My lungs expand with a quick inhale. Memories flood into my consciousness and pull me the rest of the way out of dreamland. Shot. I was fucking shot.
With my eyes still shut, I force awareness into my body as I try to wiggle my fingers and toes. The signal from my brain to my extremities is slower than it should be, but all my parts react. I exhale a relieved breath. I don’t remember the exact moment of impact, but I vaguely remember collapsing. I don’t even know where I was shot, but I’m glad it wasn’t in the spine.
I’m pretty sure that I’m drugged. I assume I’ll be in a lot of pain when it wears off. And wow, moving my toes was exhausting. I want to fall back asleep. But I can’t yet. Not until I know if everyone is okay.
Taking a moment, I fortify my resolve.
With an alarming amount of effort, I force my eyes to flutter open. My vision swims, but the room is blessedly dim. It takes a few blinks for my eyes to focus as I stare at the ceiling. A few slow breaths help the sudden wave of nausea pass.
I don’t think I have the energy to look around. This might be all I get right now. I just wish I could see Vincent. I need to see him, then I’ll rest.
I whisper his name. “Vincent.”
My brain is still fuzzy and slow, but I hear the gasp that comes from somewhere next to me.
“Sasha? Baby?” A chair scrapes across the floor, then Vincent’s face appears above my own.
He looks terrible. And still he’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
“Sasha.” One of his hands grips my own, while the other gently strokes my hair.
There’s so much emotion in his voice, it nearly suffocates me.
“Annie?” Is all I can get out.
A look passes over Vincent’s face a moment before tears start sliding down his cheeks. My eyes widen but before I can freak out, he nods. “She’s fine. Annie is fine.” Vincent dips down, resting his forehead against mine. “Because of you. You saved my daughter. My Annie. You could have died, but you saved her. I can never repay you for what you did. You saved her.”
Vincent pulls back enough so he can look me in the eyes. “I love you, Sasha. I love you so much. Fuck. I was so scared. I can’t live in a world where you don’t exist.”
Tears form instantly in my eyes. This wonderful man. I love him so much. I’d hoped I’d hear those words from him, but I thought I’d missed my chance.
“I love you, too.” I don’t think my throat makes the sound, but Vincent reads the words on my lips.
He leans down and presses the softest kiss to the corner of my mouth.
“Well, hell. Guess I can’t kill him now.” Says a voice, that isn’t Vincent’s.
Still holding my hand, Vincent eases back so I can see the man standing on the other side of my bed.
My mouth drops open. John?
