My eyes flew open, and millions of blinding lights assaulted me.

Warm, large hands brushed over my forehead and then drifted through my hair, calming me. “Shh, it’s okay, baby.”

I groaned, my brow furrowed as my brain tried to wake from its groggy state. Where was I? The florescent light above me was familiar, and not in a good way. My heart raced, confusion and fear moving through me. I needed to run, flee…didn’t I?

“Nate?” Was he okay? What was going on?

My teeth clenched, and I hissed as a throbbing pain in my shoulder zinged into a sharp one. I blinked, my eyes straining to adjust and focus. Tiny caresses to the back of my head drew my attention and fuzzy mind.

I turned my head and found Nathan’s blue eyes staring at me. He was a mess.

“Hi.” His swollen and split lip twitched up into a smile. Added to that, there were bruises on his face, and it was also puffy.

The anxiety running rampant through me began to calm—he was all right. “Hi.” There was a twinge in my jaw as I tried to stretch it out.

“How do you feel?”

I frowned, still trying to remember how I landed in the fashionable blue hospital gown I was sporting. “I hurt. What’s going on?”

He pursed his lips. “Do you remember what happened? You’ve been out for almost twelve hours…I’ve been freaking out that you weren’t coming back to me.”

My shoulder hurt. It hurt a lot. “We made it out? How?”

His lips moved into a thin line, and I gathered he didn’t like my response. “Well, I have some news.”

I froze, unable to read from his expression if it was good or bad. “What?”

“For once in a very long time, it has a happy edge to it.” His thumb stroked the back of my hand. “Vincent Marconi is dead…I’m finally free.”

My eyes popped open wide. “Free? As in, he’s gone for good?”

He smiled and let out a relieved sigh. “Yes, gone. Never to return.”

“How?” I was still reeling.

“Noah. He shot him…just in time.” His jaw clenched and tears welled in his eyes. “Fuck, baby, for a split second I thought I’d lost you. I owe him everything.”

Noah? There was a vague memory of him standing in front of me, worried and knuckles white as he held a gun, but most of it was a blur after Vincent put the gun to my head.

“What happened after that? I mean, he’s dead, but what about the rest of them?”

He blew out a breath and tightened his grip. “Vincent was the one with the vendetta, and he was the leader. Between him being dead and the legal actions against his organization, I’m the least of their worries. The fighting over who becomes the new head will ensue and become the focus.”

I wasn’t sure I believed him or his bravado. It seemed sincere, the relief evident in his body language, and he wasn’t lying or putting on a front. My gaze moved around the room, and I noticed a cop standing outside the door. “Then why do we have an armed guard?”

“Noah did it just in case, but I’m not worried. One of Marconi’s guys got into a shoot-out and lost, and the other two are in custody.”

“Was it the one that followed us? Mack?”

He nodded. “Yes. He was Vincent’s favorite. They also caught Vincent’s son, Giovani, in a third car. Both had warrants out for their arrest and are in custody. Which is another reason I know we’re free.”

“Really?” Could it be true?

“You passed out from shock before that all went down. Paramedics came. It was a mess.” He let out a chuckle. “You missed all the bullshit of explaining what happened.”

“I’ll still have to.”

“Yeah.”

We were silent for a moment, simple comforting touches and light kisses.

“I’m tired of seeing you in a hospital bed.” Nathan’s voice was hoarse and he sighed.

“I’m tired of waking up in them.”

His lip twitched, and he placed a kiss on my hand. “I only want to come back here when you’re having my babies.”

I smiled. It hurt, but not as much as the pain from wanting to be in his arms. “How about we start now?”

He let out a scratchy laugh. “God, baby.” He leaned over and kissed my forehead.

“Get me out of here. I just want to be with you—only you.” I kissed my way down his jaw. I didn’t know if it was the meds or the situation, but I needed him.

His eyes lit up, and he hugged me, but very gently. “We have to wait until they release you.” The thick emotions in his voice seeped through, and he sounded on the edge of tears.

I wanted to squeeze him hard to my chest, but my arm was weak.

“I want to go home. Now.” I released him and looked into his eyes. “I want to be snuggled in bed with you, safe and warm.”

He stroked my cheek and gave me an empathetic look. “Me too. I want that so much.”

“Then let’s go.” I tried to sit up, but he placed a hand on my chest, stopping me.

“Not just yet. The doctor wants to keep you for the day.”

I let out a whine and shook my head, not liking his response. My bed filled with my office god was calling me, and I wanted the hell out. “Why? I’m fine.”

He cupped his hand under my chin, lifting my head up to look in his eyes. “I know you think you are, but my Honeybear is not the expert on this. They just want to make sure they know the extent of your injuries. We were tossed around in the car, then chased down and beaten. Your body’s not meant to be pounded that way.”

I smiled. “And you would know all about what kind of pounding my body can take.”

“Stop it.” He smirked and shook his head. “Rain check until we get you out of here.”

“It’ll be enough for now. A c**k a few feet away from me and a man that loves and wants me, even when I look like shit.”

He laughed. “Doesn’t matter what you look like, because you’re mine and I’ll f**k you whenever I want to.”

I sighed, closed my eyes, and muttered, “I wish it was now.”

Nathan’s lips formed a hard line and his fingers flexed. All I wanted was to be surrounded by him. We both needed it, were desperate for it. My skin itched to touch his, to be reminded he was real and we were all right.