Page 23 of Under Her Skin

Nothing. The paramedic looked at his partner. “She’s reallyout.”

Arturo gritted his teeth, holding back a scream of frustration. From the moment he’d walked in and found her passed out on the floor, he had cradled Hero in his arms as he waited for the emergency services, and he’d called her name over and over, but she’d refused to wake. His clothes were drenched in her blood, paramedics were all over the place, andstillshe refused towake.

And now he couldn’t hold her, because she was being prodded by half a dozen medics. All he could do was clench his teeth in frustration and try to thank God that at least she was alive. Or so they kept tellinghim.

“She has a nasty gash on her scalp. Scalp wounds always bleed like a mother…I’d say she was hit from behind, or maybe she fell against something. Yes, there. Look…” The paramedic pointed to the metal range in the kitchen. “She could have fallen or been pushed—the police will findout.”

Arturo couldn’t take his eyes off Hero, so pale, her golden skin so yellow and wan. “Will she beokay?”

“We need to get her checkedout.”

He rodein the ambulance with them, holding Hero’s hand. As they neared the hospital, she groaned and opened her eyes. “Turo?”

Relief rushed through him so powerfully that if he’d been standing, he would’ve gone weak-kneed. “Hero, thank God…I’m here,bella.I’m right here,sweetheart.”

Her dark eyes swam with tears, and Arturo was about to call out to a medic that she was in pain when her voice stoppedhim.

“I’m sosorry.”

Arturo frowned. “Cara mia, why are you apologizing? Whatever happened, it was in no way yourfault.”

The ambulance stopped, and then they were taking her through to the emergency room. Arturo held her hand gently as she looked at him, pain in hereyes.

“I’m so sorry, baby,” she said again, her voice weakening, “it was me.Iwas the one who bought the Patrizziapartment…”

Arturo let go of her hand as the nursing staff stopped him at the door, staring after her, not understanding for a moment what she had told him. They took Hero through the doors to the ICU, and he lost sight ofher.

Shocked to his core by her admission, and by the horror of her accident—or attack—Arturo didn’t think. He turned on his heel and walked out of thehospital.

Fliss Seymour jumpedinto the hospital room with a flourish. “Ta-da!”

Hero, despite her pounding head and the heavy weight that had settled on her chest, chuckled. “You loon. Thank you for coming, Fliss…I didn’t know who else to call.”And the man I’m crazy about hates menow…

Fliss hugged her gingerly. “It’s my pleasure, love. Are youokay?”

“Just a concussion and some woundedpride.”

Fliss peered at her. “And some pretty radical bruises. You got all that from fallingover?”

No.

“My own fault. I tripped over some shoes I left lying around.”As the man who was trying to kill me beat my head against the metal range.She closed her eyes for amoment.

“You okay? Should I get anurse?”

Hero opened her eyes. “No, just some dizziness. Fliss, really, thankyou.”

Fliss grinned at her. “I was going to bring flowers, but I thought you’d enjoy these more.” She brought out a small box and handed it to Hero. Inside was a row of chunky, jewel-colored softpastels.

Hero grinned. “These are beautiful, but you have to let me pay forthem.”

“No way…but, you could share some gossip Iheard.”

“What’s that?” Hero was admiring the deep, rich red of one of the pastels. Flissgrinned.

“Word is…Arturo Bachi was the one who brought you in, and he was prettyupset.”

Hero’s heart sank. “He was the one who foundme.”