Chapter 46
After a visit from the sweet faced nurse, I sagged back against the pillows and winced.
My head was throbbing, especially at the temple area.
My fingers ran across the butterfly stitches that had been placed over whatever wound was beneath and my throat felt tight and scratchy.
I had no clue where I was the moment I woke up or what had happened.
It was all blurry. But after everything had been explained to me, my brain stood still in shock.
How am I going to deal with all of this?
“Bella! Thank god!” Arturo belted through the door, crossing the space between us in no time at all.
With a sigh of relief, he wrapped his arms around me.
I inhaled him deep and felt the anxiety in my body lessen.
Layered on top of his usual masculine scent was smoke and blood.
Was he hurt? “I’m so sorry, my love. I’m so fuckin’ sorry.
” He cupped my face, his eyes searching mine with a deep unsettled guilt at their core.
“You don’t need to say sorry. You have nothing to be sorry for.
” I soothed, running my thumb across his cheekbone as he nuzzled his face into my palm.
“You couldn’t have known that was going to happen, none of us could.
Whoever wanted to hurt me to hurt you would have found a way, so please don’t…
No matter how you feel, this isn’t your fault. ”
“But Bella?—”
“No buts. I don’t want to hear it, do you understand me?
” He nodded. Even if he understood, I knew today would slowly eat away at him and he would be sucked back in a cycle of sleepless nights and ridiculous laps around the lake at ungodly hours.
I couldn’t let that happen. Arturo didn’t deserve to thrust himself back into that dark place.
“Yeah,” he said with a small smile. “How you feelin’?”
“I’ll be fine, trust me. Just a few scratches and some smoke inhalation. Nothing to worry about.” I squeezed his hand in mine, this was the only medicine I needed.
Him.
“Your dad has gone back to the house to get you a few things and your mum has gone to get you somethin’ nice to eat rather than the shit they serve up here, so…
it’s just you and me.” He ran his fingers through my hair that absolutely stank of smoke, not that he cared.
“Bella?” He swallowed, taking a breath as his eyebrows scrunched together.
“There’s somethin’ I need to tell you?—. ”
“Can I go first?” I said, gripping his hand. Whatever he wanted to say could wait. His pupils pulsed in confusion but he paused and waited for me to continue. Thank god, because I knew if I didn’t go first I’d never be able to get the words out.
“Sure,” he smiled, propping himself down onto the edge of my bed. “What is it?”
“I spoke with the nurse before, you know when she came in to check on me,” I breathed, my heart thumping faster than usual.
“Everythin’ alright?” he asked, his eyes becoming tense.
“Yeah, uh… everything’s fine…” I dropped my gaze. This was harder than I could ever have imagined. The not knowing how he was going to react was terrifying.
“You’re scarin’ the shit out of me, Bella.” His fingers tightened around mine. “Can you just tell me what’s the matter?”
“It’s just I-I don’t know how you’re going to feel.” A tear trickled down my cheek. I had tried to hold them but it became impossible. The fear and anxiety was too great.
“Well neither do I until you bloody tell me.” he whispered, ducking down to catch my gaze and stroke the tear away from my face.
“Arturo, I’m pregnant.”