did had to be because of Rickman. “Good for you.”
“I grabbed all my stuff, shoved it in a box, and took off. I never have to step foot back in that place. I was happy, I remember that, but then it’s kind of blurry. I have visions of speeding down the hill, but that’s it.”
“You blew the red light.” That’s what the initial report said.
She flinches. “So stupid. I was so excited for leaving that place I must not have been paying attention.”
“It’s okay. That’s why they call it an accident. I’m just glad you’re okay. Wh—?”
Her face pales a shade lighter. “Oh, my God. Did anyone else get hurt?”
“No. Just you. By a miracle, you didn’t get hit by cross traffic, but you ran into a row of parked cars and spun out and clipped a tree. You were lucky as hell. When Gio told me…” I shake my head and recall the gut-wrenching hollowness at that moment. “It was awful. Not knowing, I was so fucking scared. I know this is a shitty time, but I’m letting you know, we’re getting married.” I’ve no clue why being married to her would have made this situation better, but knowing she’s mine in every sense of the word gives me the reassurances I so desperately need. “I don’t have a ring or an amazing proposal like you deserve, but—”
“I don’t care about that.” She sniffles as a tear rolls down her cheek. “I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I don’t need any of that other stuff. Just you.”
“That’s what you’ve got, Izzy baby. For the rest of your life.”
* * *
The next afternoon, Izzy’s discharged after her arm is casted. Gio went back and brought his dad with him to get my car last night, so I lift her into the front seat and drive her home. We haven’t had a chance to bring her things over, but I’m going to have the guys go collect all her stuff and do that soon. Like tomorrow.
My home is now hers. Ours. I want her surrounding me everywhere I look.
When I get down and walk around behind my vehicle, Gio is just stepping out of his and appears pissed off. I open Izzy’s door and cradle her in my arms.
“Keys,” he barks. I hand them to Gio, and he walks ahead of us, and I notice him on alert. Almost like he’s on the job, and I don’t like that shit one bit. He’s got me glancing around looking for something suspicious.
“I can walk, you know?” Izzy’s sweet voice makes me hold her tighter.
“But you’re not.” I carry her inside and to the bedroom where I deposit her on the bed, and then help take the scrub pants she was wearing yesterday off. She winces when I accidentally rub against her bandaged ankle. I don’t even try taking her shirt off, and when I lift the covers and slide her up, she willingly lies down. “What do you need?”
She yawns and tries to cover it unsuccessfully. “I’m really tired. Can I just sleep for a little bit?”
“Of course.” I bend down and brush my lips over hers featherlight. “I’ll come check on you in a while.”
“Thank you. For everything.”
“Anything for you.”
I kiss her once more, and then shut the light off and close the door behind me. When I get back to the living room, Gio is peeking through the blinds. “What’s up?”
“Remember the detective who helped me with the whole Whitney fiasco?”
“Yes.”
He continues looking out. “She called me on the way here with some news.”
I take a few more steps toward him. “What news, G?”
“She’s investigating Bella’s case.”
“Right. Since when do detectives call the brothers of accident victims?”
“When the accident victim’s brake lines were cut, and she didn’t want him to hear it from someone else to prevent him from going apeshit and killing somebody.”
When I was a kid, I almost drowned in our pool. Because of that, my dad paid for me to have private lessons until I was the perfect swimmer. I almost forgot how excruciating the feel of water choking you to death is. Unfortunately, that ended about four seconds ago. My lungs are weighed down, and it burns to even suck in air. My nose stings, and it’s like the floor has turned into an ocean, and it’s pulling me under. My vision tunnels, my blood pounds in my veins, and when I open my mouth, nothing comes