Page 206 of Phantom Mine

“Are you insane?” She scowls. “You’re not even supposed to be conscious, let alone standing. Get back into that bed before you seriously injure yourself.” Before I can say anything, she turns towards Valentina and squeezes her forearm excitedly. Her entire demeanor changes when she whispers to her, “He’sfinallyawake. Oh, Valentina, I’m so happy for you.”

I lift a quizzical brow at the woman in question as Valentina guides me back to my bed.

“Matteo, this is Doctor Cassie Cavanaugh. She helped save your life when you first got here, and has been looking after you ever since. My sister-in-law Tess was also attacked the night of the fire and spent a couple of weeks in the hospital, so Cassie hasbeen busy with our family.” Valentina smiles over her shoulder at her. “She’s become a friend.”

“I’ve watched your fiancée agonize by your bedside for weeks on end,” she announces. “If you don’t want to put her through that again, I suggest you lay back down andrest.”

Cassie played a trump card and she knows it. I grumble as I lay back down, only mellowing out when Valentina sits and holds my hand.

“Cugino.”

Enzo appears by my head. There’s an expression of relief on his features that twists my gut as he places a hand on my arm. “Took you fucking long enough.”

I groan. “Not you too. I’ve already had enough of that from her brother.”

He snorts. “Maybe there is hope for this truce after all.” His eyes rake over my covered back and drain of humor. “I’m glad you’re okay,cugino.”

We’re not big on displays of affection so we both clear our throats awkwardly.

“Did you find Guido?”

Enzo’s jaw tightens as his eyes meet mine. “He’s dead.”

“You didn’t wait for me?”

He shakes his head slowly, drawing a frown from me. “I’m not the one who killed him.”

“Alright, visiting hours are over,” Cassie announces before I can reply. “You can come back tomorrow.”

Valentina whips around. “But—”

“Not you.” Cassie squeezes her hand. “Of course you can stay.” She turns towards Enzo. “But you need to leave. You can talk about all your murderous plans when he’s better.”

Enzo glares down at her. “Do you know who I am?” he asks, even as she shoos him backwards towards the door.

Cassie sighs impatiently. “I know exactly who you are,” I hear her answer as the door starts to close behind them. “But if you’re having trouble remembering, I can get you a wheelchair and roll you over to our neurological department.”

And then Valentina and I are alone.

She climbs onto the bed and lays on her side facing me. Her hand comes up and her fingers play through my hair. The touch is familiar, sending echoes of memories through my nerves. She did this when I was in a coma.

She did it every day.

“I love you, Phantom,” she breathes.

I don’t need to understand the machinations of fate to know she and I were meant to be. We’ve faced it all together—kidnappings, betrayals, exterior forces trying to keep us apart. Death.

Against insurmountable odds, we’ve come out of the other side stronger together.

Only two things remain.

Finding Adriana.

I blow out a slow, happy exhale as my hand finds Valentina’s waist.

“I love you, Leni. My heart is at home with you, in every mundane moment as in the extraordinary ones. Every single one of them, with you.”

Andliving.

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