Page 41 of Light in Your Eyes (Romero Brothers #1)

Layla

My eyelids feel so heavy when I try to open my eyes. Slowly, I try again, and when I finally open them, I'm greeted by a white ceiling.

I squint, my eyes still adjusting to the overwhelming light. Gradually, my vision becomes better.

I look around and find myself lying on the bed inside a room surrounded by white walls. Other than this bed, there is only a small cupboard, a desk with a chair, and an IV pole next to me.

This is a room for treating a patient, but it doesn't look like a hospital room. It looks more like a clinic.

I abruptly sit up as what happened in Kellan's room flashes back in my mind. My heart suddenly beats faster, causing me to grip my chest over the thin fabric of the robe.

The last thing I remember is losing consciousness inside the bathroom when the fire spread even worse. Did I just survive it?

What about Marco's brother? Is he dead?

Movement from the door startles me. I find Zoe standing in the doorway with her eyes wide in surprise. She rushes toward me and engulfs me in a tight hug. When she pulls away, I see the tears of relief in her eyes. She gives me a warm smile and holds my hands.

"You're awake." A man's voice makes me turn my head toward the door again.

Stas approaches me, and I can see the same relief in his expression.

"How..." I don't even know how to ask. There are so many questions in my head, and my heart is not ready yet to tell them how I almost got killed.

"You got us all worried," Stas sighs. "But it's all over now. After I got into the room, I found you lying unconscious on the bathroom floor. Luckily, the fire hadn't spread there as much as the other parts of the room. I managed to get you out just in time before the ceiling dropped."

I shiver after listening to him. It feels surreal that I just got out of that kind of nightmare.

Stas squeezes Zoe's shoulder to comfort her and stares at her tenderly while Zoe sighs. She must have been worried to death about her father.

"Thank you for saving me," I whisper.

My eyes water because of how grateful I am. I owe Stas my life.

"Anytime, Layla." Stas smiles.

I'm so glad that I have the two of them here in Black Wings. They are so kind and warm, unlike the other members. Kellan once told me that they were considered a part of the family — Stas has been working in the mansion for a long time .

"Layla," another voice echoes from the door, and my heart skips a beat. Kellan is standing by the door.

He must have heard my voice.

"You're awake?" His expression is a mixture of disbelief and hope.

But what makes my breath catch in my throat are his eyes. They hold so much sadness. Looking at him like this makes me want to cry.

Stas and Zoe exchange looks and nod. "Well then, we're just going to head out," he says.

I straighten up. Before I can ask the question lingering in my head, Stas says, "This is Doctor Dezzani's clinic. You're still in Black Wings mansion. He will check you up in a few minutes. As far as I heard, there's nothing to worry about your condition, but he'll explain to you better."

I nod, watching as he and Zoe excuse themselves and head to the door.

Kellan walks toward me and takes a seat beside the bed. I instantly reach for his hand, and he holds mine.

"How are you feeling?" he asks, concern written all over his face.

"I feel okay." I clear my throat, not wanting him to worry.

I touch my neck with the back of my other hand. It still hurts, and I bet that there are marks because of how hard I was choked. But I'm sure that it will heal.

Kellan doesn't ask me about my attacker, so I guess that he already knew who it was.

"Is he — "

Kellan quickly releases his hold on my hand the second he hears what I'm about to ask. He balls his fist until his knuckles turn white and clenches his jaw.

"Dead," he says coldly. "Burned to death."

I gasp, shooting my hand to my mouth. "Oh, God."

"It's still nothing compared to what he has done to you," Kellan speaks in a low voice, and his tone makes me shudder. "He was lucky that he was dead because if he hadn't been, I would have made his death a slow and painful one. I would have tortured him — "

"Kellan," I interrupt, holding his hand again.

His eyes soften, and the tension on his shoulders eases.

"It's over," I say. "I don't want to think about it anymore."

He sighs, squeezing my hand. I place my other hand on his cheek, making him turn his face toward me. He sighs again and places a soft kiss on my palm, creating butterflies inside my tummy.

"I'm okay now," I say. "Are you?"

He swallows. His reaction makes me frown. I watch as the muscles on his neck move. I need to hear that he's okay too, but he doesn't give me that answer.

I know that he's still not over the fact that I was attacked while he was away, but I survived.

Please, Kellan. Say something. Tell me what you feel, what you're worried about. Tell me the truth and don't shut off.

My thumb caresses his cheek, and he holds my hand, stopping me.

"Do you want to go somewhere?" he asks out of the blue.

I don't know what to answer. It sounds like he still has more to say.

His brows furrow. "You said that you didn't want to think about it anymore. Should we take a vacation?"

My mouth hangs open.

I wouldn't have dreamed that Kellan Romero would ask me to go on a vacation with him.

"What?" I whisper. "But I thought that we're not allowed to go out unless we're on a mission."

Kellan shakes his head, and I'm surprised to find amusement in his eyes. "It doesn't apply to the leaders. You couldn't possibly think so."

I suddenly feel stupid. I'm still at a loss for words. The idea of getting out of this suffocating place — even just for a while — is too good.

I can't help but ask, "Where do you want us to go?"

"A place where my family used to go," Kellan says.

I can figure out from the way he said it that he treasures it. It must be a memorable place for him and his family.

"I haven't gone there again for quite a while," he says. "I think it's about time for me to go there again."

A soft smile touches my lips. If going to such a place can make Kellan happy, I will go there in a heartbeat.

It's good timing for me too, considering what just happened to me. This trip with Kellan sounds like a perfect treat.

"So, what do you think?" Kellan asks, squeezing my hand on his cheek. "Do you want to go with me?"

I chuckle, feeling warmth in my heart. Another smile forms on my lips. "Of course. I'd love to."