Page 27 of Guarding Bristol

Her face brightened a little.“Yes.The second trial just finished.The initial results look really promising.”She started to sit up.He slid an arm around her and pulled her upright, stuffing the pillows behind her back and settling her against the headboard before handing her the laptop.“Thanks.”The adoring smile she gave him made his heart squeeze.“Here, look.”

She turned it so he could see the screen and read the report released by the medical researchers in Zurich.He didn’t understand some of it.She was the scientist, not him, but he got the gist.The latest clinical trial results looked promising.“Seems like good news.”

“Yes, and they’re going to open up the next trial soon.”She brought up another page to show him.“Only twenty-five spots available, though.”

When she looked up at him, the hope and anxiety in her big brown eyes hit him hard.She was desperate for a chance to improve her quality of life and outlive the time frame her doctors had given her.Praying for a miracle.

They both were.

He would do whatever it took to make that happen.“And you’ll be one of them.”

Her smile wobbled.“You really think so?”

“I know so.”

“But the money—”

“I’ll get the money.We’re almost there, not much longer now.”The cost of the treatment alone was astronomical, and because it was still experimental, none of it was covered by her insurance.They needed the money for the medication, hospitalization, and treatment, plus travel and living expenses in Europe.

He’d invested every penny he could in the market and done well with the returns.But she didn’t know what he’d done beyond that.She thought he’d taken a big promotion with his former government security contractor firm that sent him around the country on various jobs.He didn’t intend for her to ever know the truth.It would only hurt and distress her, and stress was the last thing she could handle in her condition.The blood on his hands was something he would answer for on the day he met his maker.

At least it wasn’t innocent blood.That made it easier.

“You hungry?”he asked, pushing those thoughts away.

“A little.Mostly, I’m just sick of being in this bed.”

“Then come with me, gorgeous.”He scooped her up, smiled at her delighted giggle as she looped her arms around his neck.

Stevie followed them into the living room.Angel settled Liana on the couch with pillows and a thick blanket where she could see him in the kitchen, and then set about making them homemade tomato soup and grilled cheese.He chatted to her as he cooked, talking about plans for their life after her treatment.

He brought in a tray for her and set it on her lap, ushering the cat aside to make room for himself beside her.They ate together in comfortable silence, but he watched her closely and saw the moment her energy reserves ran out.

Her hand shook, and she dropped the bit of sandwich she was holding onto her plate.Her face was drawn, her posture sagging.

“I’m sorry,” she said.“I can’t.”

“Don’t apologize.Here.”He moved closer, cradled the back of her neck in one hand and lifted the sandwich to her mouth with the other.

Her eyes glinted with humor as she took a bite.“This is so romantic,” she said around the mouthful of sandwich.

“You know it, baby.”

She swallowed, licked her lips.“When I’m better I’m going to spoil you rotten.”

“You already do.”She showered him with love, even on her shittiest days.Until her, he’d never known that kind of selfless love existed.

Her situation made him want to howl in rage and agony.He would die for her, trade places with her in a heartbeat to spare her this terrible, unrelenting decline, but he was powerless to stop it or protect her from what was happening inside her own body.

When she had finished half the sandwich and most of the soup, she put a hand on his wrist to push the spoon away.“I’m so full,” she said, exhaustion evident in every line on her face.

He set the tray aside, hiding his concern.Her strength faded so fast lately.“Want to stretch out here and watch a movie?”

“No.I need to sleep.”

She curled into him like a child as he carried her back to their bedroom.His phone buzzed in his back pocket as he tucked her in.

He straightened, pulled it out and found a message from the organization.

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