Page 63 of Dark Truths

“She has a sprained wrist and several cuts and bruises but no concussion and is otherwise stable.”

Lily nods, glancing at the bottom of the bed. She frowns and then looks up at Raphael. “I’d like to see her chart, but all the hospitals have switched to tablets now.”

Raphael nods. “I’ll go get one.”

He leaves, patting his brother once on the shoulder as he goes. Michael doesn’t move from glancing between me, his sister, and our joined hands.

A heavy silence falls over the room while we wait for Raphael to return. When he does, he hands the tablet to Lily who makes a comment about it already being unlocked and he simply shrugs, like bribing or threatening a staff member to unlock one is no big deal.She simply shakes her head in exasperation before she taps away.

My phone buzzes in my pocket and I reach in to retrieve it, reading the text from Sergei on the screen.

Sergei: I need to see you at the house.

Me: Can it wait until later in the morning?

Sergei: No.

Blowing hard through my nostrils, I send him an acknowledgment and slip the phone back in my pocket.

I had every intention of staying with Gabriella until she woke up. I want to be here when she does. The last thing I need is her waking up to find me not only missing but also leaving the conversation she overheard to fester like an open and infected wound. Not to mention with her family here, it gives them the chance to poison her against me. But I have to take the risk.

As much as I don't want to, I need to talk with him about the idea I’ve been carefully thinking about. I need him to think it was his idea to begin with because if Sergei were to learn about Gabriella and me only less than a day after he announces I'm to wed his daughter; it won't go over very well.

“I have to leave for a couple hours,” I announce to the room. “But I’ll be back soon.”

“Or you don’t come back at all,” Michael grumbles loud enough for us all to hear.

“Michael,” Rose reprimands him like she’s disciplining a child. “If he doesn’t come back, he can’t explain why he’s here holding Gabriella’s hand, now can he?”

Her logic is sound and from the exasperated huff he forces out, he knows it too and can’t argue against it.

I raise Gabriella’s hand and kiss the back of her hand again. The growl that escapes from Michael makes my lips twitch in humor. But he stays quiet and keeps his hands to himself as I walk past him and Raphael, closing the door behind me.

I’m halfway down the hall when I hear my name called. Freezing, I turn around to find Rose hurrying after me. In the doorway behind her, Michael stands like a statue, staring us down, like a guard dog.

“Yes?”

“I wanted to talk to you.”

I eye her, unsure what it is we could have in common enough to talk about.

“About Gabriella.”

Besides her, that is.

“What about her?”

Rose takes a deep breath, like she’s steadying her nerves. Releasing it hard, she says in a hurry, “I know you two are seeing each other and have been on and off over the last year.”

My eyes flick over her head back to Michael’s sharp gaze before back to Rose. I don't think he heard her, thankfully. “How did you find out?”

“I just kind of put two and two together and then asked Gabriella last night." She glances at her feet. "I feel like the accident is partially my fault.”

It’s not, but I’m not ready to explain why just yet. “How so?”

“I urged her to go to you and tell you how she felt. If I hadn’t…” There are tears in her green eyes when she looks back up at me.

The man Gabriella has nurtured back to life can’t stand to see a woman cry. It’s a little uncomfortable sight. Especially when her tears are unwarranted. “It’s not your fault. She got into the accident leaving thePlaygroundafter seeing me.”

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