Page 94 of Out of the Shadow

I shrug. “I had to get away.” Okay, enough chit-chat. I need to see my man. “Leo, do you know where King is right now? I have to see him.”

“I’m not sure. Let me go ask.” He kisses my forehead and walks out of the room.

No sooner does he leave than Francesco walks in. He crosses his arms over his chest. “You gave us all quite the scare.”

Even though I want to be with King, Francesco was integral to helping us escape. I’m not about to blow him off. “It wasn’t a picnic for me either.”

“I called Mama, Papa, and Juliana. They should be here shortly.”

Great. The whole family. All I want to is to be with King. Dr. Smith walks in. “Hello, Angie. I wanted to give you an update. Seems like a mild sedative was used on you, which should get out of your system within twenty-four hours. You’re going to have to stay here overnight so we can monitor your vitals.”

“All right.” It’s not like I’d be leaving the hospital until King’s able to walk out with me anyway.

He clears his throat, glancing at my brother, and bends down. “Mr. Hunte is in Room 201. But you didn’t hear that from me.” He winks.

My last breath bottoms out. “Thank you.”

He walks out and I start to get out of bed.

Francesco watches my efforts. “Whoa. What do you think you’re doing?”

“I’m going to see King.”

Francesco says, “I don’t think that’s a good idea. He—”

“Would love to see you, I’m sure,” Leo walks in and finishes his sentence. My two brothers look at each other.

“I’m not asking permission.” I take a tentative step and gather my strength. The second dose of Trevor’s drug hit me harder than the first. Maybe it’s the cumulative effect? Hating what I’m about to say, I look at my brothers. “How about helping a girl over to Room 201?”

With Leo on one side and Francesco on the other, we navigate my IV pole through the hallways until we arrive at King’s door. I peek in. He’s all alone.

Like he’s been most of his life. Until now.

“Thanks, guys. I can make it from here. Can you please give me a few minutes alone with him before you come in?” Both men nod.

I force my feet forward, taking measured steps with my IV, until I stand next to King. I hold his hand. It’s slack.

“King, I’m so sorry. About what Trevor did to you. About breaking up with you. I was an idiot. You waltzed into my agency and stole my heart and I freaked out.” I pause. “I never want you to be alone ever again.”

I swipe the stupid tears that roll down my cheeks. Squeezing his hand, I finish my confession. “You mean the world to me. Whenever you’re in the office, it’s a better, brighter place. And I like working with you. When we make love, it’s magic. I told myself I could follow Juliana’s advice and separate sex from love, but I failed. Because I fell in love with you.”

My eyes stray to my left hand. To my wedding rings. I gulp. How can I be confessing my love to one man while I’m wearing another’s rings? I lean down and kiss King’s cheek, careful not to interfere with the wires attaching his body to the monitors.

“I’ll see you again soon, King. I promise.”

My brothers surprise me by entering the room when I step back. They talk for a moment with King, who remains silent. When they’re done, they help me back to my room.

My parents and sister arrive soon after I return to my room. After they all greet me with hugs, we discuss what happened inside that house. It’s hard to talk about the kidnapping, which Leo must notice, because he soon takes the lead.

I yawn and my family decides to leave me alone to rest and recover. More hugs and kisses ensue, and then I’m alone. I close my eyes, but sleep doesn’t come. My mind replays what Trevor did to me, what he said to King, and my feelings for the man who crashed into my life. And my heart.

When I realize sleep won’t come, I sit up and look out my window at the rising sun. A nurse comes in to check on me, leaves, and closes the door behind her. After fiddling with my wedding rings, I start a much needed—and overdue—conversation.

“Dante,” I trace his name on my wrist. “You were my first love. We had a perfect relationship, even as you got weaker and weaker. You always made me feel treasured.”

I turn away from the sunlight, and stare at the blank television screen in front of me. I take a deep breath. “I’m ready to let love back into my life, Dante. King is unlike anyone I’ve ever met, with one exception. The love I have for him is different from ours, but just as powerful. I think you’d approve.”

I wipe a tear as it rolls down my cheek. My right hand hovers over my wedding rings. They haven’t come off in over a decade, since the day we wed. “It’s time for me to honor your last wish. I want to follow the final item on our Bucket List. I’m not removing you from my life, Dante. You’ll always hold a special place in my heart. But King lives there too, now.”

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