Page 41 of Savage Hearts

“Good. In the morning, we leave.”

After everyone had some time with Celestina, they left us alone. Celestina didn’t say much. Even when I took our daughter from her arms and placed her in the crib, she remained silent, barely looking at me. Her withdrawn demeanor made me worry, but I didn’t want to push her too hard.

“What’s got you thinking so hard over there?”

Blowing out her breath, she closed her eyes.

“You’re leaving me?” A tear slipped down her cheek, spilling onto the sheet she clutched tightly in her hand.

“Oh, baby.” I slid onto the bed beside her and pulled her into my arms, careful not to jostle the IV. “I’m coming back, but first, I have to see that Carmela comes home.”

“But you’re coming back?”

“I promise you… I’m coming back. And when I do, I’m going to marry you.”

“Marry me?” Celestina gasped.

“Yes. I’ve spent too much time away from you.”

“I’d like that, Beckett.” She shifted in my arms, burrowing further into my side. “What will you do when you give up your house… and life for me?”

“Don’t you get it, Celestina? You are my life. I’m nothing anymore without you and our daughter. Once I know the threat to you and your family is gone, we can truly begin our lives.”

A knock at the door interrupted any further discussion.

“Come in.”

“Sorry to intrude, but I got the blood work back, and it looks great.” Dr. Luchasi stepped into the room and smiled. “I can’t reiterate how lucky you are, Celestina. I thought you’d like to sleep without that thing tonight.” He pointed at her IV.

“Oh my God. Yes. Please.”

“You still need to take it slowly and drink plenty of liquids, but this isn’t needed anymore.” He removed the needle from her arm and covered the spot with a Band-Aid. “Alright, I’ll leave you alone. I’ll be by sometime tomorrow to check in and ensure you’ve talked with the counselor I recommended.”

“Okay. Thank you… for everything.”

The doctor stepped toward Emilia’s bassinet and smiled. “You have a beautiful daughter.” With that, he stepped out of the room and pulled the door shut.

Rolling to my side, I cupped Celestina’s cheek. “I love you, Cee.”

“I love you, too.” Her smile seemed genuine for the first time in days. “Beckett?”

“Yeah, baby?”

“Will you kiss me?”

The air whooshed from my lungs at her timid request.

“You never have to ask me, Celestina.”

Dipping my head toward hers, I captured her lips with my own.

This kiss was the beginning of something better. A promise that we would overcome this trauma we’d both survived. Without a doubt, I knew Celestina would be mine forever… I just prayed I wouldn’t break the promise I made to come back to her.

Manuel Costa was a dangerous man, and getting Carmela out was going to be difficult. I knew one thing—if I didn’t come home to her, it wasn’t because I didn’t want to.

The only thing that would keep me from her and my daughter would be death.

eighteen

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