Chapter 47 – Luka
T he steady beat of the machine broke through the blackness of deep slumber. Annoyance flickered through me. If only I could remember how to use my hands, I would break those infernal robots. They were going to rise up and take over someday anyhow. Why not start slaughtering them now?
“He’s waking up,” someone said softly.
I had never been so aware of my tongue. It was thick and heavy, too big for my mouth. I tried to gum it against the roof, but there was no saliva. It scraped.
Something cool brushed against me. It felt nice. I liked it.
Do that again.
“Luka? Can you hear me?” a soft voice insisted.
Why was there a tremor in her words? What was wrong? I was going to kill whoever upset her.
In a desperate surge to find her, I peeled my eyes open. The warm light glowed across the room, not helping bringing everything into focus. I tried again, closing and opening my eyes.
This time, there was a bright face framed in a halo of wild curls.
Beautiful. She was absolutely stunning.
And mine.
“Scared, darlin?” I meant to phrase it as a question, rooting out the cause of her unease.
Her hand rose. Stopped. Fisted. “If you weren’t just out of surgery—where you went into cardiac arrest on the table!—I would slap you.”
My lips twitched. “It’s been quite the day for slapping the poor husband.”
Vivian’s look of anger morphed into one of confused horror.
“Never mind,” I chuckled. “You’ll understand someday—in the sequel.”
Too heavy to keep open, my eyelids dropped.
***
When I pulled myself from sleep again, the lights were mostly gone.
“Why is that thing still beeping?” I snapped.
A bulb blinked on, casting the small area beside me in a golden glow. “Because they’re keeping your dumb ass alive.”
I rolled my head to the side. “I missed you, darlin.”
Vivian yawned and pulled herself out of the lounge chair. She sat down gingerly on the side of my bed. I tried to lift my arm and tug her close. But my limbs were numb and refused to do my bidding.
“How are you feeling?” she asked.
“Like I’m back with the one my soul is entwined with,” I sighed. “I guess I’m lucky. My soul recognized itself in not one but two others.”
“You’re talking crazy again, mister.”
“When am I not?” I laughed. “Fuck, that hurt.”
Vivian frowned. She leaned forward and pressed a button on my bed.
I forced my fingers to obey. It took every drop of strength, but I clutched the edge of her garment. “Vivian?”
She dropped her gaze to mine. “Yes?”
“Why are you wearing a hospital gown?” I tugged on the material. It was a pathetic motion, but at least I could move.
Vivian gulped. “I ended my nightmare. It was messy.”
“Really?” I beamed.
She nodded, reaching down to rub the back of her knuckle across mine. “Your cousins came to rescue me with a squad of bratva, but I’d already rescued myself.”
I don’t know where I found the strength, but I plucked her fingers into mine and brought them to my lips. “That’s my girl.”
The effort cost me. Unconsciousness swallowed me again. But it was worth it just to touch her.