Page 99 of Married With Malice

Luca’s breath is a shudder of emotion and he kisses the top of my head. “I’m so sorry, Anni,” he says. “It’s my fault you’re out here and I’ll never forgive myself.”

No, I can’t let him think that. It’s not true.

But my body shakes with cold and my teeth chatter too much to speak.

“Hang in there, young lady,” says one of the Gentry men. “You’ll be okay now.”

Within minutes, the vehicle skids to a halt and there are voices everywhere as Luca carries me into the lobby. I don’t want to be separated from him, not even for an instant, but I’m carried into one of the suites and set down on the bed. Immediately soft, maternal hands are unwrapping the scarves from my face and helping peel off my coat.

One of the Gentry women, the one with the musical southern accent, orders Luca to go change out of his wet clothes while they get me warmed up.

“I’ll be right back, I promise.” He kisses my lips and I get a quick look at his face, glimpsing all the relief and heartache and remorse.

I want to cry out for him but he’s already gone.

My boots are pulled off and warm blankets are wrapped around me. The word ‘hypothermia’ is spoken more than once. A woman with a deeply lined tan face appears and introduces herself as Dr. Alice Murphy. She listens to my chest with a stethoscope.

With a nod of satisfaction, she withdraws the stethoscope and examines my hands and feet while asking me questions. A hot mug of tea is placed in my hands and the chattering of my teeth begins to slow down.

“Will I live?” I ask the doctor.

She smiles. “I’ve been retired for a few years but I’d say yes. You’re lucky. I don’t see any signs of frostbite and your vitals are excellent. Other than a slightly sprained wrist and some bruises from the crash, you don’t appear to have any injuries. Now drink the hot tea and then let’s get you into a tub of warm water.”

I’m embarrassed to be the center of so much attention and yet it’s nice to feel multiple pairs of caring female hands helping me remove my clothes and climb into the bathtub. The water is pure bliss. Not only does it rapidly warm my blood but all the knotted tension in my sore muscles unravels.

“Feeling better, hon?” asks the pretty brunette who must be the wife of the Gentry brother with all the tattoos. She crouches by the side of the tub and smooths my hair back the way a mother would.

A few moments later, Dr. Murphy listens to my heart, checks my temperature and announces that my body temperature is back to normal. I’m helped out of the water, wrapped in a fluffy robe and led back to the bedroom where I’m urged to sit down.

“Where’s Luca?” I ask.

“I’m right here.” He pokes his head into the doorway. He’s changed his clothes and now wears a comfortable hoodie and jeans but the anxiety in his face is troubling. This needs to be fixed before another minute goes by.

I reach out for him and he comes instantly. The women all discreetly back out of the room to allow us a moment of privacy.

Luca kneels at my feet and keeps his head down. “Anni, I’m so sorry. So fucking sorry.”

“No, don’t.” I wrap my arms around him. “I wasn’t running from you, Luca.”

My husband raises his head and peers at my face. His eyes have so many moods. They are capable of making me feel every emotion.

“I wasn’t running from you,” I repeat. “And I won’t leave you. I swear I won’t leave you.”

His face crumples and his head drops into my lap. His strong, protective arms lock around my waist.

“Anni,” he sobs while I gently stroke his head and soothe him with a kiss.

21

LUCA

Ever since I found her in the storm I can’t deal with the thought of letting her out of my sight, almost as if it’s too good to be true that she’s here. I’m so afraid I’m dreaming, that she’s still lost and I’m still frantically searching for her.

At least a dozen times during the night I woke up to check on her and then exhaled with relief every time I found her sleeping peacefully beside me where she belongs.

All day Anni has been exhausted, napping on and off while I hovered nearby in case she needed anything. I asked room service to bring up her favorite foods and then coaxed her into eating a few bites. I made sure all of her electronic devices were charged and stayed in the room when Dr. Murphy stopped by to examine her.

Given that the roads were impassable, it was a dose of luck that a retired pediatrician happened to be staying at the resort. Though Anni’s wrist is still a little swollen and she’s bruised and sore, she’s otherwise healthy.

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