The Arrangement

Chapter Sixteen

Taylor's POV

My eyes flutter open as a white, blinding light wakes me up. My eyes water and I hold my wrapped stomach as I remember the events that took place the evening before.

Panic runs through me as I realize I'm in a hospital bed. I worriedly look around and see Nicolas sitting in an uncomfortable chair while squirming in his sleep.

"Romano?" I question, getting from under the warm covers, seeing a coat of sweat glistening on his forehead.

"No...Mom," he mumbles while turning his head side to side and closing his eyes shut. My eyes widen as he continues to squirm. "No, leave her alone!"

"Nicolas," I exclaim as I realize that he's having a really bad nightmare. I hop out of the hospital bed despite the unbearable pain and rush over to him, kneeling in front of him.

I tap his shoulder and more panic courses through me when he doesn't wake up.

"No!" He suddenly jumps up and grabs me, pushing me hard against the wall and holding my throat tightly.

"Nicolas," I manage to gasp out, grabbing his hand that's wrapped around my neck. I look up at him, his eyes somehow darkened.

He applies even more pressure around my neck, completely shutting off my air pipes.

"Stop," I choke, the room getting darker and darker. Suddenly I regain the air in my lungs, almost making me sigh out in relief.

Nicolas backs away from me, looking down at his hands as if they betrayed him. He looks up at me just then, his eyes widening the slightest bit.

"Taylor?" His eyes immediately soften as he slowly walks closer to me. I press myself into the wall, scared of what he'll do next.

All those thoughts wash away and I instantly relax and calm down when he embraces me in a tight hug, his hands on my waist. "I'm so sorry," he says in a small whisper, so small I almost didn't hear him.

"Nicolas? Are you alright?" I say quietly. I reluctantly bring up my arms, wrapping them around his neck. He mutters something that sounds like, I thought I lost you before sighing.

"You smell good," he says, nuzzling his nose into the crook of my neck, taking deep breaths. "Are you ok?" He asks, his breath fanning against my neck.

"Yeah," I mumble, closing my eyes, resting my head against his broad chest and embracing his warm and soothing touch.

My eyes open when he pulls away from my neck, still holding my hips. My eyes widen and I look at his shoulder.

"Shit, I totally forgot! Are you ok?"

"Yeah," he shrugs. "Once you've been shot so many times, you eventually grow fond of the feeling."

"Oh," I say softly. I look back up at him, seeing him staring at me intensely. Right as he was about to speak, the door swings open.

"Is everyone decent?" A familiar make voice asks.

Gio.

Me and Nicolas look towards the door, seeing Gio covering his eyes with his hands.

I chuckle, earning an amused glance from Nicolas, "Yes Gio."

"Ok, well nice to see that you're okay Taylor. Nicolas was about to go into a fit if the doctors didn't allow him in here to see you," he chuckles, earning a glare from Nicolas. He rubs the back of his neck, clearing his throat.

A knock on the door interrupts our conversation, earning looks from the three of us.

"Taylor Thomas?" A friendly voice asks, an unfamiliar head popping out from behind the door. She steps inside, holding a clipboard while looking at me sadly. "I'm Nurse Keller, it's good to see that you're doing better."