Rushing to where she’d left her cell, she dialed 911 with fumbling fingers. She spouted off her name and address, stressing that there was an officer down, knowing they’d get there faster for one of their own. Susan sprinted back to his side, raining kisses all over his bruised and bloodied face. She didn’t care. She hadn’t even noticed.
“You better not even think of leaving me like this. We haven’t even gotten a chance to start this thing we have between us.
“Stay with me, okay… I’m helplessly in love with you.”
Susan stopped her declaration when she caught sight of a weak smirk rising on Dominick’s face.
“I knew it. You’re crazy about me.”
She half-laughed, half-cried as he placed his hand over hers and opened his eyes. “I think I’m going to be okay, sweetheart. Just warn me next time you nearly rip me in half with that sheet, all right?” Dominick’s laugh was weakened, but his eyes shone brightly as he gazed up at her. “He hit me too far to the right so the bullet went straight through. I’m not going anywhere… not today anyway.” He cast a devilish grin at her and winked.
“Help me up. We’ve got to get Alex out of this room. We’ll wait for the paramedics and my chariot to the ER in the front room.”
Susan was surprised he could still manage a sense of humor at a time like this. She struggled under his dead weight as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and leaned heavily on her for support. Susan made it down the hallway with some effort and nearly dropped him on the couch, unable to bend over with his weight pulling her down without falling over.
Rushing into the back room, Susan gently opened the closet door. Her heart broke and her spirit sank at the sight of Alex covering his ears, eyes tightly pinched shut, his little body rocking back and forth. He was going to need lots of counseling after this, and she was positive he’d be sleeping in her bed for a long time as they both battled the nightmares that were sure to come after all of this.
Susan scooted inside and approached the traumatized boy, careful not to startle him more. Brushing her fingertips delicately over the skin of his trembling forearm, she cooed, “You’re so brave, Alex. It’s safe now, honey. You can come out now.”
Her appraisals drew him out of his meditations, and fat tears rolled down his reddened cheeks. He hesitated before looking her straight in the eyes, something he’d hardly ever done. Susan stressed adamantly now that she had his full attention. “I’m so proud of you, Alex.”
The terrified boy catapulted himself into her waiting arms and wrapped his tightly around her neck. Susan placed her hand over his eyes as she lifted him up and out of the closet. She carefully stepped over Dalton’s unrecognizable form lying on the soiled carpet, face down in a pool of his own blood. She dropped her hand from his eyes once they made it into the front room.
Dominick had removed his soiled shirt and used it to cover the seeping bloodstain that showed on the sheet, as he didn’t want to scare Alex anymore than he was already. Seeing her worried expression as she sat down beside him, Dominick attempted to calm her. “It’s over, Susan. The nightmare is over.” Dominick gazed at the brave woman who’d overcome her fears and fought so hard to save all of their lives. He was in awe of her.
Capturing her quivering chin, he lifted her gaze so that she was looking at him straight on. Determined to stop her from second-guessing her actions, he stressed each word sternly. “You did good back there. You’re a very brave woman, sweetheart.”
Disagreeing with his assessment, she tried to cast her eyes downward.
“If only I’d acted quicker, not froze, you wouldn’t have gotten shot and almost killed.”
Not allowing her to break their connection, Dominick lifted her chin again and placed a soft kiss on her quivering lips. “Not everyone can act the way you did under pressure, especially when terrified. I’m proud of my woman.” He smiled when she quirked an eyebrow at his last words. “And I love you, too, Suzie Q.”
Rolling her eyes at his playful tone, she listened as Dominick continued his declaration before he lost his nerve. He wasn’t very eloquent when talking about how he really felt. Being a cop, he’d gotten used to keeping a poker face… not giving anything away.
“Susan, I’ve thought of nothing else but you since last year when I helped you break free from Dalton. The moment you opened your door to me, the second I laid eyes on you, I was a goner. There is nothing I want more in this world than you in my arms.”
Leaning in, Susan closed her eyes, waiting for the kiss she knew was coming. Instead, they were interrupted by stifled giggles and little grunts from Alex.
Susan thumbed at her brother. “Are you ready for this? I come with a heavy responsibility. We’re a packaged deal,” she asked with challenge in her tone, egging him on.
Dominick smirked at the beautiful, brave, blonde who’d captured his heart, knowing she was finally his. “I’ve been waiting for a family all my life, sweetheart. It’s about time you finally show up.”
The paramedics rushed in like an orchestrated flurry of commotion and whisked Dominick away to the emergency room. Thankfully, Alex’s caregiver picked him up so that Susan could ride along with Dominick. The frightened girl wouldn't let him out of her sight until she was assured that he'd be all right.
Dominick was more than a little pissed off that they wouldn’t let him walk to the ambulance. They forced him onto the gurney and strapped him in tight. Susan climbed inside, tearing up as she watched the first responders hook him up to monitors and an IV line. Scooting in as close as they'd allow, Susan ran her hands through his sticky hair and kissed his forehead.
“This is fucking ridiculous. I can’t even hold your hand or kiss you back.” Dominick cursed at the men closest to him. “I’ll have you in my arms soon enough, sweetheart. Try not to worry. I’ll be just fine.”
Susan wiped at her tears. She didn’t want him to worry about her, or anything else for that matter. Choking back the stress of holding in her pain, she smiled down on him.
“Can you take a leave of absence after this, Detective? I think we should get away… go on vacation. Just the two of us.”
Dominick moaned as he imagined being alone with her; that tempting thought would be enough to bring him back from the dead. “Oh, vacation sounds fucking great, Suz.” He smirked up at her devilishly. “As long as it’s somewhere hot enough that you’d have to wear a bikini the whole time.” He gave half a wink, his pain medication now kicking in and causing Dominick to grow drowsy.
Susan continued to whisper all the things they’d do once he was out until long after he’d passed out. “I’ll wear whatever you want. I’ll even let you pick which one you like best.” She placed another kiss on his forehead and sighed, praying silently to herself that she was worrying for nothing.
Once at the hospital, the rushed orchestra of commotion was back in full force once they pulled up, hopped out, and rushed him inside, leaving Susan chasing after them. She was forced by hospital personnel to stay behind and wait in the waiting room because she wasn't immediate family.
Her nerves were on edge as she waited… and waited, pacing the floor around the large open room. After what seemed like hours, Susan was informed he’d been rushed into surgery, leaving her to imagine the worst case scenario. More time passed, and Susan watched as the shadows cast by the sun through the windows slowly made their way across the room before finally setting.
Her relentless path not only wore out the now matted down carpet, but it wore her out as well. Exhaustion fought to bring her down and out, but the stubborn girl fought back with every bit of strength she had left. She wanted to be awake the moment the doctor came in with news.
The ticking of the second hand on the industrial sized clock mounted on the far wall nearly drove her mad, before the doctor finally pushed through the double doors and removed his face mask. Susan sprinted, meeting him half way.
“How is he? How bad was he hurt?”
The doctor raised his hand, let
ting her know he was about to answer all her questions.
“The bullet went in the right side of his upper abdomen. The trajectory was at a diagonal and collided with his rib, then exited out the back. He was lucky it missed all his vital organs. The bullet only damaged his rib, which was shattered all around his liver. We removed all the pieces and triple-checked his organs while we were inside to be on the safe side. His other organs suffered no damage. He’s going to be okay.”
Susan released a relieved breath during his assessment. “Oh, thank God! When can I go up and see him?”
“They’re moving him into recovery. You can go up and see him after he’s come to from the anesthesia.”
Not knowing what else to do, Susan leaped into his arms, hugging the doctor tight. “Thank you!” she choked out through her hoarseness.
After ten more minutes of impatient pacing, a soft-spoken nurse walked in with a kind smile. “This way, Miss. I’ll take you to him. Dominick will be groggy since he is just coming out of anesthesia, and it’s not uncommon for patients to go in and out of consciousness while talking, so do not be alarmed if he dozes in and out.”
The woman was walking too slowly. Susan desperately wanted to breeze past her and sprint down the impossibly long hallway. Like a mirage, it seemed to extend farther and farther with no end in sight. When she saw the room number a few rooms down, Susan pushed past her in as gentle a way as she could.
Rushing to his side, she gently grasped his chilled hand and clutched it close to her heart. Susan murmured to the man she’d fallen so hard for, “I was so scared out of my mind worrying for you. I’m so relieved you’re okay.” The overly emotional and mentally exhausted girl rained kisses up and down his neck and face, bathing Dominick in her tears.
“Hey now, Suzie Q, I’m all right… fit as a fiddle. Don’t you cry, sweetheart.” His body, still under the effects of the anesthesia, had his eyes half-closed and his words slurring. His lazy smirk put a smile on her face; he was so adorable like this.
She leaned in, brushing her lips against his with all the passion she’d been forced to hold in while sitting through his surgery. Her eager kisses successfully brought him out of his drugged haze. Dominick’s eyes sluggishly focused on hers, warming her from the inside out. Susan dove in once she was positive he was fully aware. This kiss was needy and somewhat aggressive as she crushed her lips to his, awakening his dominance. The carnal need he had for Susan that’d been barricaded deep within him for so long was finally unleashed.
The bed-bound man gripped the back of her neck with his IV-tubed hand, ignoring the pinching resistance in order to take control and keep her in place. Even in a hospital bed, Detective Dominick Antonelli was in control, domineering, and exuded powerful authority, and she was completely under his spell. Susan’s toes curled as he nipped at her plump bottom lip, sucking it into his mouth. Susan gasped at his erotic aggressiveness, letting out a soft moan. Their hot breath mingled together in the symphony of their panting.
Dominick wasted no time delving his impatient tongue deep inside to unite with hers. He dipped it in and out, teasing her with his arousing rhythm. With each stroke of his tongue, Susan willingly gave herself over to the suggestive sensations that engulfed her.
A nurse entered, drawing their attention away from each other with a series of loud, fake coughs. Reluctantly, Susan pried her eyes away from Dominick and turned her face to meet the unwanted intruder. “Can we help you?”
The nurse smiled awkwardly. “Um, you’re making my patient’s vitals jump off the charts, Miss.”
Susan flushed scarlet. Slowly, she climbed off of Dominick and sat in the chair next to the bed, turning her head in embarrassment.
How in the world did I end up straddling the poor man? Geez, Suz, get a grip on yourself.
Dominick laid back, bringing his hands up to rest leisurely behind his head, a devilishly cocky grin plastered across his face.
“Busted. What can I say, the ladies can’t keep their hands off me, nurse.”
Susan slapped him, causing an impressive SWACK sound from the impact of her hand on his bare arm, then immediately flew to the area and kissed it. “Oh my God, that was stupid! I’m sorry.”
Dominick’s chest vibrated as his laugh shook the bed. The nurse rolled her eyes at the pair and tossed over her shoulder as she left, “Just take it easy, all right, Detective? If not, I’ll bring the big burly orderly in here to sedate you.” The nurse winked at Susan and left.
Their eyes found each other immediately. The couple gazed at one another intimately for a few uninterrupted minutes before Dominick spoke. “I can’t wait to get out of here. All I want to do is wrap my arms around you all night long. I’ve dreamt of waking up every morning with you nestled by my side.”
Susan’s eyes drifted shut. “I can’t tell you how much that means to me. I thought all this time you’d leave after the job was finished, and I feared I’d never see you again.”
Shaking his head in disbelief, Dominick drew her into his warm arms and held her as tight as he was able with such an injury. “I’m here to stay, Suzie Q. I would’ve just made an excuse to stay longer. You’re stuck with me.”
Susan nuzzled closer, laying her head on his chest. “I love you.”
They stayed like that for a while before a knock on the door interrupted their contented embrace. In strolled Giddeon, pushing Eva through in a wheelchair.
“Hey, Dom. We were really worried about you. How’re you feeling?”
Susan froze on the spot at the sight of the second most fearful man she once worked with. It’d been more than a year since he’d stormed her office and threatened her life, and the life of her brother… She hadn’t forgotten. He still terrified her, and she never wanted to be in the same room as him ever again.
Dominick squeezed her hand, lacing his fingers through hers, connecting them. “I’m doing fine. I’ve got the best caretaker a man could ask for.” The smile and loving stare he cast over at the trembling and fidgeting girl gave him away.
Giddeon smirked. “Are you two together, now?”
Dominick attempted to lighten Susan’s spirits with a weak joke. “I finally wore her down. I can be quite the negotiator.” The warmth that carried over to her from his stare eased her fears a bit. Dominick always made her feel safe, even when laid up in a hospital bed. Susan trusted him, and he said that Giddeon had changed… He’d taken responsibility for what he’d done and accepted the consequences. He’d paid his dues. She knew this but seeing him face to face was still difficult.
Eva took in Susan’s frightened demeanor and avoidance of Giddeon’s presence in the room. She quickly put two and two together. Giddeon's past was a dark and violent one; she knew this. He’d touched on their history in one session, and it wasn’t a pleasant one.
Wheeling herself over, she offered her hand to the trembling girl. “We haven’t met. My name’s Evangelina. I’m actually a counselor at this hospital.” Susan took her hand, and Eva shook it firmly, brightening the room with her brilliant smile.
“I hope he’s not milking this for more attention, the big ‘ol baby.” The room erupted in laughter while Dominick crossed his arms over his chest in mock offense. Her soothing voice, confident smile, and genuinely friendly attitude was infectious. Susan liked her immediately.
“Hello, I’m Susan.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Susan.” Eva kissed both her cheeks in greeting.
“I heard what you did. Very brave of you, Susan.”
Susan shook her head in denial, brushing off the compliment. “No, I just did what anyone would’ve done if in my shoes. I just couldn’t let him kill my family. I wasn’t going to stand by and watch Dalton kill the man… the man I fell in love with.”
Eva smiled up at her as unshed tears glistened in her eyes. Giddeon cast his eyes downward as fresh waves of guilt washed over him. “I couldn’t. I let him kill my parents. She’s right, Susan… you ARE brave. Braver than I ever was.”
Giddeon ran his hands through his dark floppy hair. Dominick took the opening and spoke up for all of them. “The only person responsible for all of the events surrounding us all is now gone. He’ll be rotting six feet under the ground… where he belongs. Dalton used, manipulated, and fucking destroyed every life he ever touched… including all four of us. He used us to get what he wanted. Well, that’s over now. It’s about time we get on with it and start living our lives, free of Dalton Ramsey Claiborne.”
Looking over at the guilt-ridden man, Dominick spoke harsher. “You hear me, Giddeon? You made Ellora a promise, and I’m going to make damn sure you keep it.”
Eva nodded at his speech. “Oh, don’t worry about him, Detective. I’ll keep his ass in line.” She smirked as Giddeon’s head popped up to glare at her.
When she stuck her tongue out, the dark man’s eyes narrowed on her lips and he smiled. “You better watch that tongue, counselor.” Rising to his feet, he stood behind Eva’s chair. He had to be strong for her now; she was going to need it.
The detective finally realized that she was, in fact, in a wheelchair and inquired after her. “So, how are you, Eva? How long are they holding you captive?” Her skin was sickly gray in tone, and darkly marred circles lined both of her eyes. She looked to be in rough shape, despite her positive attitude.
“I was injected with a lethal dose of heroin and a small amount of some kind of poison. I was extremely lucky that my mother was just around the corner and witnessed the whole thing. After my attacker left me to die in that alley, she came to my side and called 911.”
Eva’s expression changed, realizing for the first time how close she came to dying that night. Had she not run after her mother and called out to her, she wouldn’t be sitting here now. No. If she hadn’t have run after her, if she had decided to stay in that church longer, Eva’s body wouldn’t have been found until the next morning.
Past Forgiven Page 16