Amore pericoloso

Chapter 3

Katherine

Confusion. Where the hell was I? Why did I hurt so bad? How did I get here? My eyes blinked rapidly as they adjusted to the morning light that was shining in through the window next to the bed I was laying in. The blankets felt rough and foreign, which only made my heart race more. Where the hell was I?

Tentatively, I tried to sit up. I was greeted by a searing pain in my chest that brought tears to my eyes. OW! Why do I hurt so bad? I took stock in the rest of my body, which seemed to check out just fine. I skimmed my hand slightly down my chest, to feel a large bandage. How did this get here? I tried sitting up again as the door flew open.

"Don't try and sit up." he barked sternly. "You may tear your stitches open. Lay back."

I was in shock. Why was I with him? "Stitches?" I managed to squeak out. "Why do I have stitches?"

"It is a long story." he sighed and for the first time, I could see how tired he was. Large bags under his eyes gave away that he had not slept at all. His ice blue eyes were cloudy and his clothes appeared to have blood on them. His face was wrinkled with stress. For a moment, I found myself feeling sorry for him. As I studied him, it hit me.

"Wait I know you!" I exclaimed! "You are the guy from the diner, who ordered the coffee to go! How did I end up with you?"

"I promise I will explain everything, but I need the doctor to look at you first." he said, getting straight to the point. As on cue, a gentleman in a white coat entered.

"Controlla per assicurarsi che sia giusta. È stata sparata al petto e ha perso un sacco di sangue." The man said to the doctor in a language I didn't understand. Was it Italian maybe?

"Lo farà signore. Dammi qualche istante." The doctor replied in the same language. He looked me over and gave a small smile.

"You are one lucky girl to be alive, Miss." the doctor said, in English, to me. I gave a weak smile.

"I'll be honest doc, I don't feel too lucky right about now. " the doctor smiled back at me and went over to the cabinet on the other side of the room.

"Let me see what I can give you to help with the pain, shall we?" the doctor replied and began to rummage through the cabinet. He grabbed some pills and then turned back to me. "These should help take the edge off, for now."

I looked at the pills for a moment. "What are they?" I asked, skeptically. Doctor or not, I don't just take pills for random strangers.

He smiled again. "They are Percocet. They won't hurt you."

I swallowed the pills and laid my head back. The throbbing in my chest was becoming harder to ignore and I wanted to go back to sleep.

The doctor turned back to the man, before saying "Sembra che sta facendo bene, ma è debole. Dobbiamo mantenere la ferita pulita per evitare un'infezione. Dovrebbe andar bene a tornare a casa in un paio di settimane."

The man looked pissed as he relied, "Un paio di settimane? Ho bisogno che lei sia andata adesso. Non riesco a tenerla qui con me. Non è mia responsabilità."

The doctor chuckled. As he was leaving the room he called, "Avresti dovuto pensare a questo prima di averlo girato!" This only infuriated the blue eye man even more. He pinched the bridge of his nose, not moving for several moments.I took the time to study him again. He was tall, probably close to 6 foot. His build was muscular, though he was not large like a bodybuilder. More like someone who spent a lot of time at the gym. He was rather handsome, even despite being so tired.

STOP! I ordered my brain. What the hell is going on? Why am I here? We need answers first. Drool later.

I coughed. "So, umm," I began, "can you tell me why I am here?" I asked.

"Because you were shot."

"How did I get shot?"

"Because I employ idiots." He said matter of fact. My eyes must have given away my fear because his face softened. "Don't be afraid. I'm not going to hurt you."

My whole body tensed. I guess what they say about flight or flight is true. "See, I would like to believe you." I said, taking a deep breath., "But my chest wound is telling me otherwise."

He pinched the bridge of his nose again. "If I wanted you dead I would have let you bleed out on the sidewalk." He let out a long sigh. "I was the one who pulled the bullet out of your chest in a moving car. I saved your life."

"After you put me in danger, though, so does that count at saving it?"

He gave a short laugh. "Smart ass, aren't we?"

"Just pointing out the obvious." I said, putting my hands up. I have to admit though, it was pretty clever.

"I'm Lorenzo, by the way. I haven't properly introduced myself."

"I would say "nice to meet you" but I would be lying." I started to laugh but stopped when the pain began again. "I'm Katherine, but most people call me Katie."

"Well, Katie, you better get some rest. Because when you are better, we have a lot to discuss."