Page 74 of His Kingdom

“She loves you.” Evie nods. “You would have done the same thing… if you were the one who saw it coming. Right?”

“Of course I would have.” My hands run through my hair. “I don’t know what music she likes. I need to play her music and I don’t know what kind she likes.”

“Charlotte, if you don’t wake up, I’m going to tell him you love Tay-Tay and that’s all you’re going to hear until you wake up,” Evie says to Charlotte, who doesn’t fucking budge. Evie looks at me again. “Why isn’t she waking up?”

“They said she will, in her own time.”

“Well, that time could be now.” Evie nods, like it’s a done deal. Even though we both know it’s not. “She likes country. Just put on any country mix and she will love it.”

Fucking country. Great.I hate country. But I’ll listen to it until my ears bleed if it means she’ll wake up.

“You think she can hear us?” I ask Evie.

She shakes her head. “I don’t know…”

* * *

Four hours later, Evie steps out of the room to get coffee. I can’t leave. My hand grips Charlotte’s tighter. I put her wedding rings back on after they brought her out of surgery. I wasn’t having all these doctors and nurses standing around, thinking she’s not married. I should have let Paulie put that tattoo on her. Maybe I’ll do it myself when she wakes up.

Charlottes fingers move. My head snaps up and my eyes connect with hers. “You’re awake.” I sigh out a breath of relief. “Thank fuck. I was so fucking scared,” I tell her, leaning down to press my lips to the center of her forehead. “I’m so sorry.”

“Am I still dreaming?” Charlotte asks, her face full of confusion.

“No, sweetheart. You’re not dreaming unless I am.”

“I had a dream. I married someone.You.But that’s not real. Men like you don’t fall for girls like me, so I’m definitely still dreaming.” She smiles at me.

“I didn’t just fall for you, Mrs. Giuliani. I jumped over that cliff without a rope. There’s no undoing it. I love you.”

“I love you,” she says. “Are you okay? You weren’t hurt, were you?”

“I’ve aged at least fifty years from the worry. Don’t ever do that again. You are not allowed to risk yourself for anyone,” I tell her.

“Mmm, you’re not my dad. You can’t tell me what to do,” she says. “I need…”

“What? What do you need?”Shit!I press the call button for the nurses or doctors or whoever. They should know she’s awake.

“Water,” Charlotte rasps out, and I immediately reach for a plastic cup. I fill it with some ice water from the pitcher and drop a straw inside before I hold the whole thing up to her mouth.

“Don’t move,” I tell her.

Charlotte sips at the straw until the room is rushed by a crowd of doctors and nurses. And I am forced to step aside while they all fuss over her.

Evie comes back in shortly after. “Oh my god, you’re awake. Why didn’t you tell me she woke up?” She glares at me. I’m guessing I’m not making the woman’s Christmas card list anytime soon. I also don’t give a shit. Which is why I don’t answer her.

“What are you doing here? You went home,” Charlotte asks Evie.

“I… ah… ran into a little obstacle. We’ll talk about it later. I’m just so glad you’re awake. You scared the crap out of me. Don’t do that again,” Evie tells her.

The doctor leaves after giving Charlotte strict orders not to move from the bed. She looks to me as soon as the door clicks closed again. “What happened? To the guy?”

“Security got him seconds after he fired the shot,” I tell her.

“Why was he trying to shoot you, though?”

“I don’t know. We’re looking into it.”

“Okay. But you’re going to be safe, right? No one is actively trying to kill you?” Charlotte stares at me pleadingly.

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