Page 12 of Vows of Betrayal

I just wanted to die.

Get it over with.

The suffering I’d felt in the last half hour was out of this world.

I wanted it to end.

What felt like hours later, my angel came floating back into my room. “Hi,” she said breathily. Once at the side of my bed, she pulled up a chair and sat. “You look so much better than you did an hour ago.” Her gaze glided over my face. “So much better. How do you feel?”

Christ.

Her voice and her touch were like a goddamn balm to my soul. When she was around, I hardly noticed how fucking shitty I felt.

“Oh, honey. No, don’t.” Her thumb reached up and she swiped something away. It was then I realized I was crying.

Fuck me.

I was crying.

Not only that, but I was doing it in front of my angel. “You’re fine. Trust me. I wouldn’t lie to you. I know you probably feel like complete crap. But that will change. You’ll get better every day, Stefan. You believe me. Don’t you?” She looked at me with hopeful eyes. And I didn’t want to disappoint her. Why didn’t I want to disappoint her? Why did I care?

“I feel like shit.” I closed my eyes for a moment and got control of myself. “I don’t think I’m coming out of this, Francesca. I really fuckin’ don’t.” My eyes opened to see her standing beside my bed.

And then—I started fuckin’ crying.

Again.

Jesus Christ.

“Honey, don’t. Please, don’t. Can you try to get some sleep?” Her hand gently stroked the side of my face while I bawled like a baby.

“Here,” she said, letting go of my hand to unlatch the bed rail? When it was down, she slipped in beside me, curling her body around me in that tiny space. “Close your eyes.”

I sniffled and wiped my wet cheeks with my hand. “You’re going to get in trouble again.” I didn’t see how she wouldn’t. I mean, if they yelled at her for helping me, what the fuck were they going to do when they saw her in bed with a patient?

“Nah, you scared the crap out of them.” She giggled. Her breasts jiggled as she did so. “They sent me in to deal with you.” She laughed some more, and it—soothed me.

Having her close—touching her—smelling her—it all helped.

For some reason.

It helped.

And before I knew it, I was fast asleep.

5

Francesca

“No, but what you can do—” I heard Stefan’s voice down the hall, “is fuck right off. I already told you I don’t want to see you. Didn’t want to see you before this bullshit happened. And I sure as fuck don’t want to see you now.”

There were two women standing outside Stefan’s door. They were giving each other concerned looks. The blonde one said something to the brunette. And they both nodded.

I hurried to his room. I was the only one on the floor who could deal with Stefan. He seemed to hate everyone else with a fiery passion. And I had to admit—that made me happy. Which was warped and weird. And totally illogical.

I glanced at the women as I got closer to the door.

Cripes.

---