Page 19 of Wounded King

"Christ, you look a fright. Are you okay?" Luciano asks.

"I'm fine. Don't fuss over me, just a few bruises," Chirps replies. I feel her presence even before gentle fingers brush over my shoulder. Bruises? She was hurt? And she's still here, caring for me? That's loyalty! One of the character traits I value the most.

"His heart rate is a bit elevated, and so is his blood pressure. But he doesn't have a fever. I'll contact the on-call doctor, but honestly, I think he's trying to wake up."

Damn straight I am.

"Oh, how exciting!" Mina bleats. "I need to go change into some other clothes. I look terrible." The clacking of heels announces her departure. Or would have if she had kept going. "Or do you think he wants to see me when he wakes up?"

No!

"No," Luciano takes the word out of my mouth. There's a reason he's my best friend and second-in-command. Unfortunately, it's the wrong thing to say to Mina.

"Nurse? What do you think?"

"Me?" Chirps sounds surprised. She recovers quickly, though, and sounds utterly professional. "It's usually a good idea for a patient to see the face of a loved one when he wakes up."

"Okay, I'll stay." Mina decides. "I hope he appreciates the sacrifices I make for him."

"Didn't you hear her say,loved ones?" Luciano smirks.

"Oh, go eat a bull, Lucio!" Mina plops down on the bed by my feet, pushing them aside.

"Take your time, Mr. Orsi. There is no need to rush," Chirps emphasizes her words by gently rubbing my shoulder.

"Why don't you make yourself useful and bring me a coffee, nurse?" Mina demands, raising my heart rate a few more notches, which I would have recognized even without the beeping of the monitor.

"Easy, Mr. Orsi, all in good time," Chirps stops rubbing my shoulder, probably adjusting the monitor, because the alarm stops.

"Would you like something too, Luciano?" Chirps asks.

"I'm fine, and you shouldn't go, you're limping," Luciano objects.

She's limping? How much did those bastards hurt her?

"Oh, don't pamper her, it's just for show. She probably wants money for saving his life." Mina pouts.Careful, Mina. I've slit throats for less. That woman saved my life. You won't speak her name again unless you want your pretty little fingers broken. Again, the intensity of my emotions surprises me. I would have dwelled on it too, had another thought not taken over.

Saved my life?

"Don't draw conclusions about other people's behavior based on what you would do," Luciano counsels, and a grunt escapes me.

"Oh, did you hear that?" Mina's body by my foot tenses.

My eyelids flutter, and a blurry hospital room enters my field of vision.

"Marcello," Luciano exclaims.

Mina jumps up, pushes Luciano to the side, and puts her face right in front of me. She's the first face I see, and I want to turn my head. What does that say about our relationship?

"Do you remember who I am?" She yells.

"He isn't deaf," Luciano mumbles.

I keep blinking, but my vision remains blurry.

"Hold on, one moment. Your eyes are probably dry," Chirps says. There. That voice. That calm. I'd crawl through hell again just to hear her say my name. My head automatically turns in her direction. I squint. I need to see her.

Blonde hair frames a hazy face. Clear hazel gray-green eyes look down on me in concern. Damn it, I want to see her. I blink a few more times, willing my damn eyes to fucking work.