Page 75 of Bleed with Me

“I can’t wait,” Zara beeped, glowing like the brightest star. I kissed her cheek, trying to enjoy her company a little more because it eased the ache in my chest, but her mother’s voice cut me short.

“Zara!” Valeria boomed with a stern expression and hands planted on her hips.

She looked nothing like the woman from yesterday. Color had returned to her cheeks, her posture straight and her shoulders squared in quiet confidence. The white dress hugged her figure perfectly, softening the sharpness in her expression just enough to make the contrast striking. Cherry-red hair fell neatly around her shoulders, framing a face that no longer carried exhaustion. She looked stunning, just as I was used to, but for the first time since I met her, my heart didn’t miss a beat in her presence.

The realization struck me unprepared. Whatever I'd felt for my brother’s wife—platonic or not—was finally cured.

Oh, fuck! This truly was a huge achievement, considering I had planned to use my charm on Valeria after our first meeting if my brother didn’t act on his stalkerish impulses.

“What did I tell you about running away?” Valeria asked in a gentler tone, shaking her head.

“Daddy said this place is safe.” Zara pouted as I put her down. “I can run wherever I want when the place is safe.”

A grin tugged at my lips at her response, but Valeria’s look shut me up instantly. I crouched before Zara, gently taking her hand.

“I’m sure Dad didn’t want you to run away from your mom, princess,” I preached, earning a scoff from her. “And you also can’t run through the hospital halls. It’s not a playground. There are sick people here who need rest.”

“Fiiiine,” she whined, turning to Valeria. “Sorry, Mom. I’ll stay with Aryna.”

She was gone before any of us could object to her running again, sticking her tongue out at me while disappearing around the corner. I laughed, straightening to my full height, yet Valeria’s stern expression wiped the grin from my face.

“Did you tell him?” she asked Malin, who firmly shook his head.

“Tell me what?” I glanced between two frowning faces, but it was Valeria who somehow gave me the creeps. Malin was a grump who had scowling as a default setting.

“Zara and Aryna played a game,” Malin said, not surprising me at all that he spent hours with them. He loved our niece more than anyone in the world and used every opportunity to be with her. “Your little patient revealed that her fall wasn’t accidental.”

“What?” I stared at them, dumbstruck. “She almost died. Who would do that?”

“Well,” Valeria sighed, briefly checking our surroundings. “It looks as if her fifteen-year-old sister pushed her.”

“Fuck,” I exhaled, running a hand through my hair. Still, I knew my brother too well to understand it wasn’t all. “What else?”

“We believe it was a protective act,” Valeria replied instead of him. “Aryna said that her older sister tried to stop him from hurting her.”

“Him?” I echoed, confusion filling my chest.

“Him.” Malin opened his palm, revealing a white USB key, and my stomach dropped.

“Her foster father?” I mumbled, but all I got was a shrug.

“I need your office and half an hour to know more,” he replied in a sinister voice. Someone touched a kid. That someone would suffer—that one was for sure.

“Anything,” I agreed, and Valeria cast me a grateful glance.

“Do something about it,” she whispered, grasping our hands. Malin flinched at the contact, but I squeezed her delicate palm supportively.

“We’ll take care of it.”

-37-

Nina

Mindlessly staring at the busy street through the restaurant window, I prayed for the torture to finally end. Arianna spoke to the catering company, selected the food, drinks, and desserts, but insisted I choose the wedding cake.

The sweet smell of vanilla, raspberry, and chocolate turned my stomach. My fingers clutched the menu, my eyes drifting over words I didn’t process.

I didn’t belong here. Shit! I would do anything to just evaporate into thin air and never look back.