Chapter 27
Rami’s scent invaded her nostrils, rushing into her like cool air from an open window on a hot day.
She burrowed herself into his chest, reveling in every ridged muscle that encased her. He murmured against her ear, but the words didn’t penetrate the waves of relief crashing through her. Only the gentle, steady timbre of his voice reached her, immediately calming her nervous system.
“I’m so glad you’re okay.” His hand cupped the back of her head.
She nuzzled her nose against the breadth of his neck. “You could’ve been killed.” At that devastating thought, she squeezed her arms tight around his ribs.
He grunted and she pulled back. Shock stilled her body. “Are you hurt?”
“Just my shoulder.” He brought his hand up to massage his pec. No blood coated the front of his shirt.
Holding his arm, she turned him around to see his back. Sure enough, a bullet hole beneath his shoulder oozed crimson.
“Oh my god,” she hissed. “You were shot!”
August moved toward them from the stairs. His gaze had been intent on Gigi. Ivy made a mental note to find out what that was about. Right now, Rami needed medical attention.
Todd got to his feet and stumbled down the hall. For an instant, Ivy’s gaze landed on his retreating back, but she couldn’t be bothered with him.
Rami’s attention stayed riveted on her face, as though he wanted to carve her into his memory. He stumbled a bit, and fear chomped down on her heart.
“Ambulance is on the way,” Toth said, from just outside the house. Sirens screeched in the distance, confirming his words. “You okay?” Concern weighed down his voice.
Ivy gripped Rami’s arm with both hands. “You need to sit.” She tried to steer him toward a bench against the far wall, but he didn’t allow her to pull him an inch.
“It’s fine, babe.” He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to his uninjured side. Dipping his nose to her hair, he brushed his lips over of her ear. “Hurts like a bitch, but it’s not serious.”
“You’ll need surgery,” she protested.
“And it’ll suck. But all that matters is that you”—he nodded toward Gigi—“and your sister are safe.” He found Gigi’s eyes. “You okay?”
She nodded. “Fine.”
The wails became deafening. Moments later, police rushed on to the scene shouting orders and demanding they all raise their hands.
Ivy lifted her arms skyward while waving at one of the paramedics. “Over here!”
The police swept the scene like a tactical, skilled group of ants, moving along the halls and stairs. “Clear!” they shouted in each room.
An officer approached Gigi. Ivy watched as her sister melted into a tearful mess and explained Todd’s involvement with the cartel. August stood awkwardly near Gigi. He didn’t touch her. Didn’t reach for her. But Ivy got the sense he was devoted to her well-being. Which was great because she couldn’t leave Rami’s side.
Ivy caught Gigi’s eye. “We’re going to the hospital. Will you be okay?”
Gigi pulled her arms tight around her waist and nodded. “Yeah, I’ll get an Uber and meet you there.”
“I’ll drive her,” August called, as he jammed his hands into his pockets.
Gigi looked ready to protest but Ivy ignored her and stared at August. “Please watch over her.”
He gave one nod. “Promise.”
She smiled and went outside with Rami and the paramedics. For whatever reason, Gigi wanted distance from August, but it didn’t matter. Ivy was certain he’d protect her sister with his life, and that was all that mattered. Ivy turned all her attention to Rami as he got into the back of the ambulance. He sat on the stretcher, his shoulder forward so he wouldn’t agitate the wound. She squeezed in beside him and he held tightly to her hand.
She tried not to focus on the loss of color in his cheeks, his dry lips. The paramedic scooched in beside her and leaned Rami forward so he could apply dressing to the wound. Ivy winced. The dark hole in his back oozing blood looked like something out of a horror movie.
Her stomach flipped, and she pressed her knuckles to her lips.
Rami’s thumb ran over the back of her hand. “I’m okay,” he assured her.
Doubt wormed its way inside her—he looked anything but okay. She forced a shaky smile as they took off toward the hospital.
***
Rami’s shoulder beganto ache and throb. The local anesthetic was wearing off. At least he hadn’t been put out for the surgery. But the pins-and-needles feeling in his tissue made him wince.
“Pearl has a bunch of meals made for you,” Toth said with a knowing grin from the chair on Rami’s left. “Says she’ll bring them over later.”
Rami smirked. “I swear she loves it when we get sick or hurt so she can baby us.”
Toth nodded as he laced his fingers together, his mind clearly elsewhere now. “I know it’s a little early to say, but how much time off will you need?”
Ivy’s sharp tsk from the seat at the other side of the bed made Rami chuckle.
“You can’t seriously expect him to get back on the job anytime soon.”
Toth grinned. “No, he’s welcome to take whatever time he needs. But I need to plan accordingly.”
Ivy relaxed her shoulders but kept a wary eye on Toth, as if she expected him to pressure Rami into battle.
“I dunno,” Rami answered. “I’ll probably need physiotherapy. But I can return to work in a few weeks, I’m sure. At least help out around the office and strategize. But it’ll be a slower return to the field.”
“Mmm.” Toth nodded. “Remember that guy you mentioned a while back? I wasn’t keen on the sound of him—Ghost or some shit?”
“Yeah, you didn’t like his lack of first name and minimal background.” In truth, Rami had been a little ticked at Toth’s hesitance around hiring the guy. But at the end of the day, their new team had been sufficient for the workload. Now, though... well, they’d need more manpower, and finding guys with the right training and approach wasn’t always easy.
“I’ll look at his portfolio again. Might be someone to consider.”
“Probably the only one to consider besides Lach.”
Toth narrowed his eyes at the mention of Savannah’s brother, Lachlan Carrington. “That might be an option,” he mused. “If Sav will allow it.”
Two figures appeared in the doorway before Rami could reply. August knocked. Gigi was close to his side, her arms folded across her chest as if she didn’t want to accidentally brush against him.
Ivy leapt from her chair and embraced her sister and then the two of them moved toward the window, their heads close, talking. Seeing them side by side would always be a shock to Rami’s system. On one hand, he knew instinctively who Ivy was. Would have no problem telling them apart even if they were wearing the same outfit. Yet the mirror image still jarred his nerves.
“Ouch,” August said, taking Ivy’s vacated chair. “I take it they got the bullet out?”
“Yeah, and it feels like they took a good chunk of muscle with it.” He tried to stifle the grumble. Being pissy about his banged-up situation wouldn’t help matters. Besides, Ivy had been through ten times worse, and if his getting shot meant her nightmare was over, he’d gladly take another bullet. “Did the cops find Todd?” He’d been too focused on Ivy to notice the snake slithering away.
“Nope.” August dragged out the n. His gaze swung to Gigi. “She’s gotta go into WITSEC. Not happy about it.”
Rami’s insides roiled. “Who?”
August leaned on his knees and rubbed one hand over the other. “Just Gigi.” The words came out slow and pained. As if he couldn’t stand the thought of her being whisked away.
Thank god it wasn’t Ivy. Rami’s spine relaxed a fraction, but the thought of being separated from her had made him tense up, and now his shoulder throbbed as if a hot poker were twisting into his flesh.
“She’ll be safe.” Rami’s words were hollow. He didn’t necessarily believe that.
August lifted his shoulder. “Not my problem.”
“Seems like you want it to be your problem.”
August hooked an eyebrow. “Don’t make me regret saving your ass two days in a row.”
Rami curled his lip. If he weren’t so sore, he’d make August eat those words. But he sure as hell didn’t feel up to sparring. “All right. Why are they taking her?”
“The agents are waiting in the hallway. They’re concerned because Fernando’s death will incite more anger from the cartel. Who knows how much money and victims the cartel’s lost because of this. Todd’s involvement puts Gigi at risk. The FBI want to take her back home to collect some belongings and then leave immediately.” August worked his jaw back and forth. “New name, new identity. Slate wiped clean.”
“I’m surprised they don’t want Ivy in WITSEC, too.”
August shrugged. “It appears Fernando didn’t disclose the trouble you brought to the cartel. The FBI thinks it’s because you made him look weak—he’d want to hide that from his boss. But Todd was well known in the organization.”
Fresh anger vibrated through Rami. Fucking Todd.
August rubbed his hand over his knuckles. “This’ll be hard on Gigi. She can’t have any contact with anyone from home.”
Rami grimaced. Ivy was going to be devastated. He looked over at her and sure enough, her shoulders were hunched, her brow was worry lined, and her eyes were teary. His heart ached for her.
Ivy met his stare then touched Gigi’s arm as if asking for a minute. Ivy approached his bed and he took her hand. Her lip trembled. Rami shot August a glare, and his friend moved away from the bed to give them privacy.
“They want Gigi to go into witness protection.” Her voice was filled with both fear and hope, as if willing him to come up with a solution.
He squeezed her fingers. “I heard. I’m sorry, babe. But until things settle down with the cartel, it’s probably for the best.”
A pained expression contorted her features. “We’ve never been away from each other for more than a week or so. Other than when I was...” She cleared her throat. “I just—I can’t fathom not talking to her. Not knowing if she’s safe.” Her lip trembled. “They told her it could take months or even years before they make arrests or they’re certain the cartel isn’t after her.”
Rami brought her hand to his lips. “They’re right. We still need to be careful. The good thing is that the cartel isn’t interested in you. They’ll be searching for Todd—”
“I’m not worried about me.”
“I know. Let’s look at it this way—right now, things are still volatile. I promise I’ll do everything in my power to make sure she’s not hidden away for years. But considering everything that happened, we’re all lucky to be alive.”
She closed her eyes, and tears trickled through her eyelashes. His chest constricted with the need to take away her sadness, to make everything right in her world, but on this, his hands were tied.
Ivy let out a shuddering breath and wiped her tears with the heel of her hand. His heart twisted even more. “It all makes sense now. Wayne told me I was collateral damage. He kept saying they had to make my family pay. I didn’t even connect the dots.”
Jesus, he hated what she’d endured. Hated she’d been so alone, expecting to die or be tortured any minute. The thought tore at his composure.
He’d do anything to erase what she’d been through. He couldn’t, but he could devote each day to loving her, to replacing the fear and anxiety with goodness.
“I’m going to say goodbye.” She went to her sister and pulled her into an embrace.
Gigi’s cries matched Ivy’s, and Rami cursed the fact that he was in this goddamn bed. That he hadn’t done more to deter the cartel. Maybe if he’d just gotten Fernando to take Todd and the hundred grand, they’d have been pacified and Gigi wouldn’t be in danger.
Gigi’s arms fell away from Ivy and she approached the bed, her hands knotting in front of her. “Thank you for protecting us. I’m sorry you’re hurt.”
“What, this?” He nodded at the dressing on his shoulder. “It’s nothing.” Letting his smile fall, he met her eyes. “You’ll be safe with them. We’re going to do everything we can to get you home and out of witness protection.”
Her chin trembled, and her jaw tightened to stop the movement. “Thank you.” She rolled in her lips and looked to the floor before meeting his gaze. “I hate to ask this, but...” Her voice dropped to a barely there whisper. “That money. Did you give it to Fernando?”
“No. It’s still yours.”
Relief washed over her face. “Can you keep it safe until I return? I don’t even know how I’ll get on my feet again. My business will be dead in the ground.” Sorrow filled her hazel eyes.
“Say no more.”
“I appreciate it.” She placed her hand on his good shoulder. “Take good care of Ivy, please.”
“With my life.”
She dipped her head, and when she turned around August was in front of her. Rami watched as he brought a finger to her cheek, murmured something, and backed away. A few minutes later Gigi left with the U.S. Marshals.
Ivy returned to the side of his bed. She took one of his hands in both of hers and brought her cheek to their joined hands. “I love you,” she said.
He pulled her close to his good side and kissed her temple. “I love you, too.”
He’d make it his life’s mission to bring her happiness. She’d been through too much pain, and temporarily losing her sister would be an added weight on her slender shoulders. A weight he’d move heaven and earth to lift.
She smiled. “It’ll be hard, but as long as she’s okay, I know we’ll get through this.”
“That’s my girl.”
She chuckled. “When can we go home? I can’t wait to just get settled with you. I thought more about what you said. I want to move in immediately—if you’ll have me.” She sniffed, and a smile broke through the wall of tears in her eyes. “I can’t imagine going a day without you. And this has nothing to do with Gigi leaving. I want to be with you every minute for the rest of my life.”
Happiness swelled inside his chest like an inflating balloon. Ivy had done more than bring him joy—she’d brought back a piece of him that he’d thought had died a long time ago.
His heart.
He moved his thumb over her bruised cheekbone. “I’d have it no other way.”