Burn (Indigo) Read online

  ***

  “Miss White?”

  “Miss White, wake up.”

  Cinder opened her eyes and sat up, careful not to disturb Karl. She hoped the nurse didn’t notice the wet spot on his shirt, where she’d drooled.

  The nurse crouched in front of her. “Mr. Piasanti is awake,” the nurse whispered. She grabbed Cinder’s knees, keeping her seated a moment longer. “He’s asked for you. You should go in before everyone else wakes up.”

  Cinder followed the nurse to Gian’s room. She impatiently allowed her to tie a disposable gown on her before she slid open the glass door and approached Gian.

  A thin sheet covered him to his waist. His chest was bare, the wounds in his upper arm and torso bandaged around drainage tubes. Electrode pads stuck to his chest and rib cage monitored his heart, and an oxygen reader was clipped to his right forefinger. A pale green tube snaked around his head and fed him oxygen through his nose.

  The stiff curtains had been opened, and the sunrise washed him in bright, clean light. His pale body gleamed, his chest rising and falling evenly.

  Cinder slipped in among the machines monitoring his vital signs and medication to take his left hand, careful not to move it since his IV line ran into the crook of that arm.

  “My head feels like it’s made of cement,” Gian said in a raspy whisper, his throat raw from the removal of his intubation tube. “I can’t see you.”

  Cinder leaned farther over him.

  “Baby,” he whispered. “I was so worried about you.”

  “I was worried about you, too.” She kissed his temple, his cheek, his ear. The tears she fought to hold back seeped out to wet his pillow.

  “I couldn’t stop him,” Gian said. “I couldn’t protect you.”

  Cinder gazed into his eyes. His humble admission seemed to cause him more pain than his injuries.

  “I pissed my pants.” A tear pushed its way from the corner of his eye.

  “So did I,” Cinder admitted.

  They chuckled sadly over the peculiar bond.

  “I want two minutes with him,” Gian said. “Just two.” Cinder held his hand a little tighter. “He won’t bother us again. He won’t ever bother anyone again.”

  Gian instantly understood her meaning. “You?”

  “The Webster Groves police. It’s over, Gian. All of it. I don’t ever want to look back. When you leave this hospital, I’m leaving with you. When I came to Webster Groves, I told myself it was because I wanted a new start. What I wanted was a place to hide. You gave me the one thing I needed to face my worst nightmare. You gave me knowledge. You taught me how to defend myself and you pushed me to stand, not surrender. You’re my hero, Gian. The fact that you’re here right now proves that Sumchai Wyatt was wrong about every damn thing he ever said.” She laughed. “Even that you’re not bulletproof, ‘cause you’re still here.”

  “I want to go home with you.” His eyes drowsed shut.

  “Then you’re already there,” she whispered, bringing her lips to his. “My home is wherever you are.”

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Burn is Crystal Hubbard’s eighth romance novel for Genesis Press. She is also an award-winning children’s book author. The mother of four, Crystal resides in St. Louis, Mo. She spends her free time promoting cancer awareness and conducting writing workshops for grade school children.