Page 82 of Twisted Vows

Ermanno’s icy stare locks on the woman who rushed out of the clinic to help. Fear flashes in her eyes as she freezes like a deer in headlights. For a moment, she looks ready to bolt, but then the younger lady with a gash on her cheek blocks their view of each other, and she shakes her head before ducking down to assure her victim with a surprisingly calm voice.

Two ambulances and a slew of cop cars pull up. Neither Fiero nor Ermanno look too concerned about their arrival but worry wriggles down my spine until an older police officer saunters up to Ermanno and shakes his hand as though they’re old pals.

I hand my patient over to the first responders before going around to the other victims and rounding them up by severity of injuries, hoping to make the paramedics’ job as easy as possible.

Less than half an hour later, I duck under the crime scene tape and shuffle toward Fiero’s car on leaden feet. Adrenaline crashes suck. I’m tired, bloody, hungry, and pregnant, which is a horrible combination. The coppery smell of blood sours my stomach.

“Hey! Excuse me!”

I turn. The woman who helped rushes toward me.

“You can come into the clinic and wash up, if you want,” she offers.

I shake my head.

“Then take these.” She hands me a pack of wet wipes and steps back. “I’m sorry about your dress. Where’s your—”

When she stops mid-sentence, I look up from the wipes. My entire body electrifies as Fiero stalks toward me with furious eyes. The fear skittering down my spine only adds to the sudden lust pounding in my veins. He grabs my waist and pulls me into his powerful embrace.

“I told you to stay in the car,” he snarls.

I scoff and dig my nails into his side through his undershirt. The wipe packet crinkles in my grip.

“Then you shouldn’t have parked where I could see injured victims. You know I’m a nurse, right?” I snark, just to enjoy the flash of emotion in his eyes.

He growls and takes my mouth in a searing kiss. I cling to him as my desperation grows. He pulls back and presses his forehead to mine.

“Mio Dio, what was I thinking marrying a woman with no fear? I almost died of a heart attack when I saw you covered in blood,” he murmurs against my lips.

“Don’t lie,amore mio; you think I look hot as fuck like this, don’t you? You’re as hard as a rock.”

I wriggle my hips, highlighting how his thick shaft tests the seams of his trousers.

He growls and tilts my head further back.

“You’re right. I’ll fantasize about how stunning my warrior bride looked in her torn and bloody gown as she barked orders at me like I was her bitch. Now get in the fucking car before I feast on you in the street,” he snarls.

My lungs refuse to work as liquid desire floods my panties.

“Why are you standing out in the open? It’s not safe here,mia caramellina,” he says.

I turn to introduce him to my new comrade-in-arms, but she’s gone. Poof. Nowhere in sight. But the wet wipes prove she was here. Right?

“I was heading back to the car, but the other nurse stopped and offered to let me wash in the clinic. I swear she was right here. You didn’t see her?”

His quirked brow proves he had eyes only for me.

“What was her name?” Ermanno asks from a few feet away.

Fiero curses as I startle. Neither of us heard him approach, so we definitely shouldn’t be standing somewhere where we’re so exposed.

“I didn’t ask, and she didn’t offer. Maybe she told the EMTs or the police?” I suggest.

Ermanno’s lips curl down. He pulls a pack of gum from his pocket and sticks a piece in his mouth before offering the box to Fiero. Fiero quirks a brow at me. I nod, wanting to clear the sour taste from my mouth.

“Thanks for having my back,” Ermanno says as he accepts the gum packet back from Fiero.

He walks away without another word.

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