Page 31 of The Fates We Tame

When they reach her, they gesture upstairs, but she stands her ground and leads them into the visitors’ area.

“Good girl,” I mutter quietly.

“Is everything okay, Theo?” When I turn, Dr. Polunin eyes me carefully.

I glance down the corridor. I really don’t want to take my eyes off the door opening to the family room.

“I’m fine.”

“I saw the record of your incident in the hallway. Are you feeling better?”

“I’m fine,” I repeat impatiently.

“Theo. Do you know where you are?” She speaks softly, but I can see the concern in her eyes. She probably thinks I’m in the middle of a mental health episode.

“I was in the military. My day job, which I hope to return to, is personal security.” It’s a lie, but on the fly, it’s a good one. “Just running through some drills. Thinking through the building, escape routes, how to find cover versus concealment.”

“Do you see any enemy combatants?” she asks.

I glance down the hallway to where Sophia’s brothers are attempting to marry her off to some guy in Sicily, which was frightening enough that she likely took off in a car at full speed.

“Don’t worry, Doc. I’m not in the middle of some kind of psychotic break or brain injury-related delusion. I know there is no one here who shouldn’t be. And I’m definitely aware I’m not under attack. Just playing a bit of a game with myself to relieve the boredom.”

She studies me for an extra second. “Do you realize you spoke freely then? You didn’t have to search for words?”

I hadn’t.

But now she pointed it out… “You think that’s progress?”

“Most definitely. Your brain is recovering every day. There is a chance that the enhanced activity, despite the headaches and dizziness, may bring with it further improvement.”

“From your lips to God’s ears, Doc.”

“It’s doctor.”

“I know.”

8

SOPHIA

“Are you excited for Sicily?” Leonardo asks.

I feel like I’m sitting on the other side of gauzy fabric. My brothers are there, but the fabric hides them. They are speaking words, but the fabric is muffling them.

Nothing feels real, and every word they speak feels loaded.

But I try to smile. “Sunshine sounds great. Guessing I won’t be slipping on cold, damp tiles.” I rub my hip for effect. I did as Theo said. They tried to steer me up the stairs, even though I limped towards them.

Instead, I redirected us to the family room, and I swear I could see the relief on Leonardo’s face as we found it empty.

Luca leans forward and rests his elbows on his knees. “How do you feel about perhaps leaving a little earlier?”

“I would need to speak to my medical team to make the adjustments,” I say.

“Why don’t you let me take care of that for you?” Leonardo asks.

I just realized the trauma unit must have some kind of power of attorney or guardianship agreement or something with myfamily that they are allowed to be so involved in making these life-changing decisions for me.