Page 105 of Bittersweet Revenge

That crazy bitch had really planned on killing me. If it hadn't been for Esmeralda, I would have been gone.

“That really doesn't look comfortable.”

I opened my eyes wide and looked at the most beautiful eyes in the world. My heart finally started to beat normally again.

“Then please stop trying to die on me – three times is the maximum I can endure losing you for a lifetime.” I stood up and winced at the pain shooting through my back and legs. “Are you thirsty?” I asked.

She looked at the pitcher of water like it was the gift of life and nodded eagerly. Her voice had been thick and gravelly, most likely due to both the prolonged sleep and dry throat.

I poured her a glass and sat gently on the bed by her head. Sliding my arm under her back, I helped her rest her head against my shoulder. Lord, how would I ever be able to live without her by my side?

You might have to. You might have to be the bigger person and let her go,my conscience claimed. It was a voice I’d always ignored before. I'd had it smothered, but she had revived it. Oh, the irony of it all…

“How long have I been out?” she asked after taking a long drink.

“Two days,” I replied, kissing her forehead.

“Your father? Oh God, Caleb.” She shook her head against my arm. “I killed him, didn’t I?”

Was she crazy? I looked down at her. The man had organized her mother’s murder and she felt bad? I frowned. “Do you remember what happened?”

She blinked back her tears. “Mostly.”

I sighed, kissing the crown of her head. “You didn't kill him; White did. And she would have killed me if it wasn’t for you Esmeralda. In retrospect I think it was a good trade-off.”

“No, I know that. It’s just–”

“Listen, Angel, listen to me carefully. He was a very bad man who did terrible things. He was happy only when he destroyed and hurt others. He had your mother killed, Esmeralda, and Lord knows who else.” I tightened my hold around her shoulders, resting my cheek on top of her head. “He had it coming and it was what he deserved. You saved my life, but you can’t ever do that again, okay? Never put yourself in danger for me or anyone else. I don’t think I could live in a world you’re not in.”

She nuzzled into my neck silently and I loved that. I loved that she was seeking me for comfort. “What about White?”

“She got arrested, but she killed herself in the cell. She'd lost the source of her obsession by her own hand. She wasn’t equipped to deal with that.” I didn’t specify that I was almost certain her suicide had been a cover-up. She'd known too much, but Esmeralda didn’t need the added burden – not all truths had to be revealed.

“Let’s just ring for the doctor, okay? Just to make sure everything is fine.” I reluctantly removed myself from the bed and pressed the buzzer.

“What are you doing?” she asked when I reached for my phone.

“Texting your brother.” I sighed. “He’s going to be so pissed at me.” Well more than he'd previously been. I'd thought he was going to kill me when Esmeralda was put into an ambulance. I rubbed at my jaw, wincing at the phantom pain of his fist.

I hadn’t defended myself. I'd deserved it. I was the one who used Esmeralda for this investigation. Willingly or not, I'd put her in danger.

“Why would Archibald be mad at you?”

Take your pick. “Because I’d only just convinced him to go home and rest. Oh well.”

“He’ll be okay.” She smiled reassuringly.

Dr. Willis walked in with a nurse. “Miss Forbes, we really need to stop meeting like this.”

She nodded with a small smile. “It’s the last time, I promise.”

He looked at me expectantly and I sat on the chair. Crossing my arms on my chest, I made my intentions clear.

“He can stay,” Esmeralda offered as the doctor started his assessment.

“You got lucky, Miss Forbes. Once again you defied the odds,” he said, draping his stethoscope over his shoulders.

And thank fuck for that! I wanted to say. At least life was not fucked up enough to take away the only good thing left in it.

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