Page 50 of Devour
That earns a laugh from me—light and unexpected. And for a moment, I forget to worry. For a moment, I let myself feel wanted. Then it hits me—I have to do something.
I turn around abruptly. Before I can second-guess myself, I walk quickly, nearly running toward his study, the protea vase clutched tightly in my hands.
Once inside, I place it gently on his desk, take a deep breath, and begin searching for a pen and paper. I scribble the words: Thank you.
I almost draw a heart then hesitate. I settle for a small smiley face instead. I fold the note in half and slide it halfway under the vase, angling it just right so it’s the first thing he’ll see when he walks in.
Smiling to myself like I’ve just completed a secret mission, I breeze out of his study. And for the first time, I’mactually looking forward to seeing him. I even plan to stay up late… Just to wait for him to come home.
It was well past midnight when they burst through the bedroom door. Nothing could’ve prepared me for this. Luca—being carried in.
I was sitting on the lounge by the window when the men rushed in, built like tanks, their faces tight with urgency. I didn’t recognize them at first, so I was startled until I caught sight of Griselda’s worried expression.
My gaze followed hers, and then I saw him. My breath caught. My eyes widened. A cold shiver rippled down my spine and my feet forgot how to move.
His head lolled to one side, half-unconscious. Most of his weight was slumped against the shoulders of his men.
He was dressed in all black, and in that moment, I knew where he’d been all night. The answer was bleeding right in front of me.
The left shoulder of his shirt was torn, the shredded fabric wrapped tightly to stem the flow of blood. Another cloth was pressed to his side, also soaked through, dark and still seeping. He could barely keep himself upright, groaning with every step.
By the time I could control my legs to move, they were already beside the bed. I rushed forward, propped the pillows, and helped them lay him down. His head fell to the side immediately it hit the pillow, and then he went still. Passed out.
My heart nearly stopped. I sit on my bent knees beside him on the bed, my hand cupping his face. I willed him to open his eyes, those beautiful blue eyes but they stayed shut.
“Somebody get a damn doctor!” I screamed, voice cracking as I choked down on a sob. Someone speaks, I think it's Griselda.
“He’s here. We need to give him space to work.”
The men were already filing out of the room, but I didn’t move. I couldn’t. I didn’t want to leave Luca’s side. This might be my life now. And if it is… I want to see it all.
Griselda glanced at me, and after a moment of quiet understanding, she nodded and slipped out, closing the door softly behind her. I stayed where I was, rooted to his side, as the doctor who looked to be in his fifties approached the bed.
He wasted no time, cutting away the last blood-soaked pieces of Luca’s shirt. I winced as more blood seeped from not just the wound in his shoulder, but also from a fresh one at his side, staining the sheets beneath him.
The doctor poured a clear antiseptic over both wounds, probably iodine or saline. Even unconscious, Luca’s face twisted in pain, and I felt it like a tight fist clenching my chest.
With gloved hands, the doctor reached for a pair of tweezers and carefully probed the shoulder wound. My hands balled into fists as I watched, helpless. Finally, he pulled the bullet free and dropped it into a small metal dish with a faint clink.
Then he moved to the wound at Luca’s side. Blood ran freely as he worked, forcing him to clean repeatedly just to get a clear view.
When he finally located the second bullet and pulled it out, I let out a long, shaky breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.
He cleaned the area thoroughly, then stitched both wounds closed with quick, practiced movements he bandage them.
“Luckily, it didn’t hit any major arteries or organs,” the doctor murmured. “He’s lost a lot of blood, though.”
“Is that why he isn’t waking up?” I asked, eyes never leaving Luca’s face.
“I gave him a sedative to help him sleep. He needs a lot of rest. No strain, no heavy movement. Keep him in bed, and absolutely no… vigorous workout.”
He shot me a look. The kind of look that made heat crawl up my neck. I still don’t know how I’m able to blush in a situation like this. I said nothing, just pressed my lips together and nodded. The doctor reached into his bag and pulled out a small bottle.
“These are painkillers. Administer only when necessary two at a time, no more.”
“I’ll come back tomorrow to change the dressing,” he added, tucking his tools away.
“You should get some rest too. It may take a while for him to regain consciousness.”
