Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39513 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39513 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
Dillon nods, turning to sprint back to his SUV.
I reach the ambulance and carefully settle Heidi onto the stretcher as soon as the paramedic, Steven, flings the door open for me. "I need oxygen over here!" I bark at him.
He immediately rushes to grab a mask for her.
“Get one for the dog, too,” I demand, glancing down at Rivin. He saved my whole world today. I sink a hand into his thick fur, exhaling a shaking breath. “Jesus, Rivin. I owe you."
The dog grins up at me, tongue lolling as he pants for breath.
“We need to get her to the hospital,” Steven says, recalling my attention.
"Alessandro," Heidi whimpers, fear in her voice. Soot streaks her heart-shaped face, her green eyes glassy and afraid. "Please don't leave me."
"Never, angel." I cup her cheek, pressing my forehead to hers as I hop into the back of the ambulance with her, Rivin scrambling in beside me. "I'm not going anywhere. I promise."
My whole universe has shrunk down to this brave, beautiful woman clinging to me like I'm her lifeline. And I am. I will be. Forever.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
The steady chirp of the heart monitor fills the sterile hospital room, but I barely hear it over the roaring in my own head. Heidi is nestled in the narrow bed, an oxygen cannula looped under her nose, an IV threading into her arm. But she's alive. Breathing. Safe.
I haven't left her side since she was wheeled in here. Wild horses couldn't drag me away. Rivin either. The vet had to come here to look him over. As soon as we tried to get him to go, he made it clear he wasn’t fucking budging from this room without Heidi.
He’s currently curled up at the foot of her bed, his head resting on his giant paws. I’m not even mad about it. He saved her life today. If he wants to stay by her side permanently, I’m not going to say a goddamn word of complaint. He can do whatever the fuck he wants for as long as he wants, as far as I’m concerned.
All of Heidi’s sisters, her brother, and her brothers-in-law were here earlier. The doctor kicked them out, declaring them too noisy for her emergency room. Truthfully, I think she just wanted Heidi to get some rest, and that was never going to happen with her sisters here.
As soon as they left, the doctor slipped a little anxiety medication into Heidi’s IV to help her sleep. She’s been passed out for hours, but I can’t shut my fucking mind off.
Dillon is still out there, searching for Don. If he doesn’t find him soon, I may lose it.
"Mm, 'Sandro?" Heidi stirs, her scratchy voice tugging me out of my spiraling thoughts.
"Hey, Sunshine." I smile down at her, combing gentle fingers through her tangled hair. Even the hospital lighting can't dim her radiance. "How are you feeling?"
"Thirsty," she croaks. "And my throat hurts. But you're here, so I'm perfect." Her smile is weak but genuine.
"I'll always be here, angel." I press a soft kiss to her temple, just breathing her in. The faint scent of smoke still clings to her hair, but underneath is pure Heidi—warm sugar and sunshine. "You're never leaving my sight again."
"'Kay," she sighs, snuggling against my chest. I wrap myself around her, mindful of the wires.
For a long moment, I just hold her, memorizing every single perfect inch of her—the soft puff of her breath against the side of my throat, the comforting weight of her in my arms, the way her fingers play through the hair at the nape of my neck. My whole world, safe and sound.
I didn't think it was possible to love anyone this much, but Heidi crashed into my life and changed everything. She's not just my heart—she's my soul, my present, and my future. I'll burn the world down before I let anything happen to her again.
"Marry me," I blurt.
Heidi's eyes fly wide open, and I curse inwardly.
Smooth, Banger. Real smooth.
But I'm not taking it back. Not now, not ever.
"W-what?" she stutters. "Alessandro, what did you just say?"
I frame her face in my hands, stroking her soft cheeks with my thumbs. "Marry me, Heidi Marsh. Make me the happiest man in the goddamn world. Today, tomorrow, forever."
Tears shimmer in her emerald eyes. "You're serious," she whispers. "This isn't the smoke inhalation talking?"
"I wasn’t the one in the fire, Sunshine.” I groan at the reminder. That’s never going to be an easy memory. For the rest of my fucking life, it’s going to haunt me.
“Oh, right,” she whispers, her dilated eyes wide. “You’re serious?”
"Completely fucking serious." I capture her mouth in a searing kiss, pouring every single thing I feel for her into it, right down to my damn soul. "Say yes. Please."
"Yes," she breathes against my lips. "Yes, yes, yes!"