Chapter 13

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Anton

I run my swollen knuckles over Claire's cheek as she lays in bed, sleeping off the medication the doctor gave her last night. She stirs beneath my touch and I move closer to her.

"Claire?" I whisper.

She opens and closes her mouth, grimacing.

"Water?" She asks, slowly opening her eyes.

I grab the glass with a straw from the nightstand and help her take a sip.

She lets out a slow breath and blinks a few times. I adjust the pillows behind her when she sits up.

Her hair's a mess so she pushes it away from her face.

"How long have I been sleeping?" she asks, looking around the darkened room. Every drape is closed and the lights are all out. If I hadn't been sitting in the dark with her for so long, my eyes wouldn't the adjusted enough to see her.

"Since yesterday afternoon." I make her take another sip, then put the glass back on the nightstand. "How's your head?"

She touches her forehead.

"Better. That was a bad one." She tries to smile. "I'm sorry I fainted. That hasn't happened in a long time."

"The doctor said you weren't taking your medication. I gave you the bottle days ago, why weren't you taking them?" My stomach clenches. Was she trying to get away from me still?

"I forgot." She frowns. "I swear, Anton, I just forgot. But I've forgotten before for like a whole month and that's never happened."

"Stress." I pick up her hand and squeeze. "He said between not taking the meds and then the stress of everything, it was bound to happen."

She closes her eyes a moment, taking a soft breath.

"I'm better, I promise," she assures when she opens her eyes. "Your brother." She swallows. "Is he alright?"

"He told me he killed Michael."

"That doesn't answer my question." She tilts her head.

"He betrayed me, Claire." I squeeze her hand.

"I understand." She squeezes me right back. "You have to do what you think is right."

"What's right and what's needed aren't always the same thing," I explain, climbing over her onto the bed and sitting beside her.

I pull her into my lap and hold her close to me. A week ago, I didn't even know this woman. Now, I'd burn down the whole fucking world if she asked me to.

"He's gone, Claire." I tuck her head under my chin.

She snuggles deeper into me. "I'm sorry."

I grin into the darkness. "You did nothing wrong."

"If I hadn't tried to kill you, you wouldn't even know this happened."

"No. And he would have continued betraying me. He's been stealing money not just from the casino, but from other businesses. He's been trying to get my men to turn on me." I huff a laugh. Confessions of dead men.

"He wanted to take over for you?"

"He never would have succeeded." I kiss her forehead.

"So what now?" she asks softly.

"What do you mean?" I say. "Now we plan the wedding."

"You were serious about that?" She pushes against my chest to look at me.

"Have I ever not been serious with you?"

She thinks a moment. "No, I guess not."

"We'll marry in one month. The rest of your things from your apartment will be brought over and you can pick and choose what you want to keep," I explain. "And your job."

"What about my job?"

"If you really want to keep it, that's fine. I won't even make Vince babysit you anymore." I grin.

"Your generosity is astounding." She rolls her eyes.

I grab her chin, forcing her to keep her eyes on me.

"If you weren't still getting better from that fucking migraine and all that drama with the fainting, I'd tan your ass right now for scaring me so much."

She grins up at me. "But I am, so I guess you can't."

"No. But once you're better. You have one hell of a punishment coming."

"Alright," she agrees. "But only if you kiss me right now. Don't make me wait until then for your touch."

It's my turn to smile.

"You want my touch, do you?"

"Yes, Anton. Always."

"Well then, let's get you out of this nightgown." I roll her to her back, covering her body with mine.

"You need to get up then," she teases.

I kiss her.

"Figure it out."

"Anton, will you always be so bossy and so demanding?" She wiggles beneath me, grabbing for the hem of the gown.

"Yes." I nod hard. "Always."

She sighs.

"I was hoping you'd say that."

The End