Page 34 of Until Retribution Burns (Beauty in Lies 3)

15

Rafael

The doctor finished stitching the cut at the base of Isa's head, having had to shave just enough of her hair to keep it out of his way. She grimaced when she straightened as soon as he was finished, sitting up and resisting the urge to touch the injury. "Hearing better now?" he asked quietly. She nodded slowly, and I heaved a breath of relief that her hearing hadn't been impacted permanently.

Hearing Joaquin yell her name after the explosion, not being able to find her and only seeing the flames engulf the very same SUV where I'd tried to send her for safety, I'd feared the worst.

I'd thought she'd been stolen from me in the flames.

"I didn't feel any deformities," Matteo's favored doctor continued. "So I don't think we need to worry about a cracked skull or severe trauma to the brain itself. A concussion for certain, but nothing unmanageable. The rest of your wounds are relatively superficial. Scrapes and bruises. Even the deeper wound on the back of your knee has stopped bleeding and will heal without stitches. You wereverylucky," he said, moving to the sink and rinsing his tools.

"I know," Isa murmured softly, accepting the bottle of water I handed to her. Her face was pinker than normal, the heat of the explosion having irritated her skin. It was a minor consequence when compared to the potential reality of her face being nothing more than a pile of ash.

The doctor moved to my side, the forceps already in his grip as I pulled my shirt over my head with a grimace. The burn of the bullet in my flesh drew another wince from me as I lowered my arm so that he could study the shoulder briefly. The skin around it was angry and red, and Isa's eyes narrowed in on it in frustration.

The stubborn thing had tried to convince me that I should be taken care of first, as if she hadn't survived a fucking car bomb. "You're lucky too. It doesn't appear to have hit anything vital," the doctor said as he poked his fingers against the area surrounding the hole. The metal of the forceps sank into the wound, wrapping around the bullet and gripping as he slowly pulled it free. I gritted my teeth against the pain, holding Isa's eyes and trying to will her to see that I'd be fine.

Her worry over me should have been touching, and it might have been any other day. Now all I could think about was getting her home toEl Infiernoimmediately.

"What does she need to do for recovery?" I asked as the bullet popped free from my skin and a fresh surge of blood trickled out of the wound. He worked quickly to disinfect it, stitching the skin back together like someone who had treated far too many bullet wounds in his life. Working for the Bellandis, I didn't doubt it.

"Rest mostly. I'll leave her something for the pain, but mostly nothing too straining for the brain. No long periods of television or reading, nothing too social or upsetting. Just keep her home and make her get lots of rest," he said.

"Easier said than done. When is she okay to travel back to Spain?" I asked.

"At least a week."

"I'm not going to Spain," Isa argued, crossing her arms over her chest defiantly. She winced as all the little scratches and spots where the pavement had scraped off her skin stung, but didn't relent.

"You're going back to the island as soon as he deems you okay for travel," I said, watching as he finished the stitches and moved to pack his belongings like a smart man. He could probably sense the fight coming.

"No upsetting her," he said.

"Upset is better than dead," I growled, making the man nod his head and retreat from the room.

"You aren't sending me back! Not without you, and especially not after how we left things with my parents. I can't just disappear and make them think you kidnapped me or got rid of me or something," she said, turning to glare at Joaquin as he stepped out of the main room and followed the doctor out. There was no chance of any of the men wanting to be around for the coming argument. I stood from my chair, scooping her into my arms despite her protests about my own injury, and carried her upstairs.

"You were almost killed," I pointed out. "I think that's more important than whatever your family might think. You can call them and explain something came up so they know you're alive."

"I mean it, Rafael. Our answers are here, and like it or not Timofey seems to know something. I know you well enough to know you aren't leaving, and neither am I. I want answers, and I want to be here when you find them. If it's safer, then I won't leave the house. I'll stay here or go to the Bellandi estate during the days and spend time with Ivory and Luna. My family can visit us here. This place is a fortress. There's a reason this guy attacked us when we were wandering around in public."

I heaved a sigh, knowing she wouldn't relent. I could force her on the plane, but the only thing that would accomplish was making her hate me. I'd broken her to rebuild her into a stronger woman who could stand at my side and survive in my world.

I couldn't exactly fault her when she did everything I'd ever wanted her to do.

"Fine. But you do not leave this house," I warned, settling her into the bed gently so she could get some sleep.

"Where are you going?" she asked, realizing that I didn't make any move to get into bed with her.

"To get some answers, and no, you cannot come," I said, touching my lips to hers gently. "You need to rest."

She sighed her frustration. "Stay with me until I fall asleep at least?" With a breath of relief, I curled up in bed beside her, drawing her into my arms. Her heat enveloped me, her skin feeling too feverish to be comfortable following the explosion. I held her tight, trying not to touch any of the dozens of injuries on her back, legs, and arms.

Remembering the feel of her body curled beneath mine and hoping I would be enough to stop any bullets that hit us, I waited until her breathing evened out finally.

I went to get my fucking answers.

* * *

---