Page 90 of The Boss

CHAPTER 23

Willow

“Leaving is not a good idea, Ms. Winters.”

The doctor was adamant, but so was I. “I’m not staying here for another hour, let alone another night.” I pulled back the covers and the aging doctor looked at me in horror.

“You cannot do that.”

“Yes, I believe I can.” I was insistent, giving the man an evil eye.

“She’ll continue fighting you, Doc. I’d just give in.” The dark, husky voice sent a shiver through me.

I hadn’t noticed Dimitrios had returned from getting coffee, standing in the doorway with his hands in his pockets. Seeing his Greek-godlike bronzed body was enough to make this girl swoon even though my head still ached. He had a colorful plastic bag around his arm with the hospital’s name written on it. If the man had purchased me a stuffed animal, I’d kick his butt.

I’d seen men parading around in front of the glass window early on until I’d been moved into a private room. Maybe the doctor had decided to drag me out of ICU the moment I started harassing him about going home.

Home.

The word was strange to me now. At some point I’d return to Boston, but I couldn’t imagine stepping foot back inside my parents’ house. It would never be the same. Being at the villa on Corfu had been amazing, allowing me to feel some sense of hope for the future. The lovely surroundings had allowed me to heal in some small way. The memories that had surfaced were sweet and comforting, not haunting as I’d feared.

“Her spleen is not completely healed, Mr. Nomikos. She is a very lucky young woman.” The doctor’s English was good yet his accent made it difficult to understand him. We’d already had a row today, but that was after I’d insisted, finally convincing Dimitrios to get some coffee. I’d hoped that would cure his grouchiness and his determination to keep me locked down once again like a prisoner.

He simply didn’t get that I wasn’t fragile.

Maybe a little bruised around the edges, but I was a tough girl, even more so than a few days before.

“She is extremely lucky and I’ll make certain she does nothing but rest.” The look Dimitrios was giving me was more authoritative than any other I’d seen.

I doubted I’d be able to lift a finger.

Right now, the thought of staying here was more terrifying than the injury to my spleen. I’d continued to replay the return flightin my mind. I knew I’d blacked out for a portion of it, but I remembered the gunfire.

And the sharks.

Several shudders skittered through me. Dimitrios had shot two sharks. Who did that?

A real hero.

In my drug-induced sleep, I’d also dreamt about the three days I’d had at the villa with my parents. I needed to talk to Dimitrios. Alone.

“We do not want her spleen ruptured. She could bleed to death or develop serious infections.” The doctor wasn’t letting go of this. He was hardly paying any attention to me any longer. The dude was the kind of man who preferred talking to the men in the family. Or perhaps he knew all about Dimitrios’ reputation.

Dimitrios walked further into the room, his expression so full of amusement I had to press my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing.

“I assure you, Doctor, that I will keep Ms. Winters calm and out of harm’s way. While she’s quite the handful, I’m a firm believer her healing will best be done at home and not inside a cold, bleak hospital.” By the time he finished his statement, he was up close and personal with the doctor.

The scene was particularly amusing since Mr. Greek god himself had argued with me prior to going to get coffee. Maybe the liquid gold had awakened his senses. Or maybe there’d been another threat.

The experience had jolted me as much if not more than seeing the blood inside the villa. When was this nightmare going to end?

The doctor huffed. “Her safety and health then become your responsibility.” He walked from the room, mumbling something under his breath.

I shifted in bed, trying not to visibly wince.

“How’s your arm?” I asked as he continued to stare down at me.

“Just a scrape.”

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