Page 91 of Covert Temptation

“You don’t know what you’re saying. You’re going into shock.” She hurried over to the clothes she’d been forced to take off. She grabbed her top and ran back to Dante to press the cloth to his wound.

His eyes were trained on her face even when his head lolled to the side. “You should go.”

“No. I’m not leaving without you. I know it seems like I’m only out for myself, but nothing could be further from the truth. I didn’t run when I was accused of the security leak. I stayed, andI faced it. I’m not leaving, Dante. I’m not leaving without you…and it’s getting dark.”

He just blinked at her. Slow. Too slow. “Don’t be afraid of the dark. You’re stronger than you think.”

She let out a gasping wail.

“You really think I believe you’re only looking out for yourself?”

“Everyone else does,” she choked.

He reached to stroke his fingertip along her jaw. “I don’t believe that, sweetheart. Not anymore. I’m sorry I ever did.”

That broke her. Tears poured down her cheeks, unstoppable. “Where’s your phone? I’ll call for help.”

“Not yet. I have to say this. Kennedy, you’re my world.”

Her mind whirled, and her heart tumbled at the words. She leaned in, pressing her forehead against his. “You’re mine too. I love you, Dante.”

“Love you …”

She felt around his pocket and located his phone. When she pulled it free, she pressed her lips to his—hard.

She pulled up the keypad and dialed.

“9-1-1, what is your emergency?”

SEVENTEEN

Dante leaned back against the stiff hospital pillows and glared at the lunch tray on the rolling table.

“Tell me that’s not supposed to be lasagna.”

Kennedy, perched on the side of his bed, laughed. “You’re looking at it like it committed a war crime.”

“It did. Against the Italians who make good lasagna.”

She laughed again, and damn, it was good to hear the soft, musical sound. It was better to see that twinkle in the depths of her dark eyes. Since he was shot, he had watched her go through hell and back.

Something he never wanted to see again.

He hated putting her through that. She hadn’t left his side the entire time, not even after he came out of the operating room. He woke to see her sleeping in the recliner covered with a thin hospital blanket, the bruise on full display on her arm.

Seeing it had filled him with so much rage that his heart rate spiked, which brought the nurses into the room and woke Kennedy in the process.

But that was behind them now…part oftheirstory.

Just like their rocky beginning as enemies was.

He reached out and caught Kennedy’s hand. She looked up at him in surprise. Then her eyes hooded at what she saw on his face.

“Dante—”

“Kennedy.”

“I’ve told you. We can’t…you know.”

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