Page 239 of Theirs to Desire (Club M: Boxed Set)

DAMIEN

I wake up not knowing where I am. It takes me a few minutes to realize I’m in a hospital. I try to sit up and realize it’s a terrible idea as pain washes over me.

A nurse bustles in almost immediately. “Ah, good, you’re awake,” she says. “How do you feel?”

“Like an elephant sat on me.”

She chuckles. “That might have caused less damage. You broke your leg, your wrist, a couple of ribs, and you punctured your lungs. We’re monitoring you for a concussion.”

I blink. “It doesn’t hurt.”

“You’re pumped full of painkillers,” she says. “Trust me, you’re not going to enjoy it when they wear off.” She opens a bottle of water, puts a straw in it, and holds it to my lips. “Drink.”

Ugh. I hate being sick. I take a sip and make a face. “It tastes weird.”

“Those are the drugs in your system. Now, do you feel up to visitors? Your family is in the waiting room.”

Sophia? My heart leaps, and then reality sets in. No, she wouldn’t be here. But if I were in a crash and they called Julian, he would have let my mom and my siblings know.

“Yeah, sure.”

My mother is a beautiful woman, always impeccably dressed, never a hair out of place. Not today. Her face is white with worry. “Damien,” she exclaims, hurrying over to my side. She bends down and kisses my cheek, her eyes swimming with tears. “I thought you died.”

“Still here,” I tell her with a smile. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily. How long have I been out?”

“It’s Monday afternoon,” she replies.

Ouch. The last thing I remember is driving to La Vecchia. That was Sunday evening. No wonder she’s freaking out. She worries over me, and I promise her I’m going to be alright.

Then it’s Cristiano and Victoria, both looking pale and anxious. “I’m fine,” I tell them bracingly. “I’ll be up and about in no time. Going to run a marathon in December.”

Cristiano makes himself smile. “The painkillers have made you delusional, I see,” he says. “Are you up for more visitors?”

“Sure.”

I’m expecting Tomas, but it’s not my stepfather who steps into the room. It’s Julian, and a half-step behind him is Sophia.

I can’t quite believe it.

She comes over to me. “Hey,” she whispers. “You gave us a scare.” She laces her fingers in mine. The unbroken hand, that is. The other one is in a cast.

She’s here. She’s holding my hand. If this is a dream, I don’t want to wake up.

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to.”

Her eyes fill with tears. “Don’t apologize. I should be?—”

I want to talk to her; I really do. But the room swims around me, and I need to close my eyes. The nurse can see that. “Everyone out,” she says firmly. “He needs rest.”

There’s just one thing I need to know before I can fall asleep. I make my eyes focus on Sophia. “When I wake up,” I whisper. “Will you be here?”

“I promise.”

A wave of relief washes over me. “Good.” Then I close my eyes and let darkness claim me.

A week later, I finally have a long-overdue heart-to-heart with my mother. “When you told me you were quitting, I was angry,” she says softly. “You told me I was wrong, and nobody enjoys hearing that. Me more than most.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Cristiano told me that Dr. Zambrano had advised you to take a month off. Then Victoria said you thought I asked Tomas to run the company because I didn’t trust you.”

“Umm, yes?”

“No,” she says fiercely. “I thought Tomas would take some of the strain off you. I thought he could run the company until you were ready.”

“You were wrong.”

“I realize that now.” Her lips twist. “Tomas is unhappy. You’re unhappy. And all I want is for my family to be happy. The company, it is nothing.”

“It’s a multi-billion-dollar corporation that employs thousands of people, but okay.”

She makes a dismissive sound. “What does the company matter compared to your health?” she demands.

“Your father died, and I thought. . .” Her voice trails off.

“Never mind what I thought. When Cristiano called me, I realized I could lose you, too. And I’m not going to do that.

” She squeezes my shoulder. “What do you want, Damien?”

“I want a free hand.”

“It’s yours. Tomas is stepping down next year. The CEO job is yours if you want it.”

“I want it, on one condition. No more protecting people like Ted Boric.”

“Done.” A smile flickers on her face. “Did I tell you Tomas took me to a yoga retreat?”

“You didn’t, but he did. I asked him how many people you strangled when you realized you didn’t have Internet access, but he promised you enjoyed it.”

“Strangely, I did.” She’s quiet for a long time. “We’re going to take an around-the-world cruise, Tomas and I. The one your father and I never got a chance to take.”

“Good,” I tell her sincerely.

“It’s a six-month cruise,” she continues.

“The ship sails just after Christmas. Six months at sea, with very limited access to my email. I will either become a changed woman, or I will go crazy. If you hear about a homicide at sea, that's probably me.” She gives me a wry smile. “That’ll give you time to implement the changes you want without me getting in the way.”

She bends down and kisses my cheek. “Cristiano tells me that you, Julian, and Sophia are what he called a throuple.”

I search her face. “Is that what they’re calling it these days?”

“So it appears.” Her lips curve up into a smile. “Both Julian and Sophia have spent every spare moment this last week at the hospital. I look forward to getting to know them better. Bring them home for Christmas.”

“Yeah, that’s not going to happen. Julian’s sister is getting married here on Christmas Day. He’s not going to miss the wedding.”

“A Christmas wedding?” She sniffs disapprovingly. “What a ridiculous idea. Still, what can you do? Bring them home for New Year.”