~ TWENTY-FOUR ~

Hanna knew Adam was trying to hide his pain, but she saw it in his eyes. “You were shot, weren’t you?”

“I’m fine.” He lowered her onto the bed. “How do you feel?”

“Better than you.” She moved to the edge of the bed and sat up. “I want to see your back.”

He shook his head. “There’s nothing to see.”

“I can see you’re in pain. And your skin is pale.” She got up from the bed and stood in front of him. “You’re lying to me. I don’t like it.”

“My body is healing, babe. I’m fine.”

She reached out and started to unbutton his shirt, but he placed his hand over hers to stop her. “I just need a little rest.”

“Take your damn shirt off, Adam.”

His shirt vanished.

“Thank you,” she said.

“I didn’t do it.”

“What?”

“I think you just thought it off.”

“I can’t do that sort of thing.”

“And yet you just did it.” He frowned.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m in a hell of a lot of trouble if you’re learning how to do stuff this fast.”

“I’ve always been a fast learner.” She moved around him to look at his back. Shocked, she gasped at the sight of his entire back riddle with bullet holes. “Oh, my, god. How the hell did you just carry me from the restaurant? This is why you didn’t shift. You’re too weak.”

“It looks worse than it is.” Time seemed to stop as she stared at his back. He’d protected her with his body. He’d used his own damn body to prevent her from being shot. “Don’t be upset. I promise I’ll be fine after I rest for a bit.”

“Do you know how many times you were shot?”

“A few.”

“Thirteen times, Adam. You have thirteen bullet holes in your back.”

“That’s a personal record breaker.” He laughed.

“Knock it off. Nothing about you being shot thirteen times is funny. Why didn’t you shield yourself? And don’t you dare tell me you couldn’t, I know damn well you can do that sort of thing. You were shot because you were using your body to shield mine.”

“I can’t’ think of a better reason to take a few bullets.” He turned to her and held her face in his hands. “You were shot, Hanna. You, my miracle, my life, my everything, were mortally wounded. I thought I was losing you. I couldn’t shield myself because I couldn’t think straight.”

“I can’t believe I ever doubted you, Adam. I can’t believe I ever compared you to the other demons. I am so sorry.”

“Don’t apologize to me. I was cruel to you the night we met. I gave you every reason to fear and distrust me. I hurt you. I gave you every reason to compare me to the demons that hurt you.” He bent his head and kissed her forehead. “I think I better sit down before I end up on the floor.” Taking her hand, he walked over to the bed and sat down on it.

“You’re very pale. I know you can’t go to the hospital, but is there someone I could bring back here to help you?”

“No. Don’t leave.” He tipped his head back to looked up at her. “Stay here with me.” His eyes close for a few seconds, but then shook his head and opened them. He squinted as if struggling to focus on her face. “Stay here in the room with me.”

“I’ll stay here with you. Just rest, Adam.” She crawled onto the bed and motioned for him to follow. “I am not going anywhere.”

She knew he needed to hold her, to feel her in his arms to rest. He pulled her up so that her head was resting on top of his chest, and then he wrapped his arms around her.

****

When they reached Larissa’s door, she hesitated rather than open it and go inside. After a few seconds, she turned to face Gabe. “I can’t invite you to come in.”

“I know.” For so long, knowing his fire was often deadly to humans and other immortals, his soul had been frozen in time. He lived without ever allowing himself to experience another’s touch. He sure as hell never dared to touch another. He could touch her, hold her, share his body with her. No matter the state of his emotions, she could safely touch him. “It’s okay.”

“You’re wrong.” It’s not okay. Nothing is okay. Gabe, I am…” she shook her head. “I don’t know what to say to you.”

He knew she planned to leave town in the morning, believing he would be gone by the time she returned. He couldn’t lose her. Now that he knew what he would be missing, continuing without her, living a lie was no longer an option. “You don’t need to say anything to me.”

“I never thought I would find you.” She took a small step closer to him. “I didn’t even know I was waiting to find you. I’ve been alone in every way for so long. The day we meant on the roof, I knew we could never be together. I thought we could share a few moments together, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.”

He wanted to fall at her feet and beg her to love him for forever. But he couldn’t. Not yet. In the morning, after Adam had a chance to recover from his gunshot wounds, he would confront him. If Adam refused to give him a chance to buy his freedom, he knew they would fight to the death. There was no other option. “What do you mean?”

“I feel too much for you, Gabe. I let myself fall too hard for you.” She laughed softly. “In my defense, you’re pretty damn amazing.” She turned away from him and opened her door. Once inside the room she faced him. “Goodbye, Gabe.” She shut the door.

 He stared at her door for hours, wanting to go inside, wanting to confess his eternal love and devotion to her, but he couldn’t. He needed to meet with Adam first. He would secure his freedom or die. He refused to claim her and force her into a life a servitude.

****

Mia got to her feet as she watched Joseph walk toward her. Linking her hands at the nape of his neck, she pulled him closer and kissed him. “Did Hanna make it?”

“Yes.” Joseph placed his hand over the wound on her back and pushed healing energy into her. “He did it.”

“It?”

“Yes.” He frowned. “This is deep. Are you in pain.”

“That’s wonderful.” She shook her head. “It doesn’t really hurt at all.”

 “What about Megan?” he hissed between clenched teeth, alerting her that he’d taken her pain into his own body to give her relief. “Like hell it wasn’t hurting.”

“Thank you, Joseph. But you don’t need to hold the pain for me. I can take it. Haden picked her up. She was fine. Nikolas was able to prevent her from seeing much of anything.” Mia laughed. “And she’s still mad as hell at you.”

“That’s good. We need to find a way to stop her from shifting at will. And I know your strong enough to handle pain. But I can’t stand the idea of you experiencing it.” He started looking her over, searching for more injuries. “Why didn’t you tell me you were shot?”

“It was only a graze. What about bystanders?” Mia asked.

He opened his hand to show her a bullet in his palm. “When the bullet is left behind, it’s more than a graze.”

“I can’t believe we had a shooting at the hotel. Did you know Kazimir was going to attack us at the restaurant?”

“Of course not. I would’ve stopped it before it happened, but I should’ve seen it coming. Kazimir had already attacked the hotel.

 “What about human casualties and injuries?”

“Two women and three men were shot. No major wounds. A man was trampled, but he’s going to be fine. They’re all at the hospital now. The kitchen staff made it out the back after the waitress was killed.”

“How bad was Adam hurt?” Mia asked.

“He took at least a dozen shots but he’s fine.”

“Fine?” Mia asked.

“I’ve no doubt he’s hurting and moving a bit slower than normal for a day or two, but he’ll heal quickly. He’ll be here in the morning. We need a secure the place to meet to Demetri.”

“Why here?”

“It’s safe here. We can’t risk Erebus finding out what we’re doing.”

“Your safeguards are a hundred times more powerful at the boutique.”

“Because you’re often there without me.”

“I am never without you,” she laughed. “I think to be extra careful, you should have the meeting at the boutique.”

“Actually, that is a great idea.”

“Imagine how peaceful life would be if you listened to my ideas more often.”

“I always listen to you.”

“In that case, I have another suggestion.”

“I’m all ears, angel.”

“The next time you feel the need to call me a mean woman, I want you to remember that I’ve never stabbed you with a spoon.” She paused. “Not once.”

“Not yet. I wouldn’t put it past you.” He laughed. “You’ve shot at me in the past.”

“Not at you. I was shooting at vampires that happened to be standing in front of you.”

“You kept shooting after they were sprawled out on the ground.”

“Only two or three or four rounds. You can’t hold a grudge against me for being in shock. They were very scary vampires.”

 “They were dead vampires.”

“If you really think about it, the entire situation was your fault.”

“How’s that?”

“If you would’ve been faster getting to me in my time of distress, I wouldn’t have been forced to shoot them.”