She didn’t want to go back to sleep because she wanted to talk to Angelo, but it was so hard to keep her eyes open.

The nurse prodded her, and the soft sounds of footfall registered, along with her hand being picked up and encased in warmth. The touch was familiar, and she let the shrouds of sleep cover her.

The next time she woke, Teresa found Angelo’s head resting on the mattress beside her leg. His eyes were closed, and he was snoring gently.

The dark rings under his eyes indicated what the nurse had been saying—Angelo hadn’t left her side and here he was, still right next to her.

“I love you so much, Angelo Donatello,” she murmured. “Thank you for being here.”

His eyes snapped open, and he lifted his head, a huge smile on his face. “That’s the best way to be woken up.”

Teresa could’ve felt embarrassed at being caught declaring her love, but why should she, when it was the truth? “I meant it.”

“Ahh, babe, I love you too. With my whole heart.” Angelo leaned forward and brushed his mouth over her.

It wasn’t enough. How she wanted to deepen it, but she didn’t know how long she’d been out, and well, Teresa imagined hospital breath was as bad as morning breath.

The thought made her chuckle.

“What’s so funny?” he asked, his thumb caressing the top of her palm.

“I was thinking how glad I was you didn’t deepen the kiss because I’ve no idea how long I’ve been here, but I brushed my teeth a while ago.”

Angelo tossed his head back and laughed loudly. “There is that. Can’t say my breath would be much better either.”

“Are we completely nuts discussing bad breath after I almost died?”

Just like that, the laughter disappeared from his face. “Maybe, but the fact that we can means the world to me. I don’t think I can describe the terror and fear that possessed me when I found out you’d be taken. And then to find you on the ground—bleeding—I thought my world had ended.”

His confession caused mixed emotions. Happiness because she was alive and could hear him tell her that. Sorrow that Teresa had caused him so much pain, even if it wasn’t her fault. “It’s over. I’m here and in one piece. Phillip and his accomplice are dead. That’s all that matters to me.”

“We need to talk about what happened.”

She sighed. “I know, and I think I need everyone here to tell the story too. I don’t want to keep repeating myself, and I really only want to tell it once.”

“Whatever you want. I’ll make it happen.”

“I know you will.” Teresa smiled, but another wave of fatigue swept over her. She didn’t want to go to sleep again. What she wanted was to stay talking to Angelo, but her body was demanding she rest.

“It’s okay, Tre. Sleep. I’ll be here when you wake up. I promise.”

“I know.”

Angelo watched Teresa sleep.Her face was peaceful, and he could look at her all day.

A week had passed since she’d first woken up and her recovery had progressed well. Her leg was healing, and the bruising on her chest was fading. Apart from a concussion, she hadn’t suffered anything major from the knocks to her head.

The doctors had been pleased with her recovery, and they discharged her the day before.

He was so happy to have her home. Last night had been wonderful, being able to hold her in his arms while she slept.

Her eyelids fluttered, and he couldn’t wait to see her beautiful, gray eyes.

“Morning,” she whispered, her voice deeper with sleep.

“Morning, babe. Breakfast will be here soon.”

Teresa grimaced. “Why are you so cheerful?”

“Because I am.”

Not to mention, he’d arranged a surprise welcome home breakfast for her. The food at the hospital, while adequate, wasn’t Teresa’s favorite. He’d arranged for Astrid to cook up something yummy and bring it over.

As much as he told the guys to hold off coming over until later in the morning so they could talk about what Teresa had been through, he suspected they’d turn up with their women.

Like him, they were all eager to get the details of what’d gone on in that cabin, but the doctor had insisted that any questions be left until he was happy with her recovery from her head injury.

Angelo had had to deal with the questions about her arriving with a gunshot wound, but between him and Ox, he’d given the authorities enough to make them happy. Of course, it probably helped that Special Agent Owens got involved as well.

Whatever needed to be done, he was glad it’d been achieved so Teresa could concentrate on her recovery, but now the time had come, and they needed the information to try to solve the mystery of why it had been made to look like she was dead, when she wasn’t.

“Do you trust me?” he asked, dragging himself back to the present.

“Always.” Her immediate response filled him with love.

“Then trust me when I say you’re going to love what you’re going to have for breakfast.”

“What have you got planned?” His love arched a suspicious eyebrow.

He barely held in a grin. “A surprise, that’s all. Come on, you need to get up and showered. We’ve only got twenty minutes.”

Teresa grumbled but slowly moved her legs over the side of the bed.

He helped her to the bathroom. “Want me to scrub your back?” He waggled his eyebrows.

Indecision crossed her face, and she worried her bottom lip.

What an ass he was being.

“Tre, I don’t expect anything until you’re ready. Okay?” Of course, Angelo wanted to lose himself in her body and reassure him that she was alive and well, but he was also cognizant of the fact she was getting over a traumatic experience.

“I want to, I really do, but I just got out of the hospital,” she started, and he placed a finger over her lips.

“I know, babe. But let me help you shower, okay?”

“I’d like that.” Teresa smiled.

Angelo pulled her tight into a quick hug before he started the shower. He’d show her how precious she was to him.

How much he needed her.

How much he loved her.