Page 20 of The Two Last Moments

“I’m a mystery even to me.”

He laughs. “Come on,” Matteo says, waving me into the room. “There are seats in here. You’re injured, so you should sit down and rest.”

Danny nods. “Just what I was about to say.”

“Uh oh,twooverprotective firefighters? Not sure I can handle that.”

A woman with dark curly hair appears in the doorway. “You have no idea. These two are a lot when they get together.” She’s wearing a long sundress, which curves around her pregnant belly. Matteo swings an arm around her shoulders, bending to kiss her on the cheek.

“I’m Angela,” she says. Her eyes dart to where Danny’s holding my hand, though her expression doesn’t change.

“Lark.”

“Doyou need to sit down?” Angela asks. “I’m sure you can speak for yourself, but you were in an accident, and there’s no shame in taking time to heal.”

“I was lucky. No broken bones or major injuries, thanks to Danny.”

“The hero of the day.” Matteo grins.

“It can’t just beyouall the time, De Luca,” Danny responds. “As much as you’d love to hog the attention.”

Angela pats her man on the chest. “So true.”

Danny leads me further into the room. He makes the rest of the introductions. There’s a blond guy named Cliff Easton, the roommate Danny mentioned.

Cliff waves at me. “Nice to meet you, Lark.” He’s a little younger than Danny and obviously a cop. The West Oaks PD polo gives it away, but even if that guy was in a tux and top hat, I think he’d scream cop. A goofy, friendly one. But still a cop.

“That’s Starla,” Danny says, gesturing to a petite, middle-aged woman. “She’s our daytime nurse.”

I shake her hand, and her grip is firm. “Good to see you looking well,” she says. “We’ve heard all about you.”

“And this is Nina. My grandmother.”

Nina’s lying in the hospital bed that dominates the room. Her blond and gray hair is neatly styled, and she’s wearing red lipstick. She has the aura of a matriarch, someone who’s used to being in charge, but her smile is kind.

Nina reaches out for my hand, and I go over to her. “From what Danny has told me, you have a dramatic story. Can’t wait to hear more of it.”

“Neither can I.”

Nina’s laugh is quieter and hoarser than Danny’s, but equally gentle. “Keep that sense of humor, girl. It’ll serve you well. My Danny-boy’s taking care of you?”

He huffs. “Nina, you’re ruining my tough-guy image.” Everyone else in the room cracks up.

“You hold your own,” Matteo says. “Buttough guyis overselling, and I doubt Lark is buying it.”

“You’re one to talk,” Angela counters. “Biggest softie I know.”

“So is Danny!”

“Quit telling my secrets. I had Lark thinking I was her hero.” Danny flexes a bicep, and I’mdefinitelybuying that. Everyone laughs again. Nina smirks at us both, and I feel my cheeks burn.

“He’s been great,” I assure his grandmother. “Heroic is right.”

I look over at him. He smiles back at me as he plays with the pendant at his neck. There are a lot of people in here, yet that smile feels like it’s just for me. And suddenly, I’m facing even more danger than I realized.

Some psycho tried to run me over, and he might still be after me. But I’m also in danger of getting more than just a little attached to my savior. A man whose literal job description is saving lives. He swoops in to help, but that doesn’t mean he’ll stick around.

Danny lives in a fancy house, surrounded by these laughing, kind people who obviously love each other. I’m a scrawny, bruised-up girl with no backstory and an endless list of problems.

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