Chapter 36 #2
“Water?” he asks gently, his brows pulled together in a tight line I rarely see on him.
My lips crack as I try to form the word. The effort is excruciating.
“Yes,” I rasp. Barely a whisper. It doesn’t sound like me.
His expression softens. Relief and something like pain etches into the corners of his mouth. He nods and moves quickly, propping me up with surprising care. The cup is cool against my lips, and when the first drop of water hits my tongue, I could cry.
I didn’t know how much I needed this, how close I’d come to slipping away entirely.
I don’t know where I am. I don’t know what day it is. But I know this:
I’m alive.
I sip through the straw, the coolness easing the fire in my throat.
“You good?” he asks, watching me like I might vanish.
I nod and sink back into the pillow, letting my surroundings sharpen.
The door swings open, allowing more light to invade my vision.
“Mr. Bonanno, it’s good to see you awake.”
The voice is calm and light.
I blink, taking her in.
The clipboard, the white coat, the professional smile. Her eyes are sharp and serious. “How are you feeling?”
I clear my throat. Instantly regretting it. “I’ve felt better.”
“I’m Doctor Miller.” She jots something down. “Do you remember what happened?”
Trigger watches her like a hawk.
“Mr. Bonanno?”
“Yes… no.” My thoughts tangle. “I don’t know. ”
“You were shot. You’re lucky to be alive.”
“Lucky?” Trigger spits. “You call this fucking lucky?”
“Sir, I understand your frustration. But I must ask you to keep your voice down. I’ll be monitoring him personally. For now, please try to stay calm.”
I shift my gaze between them. She keeps glancing at the monitor beside me, the incessant beeping pounding at my brain.
What the fuck is she writing?
“I remember… taking Cassie home.”
“Miss Caruthers?” she confirms, scribbling again.
“Do you want me to call her?”
The voice pulls my attention—Hunter. He’s leaning against the wall, phone in hand.
I nod before I can speak. Then my brain catches up. “No!”
He pauses. “Which is it?”
“No.” My words are firm, eyes locked on the ceiling.
“Mr. Bonanno, you suffered a significant amount of blood loss. You’ve been unconscious for the better part of a week,” Doctor Miller adds. “I want to monitor you for a few more days, but the surgery was successful and recovery is already promising.”
I grunt.
She takes it as a win and exits, leaving the three of us.
Trigger slides into the seat I know Cassie once filled. I can still smell her perfume in the air, like she’s still with me.
“She’s at home,” he tells me, answering my unspoken question. “I sent her away. She never left your bedside all week.”
“How is she?”
“No doubt she’s been better,” Hunter scoffs. “Police wanted to speak to her, but she knew nothing.”
Clever girl.
“Keep them away. I don’t need cops sniffing around.”
“You want to handle this?” Trigger asks, already knowing the answer.
“It’s the only way. ”
“I’ll get Max on it.”
I’m glad he understands me without needing everything spelled out. In places like this—sterile, full of strangers and secrets—it’s far too easy for the wrong ears to catch the right words. I keep my voice low, my tone clipped.
“Have him do some digging. See if there is any CCTV around where Cassie is staying. Whoever did this can’t evade every surveillance camera.”
Trigger nods without missing a beat, already a step ahead. “Done. You want her to stay with you?”
The question hangs there, heavy.
Yes. God, yes. I want her close, where I can see her, protect her, convince myself this isn’t all a dream I’m going to wake up from. But wanting her and keeping her safe aren’t always the same thing.
I hesitate, jaw tight. “Just have someone keep an eye on her. Whoever comes after me will know about her and I can’t risk anything happening to her.”
It’s the best I can offer. For her sake.
“Got it.” Trigger starts typing.
“Have Ryder watch Cassie.”
“He’s too flakey at the moment,” Trigger counters.
“He’s got his own shit,” Hunter chimes in. “I’ll do it.”
“Thanks, brother.”
He stands, brushing off his suit.
“Where you going?”
“To get examined by the Doc,” he smirks, then vanishes.
I settle back, finally getting comfortable. My body still feels like a dump truck ran over me, but I’m alive.
I’m already thinking of ways to make the fucker who shot me pay. Though I don’t know who’s behind this, now, I know it’s only a matter of time before Max gets his hands on them.
“You really like her, huh?” Trigger’s voice is low, steady—but his eyes cut straight through me. Sharp. Knowing .
He always sees too much. Reads between the lines I don’t say. And I hate it, because he’s right.
I look away, jaw flexing. Pretending I didn’t hear him would be easier, but what’s the point? The truth’s already there, bleeding into the silence between us.
I’m falling for Cassie. Hard.
And it scares the hell out of me.
She doesn’t belong in this world—my world. She’s light where I’m shadow, soft where I’m all edges. She deserves peace, safety, someone who doesn’t have blood on their hands or ghosts in their closets.
She deserves better.
But I’ve never been good at letting go of things I want. I’m selfish. Always have been. When I want something, I take it.
And I want her.
I want every part of her—her voice, her fire, the way she looks at me like I’m not already damned. Like I could be more.
But wanting her doesn’t make her safe. Not with me. Not with the life I lead.