Page 33 of Fragile Union

"I'm not sorry," she replies, her mouth set into a harsh line. "I love you, Rome, I can't and won't let anything happen to you."

"You are my wife," I growl, needing her to realize how much she's fucked up. "You are my fucking life, Holly." Her eyes widen at my words. "You do not push me out of the fucking way. You do not put yourself in danger for me. And you sure as shit do not fucking get shot."

Tears fall from her eyes and I feel like a bastard. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get shot, I moved too slowly."

I pull her into my arms. "Never again."

She nods. "Never again." Her promise settles something deep inside. "I'm sorry I scared you."

I shake my head, "Scared me? Fuck doll face. I thought you were fucking dead." That's something that I'll never get out of my mind. The painful cry followed by silence. Fuck.

She cries harder, her hands clawing at my chest. "I'm sorry, God, I can't imagine that. I hurt just thinking about it happening to you."

I kiss her head; this conversation needs to end. "It's over, you're okay. You're here," I tell her and she nods against me. "I'm going to go out soon. Makenna will be here to keep an eye on you. You were unconscious for a while. You've got a concussion from where you fell."

She tenses beneath me. "Where are you going?"

"Doll face, you think I'm going to sit back and let those bastards who shot you get away with it?"

She leans back and looks up at me, her eyes filled with tears, but I see the hope shining in them. "You found them?"

I nod, "Yeah, they're not going to get a chance to do this shit again." I hold her tighter against me. "You're safe."

Her hand rests against my cheek, fuck, this woman knows how to disarm me. "I trust you Rome, I know that you'll do whatever it takes to keep me safe. I love you so much," she says as the tears continue to fall. "Please come home to me in one piece."

I smile, damn, I can't remember the last time someone was worried about me. Fuck. If there's ever been anyone worried about me before. Not the way that Holly does. "No one or nothing can stop me coming home to you."

She yawns and I know that she's going to want to sleep again. "Rest, doll face. Makenna will be here soon to check on you."

I kiss her lips softly once I have her tucked into bed. Her eyes closed as she sinks into the bed. "I'll be home later."

She nods, not once opening her eyes, "Be safe," she whispers to me.

I turn away from her. Seeing her lying on the bed, so fragile and vulnerable is pulling at all my protective instincts to stay with her. To make sure that she's okay.

But I need to do this. I need to make the message clear. Holly is off fucking limits.

"Ready?" Dante asks as soon as I close the door to our bedroom.

I give him a look, one that says, 'what the fuck do you think?'

"She woke up and remembers what happened," I tell Makenna. "She's asleep again."

Makenna nods, relief shining brightly in her eyes. "Okay, I'll go and sit with her."

I give her a chin lift and make my way out of the house.

"I'm going to go out on a limb," Stefan says as I slide into the car, "and say, that these two assholes we have are going to be in a world of pain when you're finished with them."

I shake my head. "No, they'll be dead."

Twelve

HOLLY

The door opens and I think that it's Romero coming back, that is until I smell Makenna's perfume. Floral and fresh.

"You're awake," she observes as she climbs onto the bed.

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