She woke with a scream on her lips, her body bathed in perspiration.
“Cara, shh, it’s all right, I’m here.”
She blinked at the man beside her, her heart pounding like a wild thing. For a moment, one strange moment, she thought she was staring at the wolf from her nightmare.
“Vince!” With a cry, she flung herself into his arms.
“It’s all right, darlin’. It was just a bad dream.”
She nodded, her arms tight around him. “But it was so real.”
He brushed her hair away from her face and then lightly stroked her back. “I’m here.”
She looked up at him, her beautiful blue eyes wide and scared. “Don’t leave me, Vince. Promise me you’ll never leave me.”
“I’ll always be here, darlin’,” he promised. “For as long as you want me around.”
She kissed his cheek, and then she smiled. “Then you’ll always be here.”
Vince was gone when Cara woke in the morning. Sitting up, she pressed the pillow he had used to her face and sighed as she breathed in his now-familiar scent. She had it bad, she thought. Really bad, when just the thought of him brought a smile to her face and caused her heart to pound as if she’d just run a marathon.
Last night he had promised he would never leave her…happiness welled inside her, and then she was overcome with a wave of guilt. What right did she have to be so happy when Di Giorgio was lying in the hospital in intensive care?
Rising, she took a quick shower, dressed, had breakfast, and drove to the hospital. When she reached intensive care, the nurse advised her that Frank had been moved to a private room on the second floor.
Cara thanked the nurse and took the elevator down to the second floor. She found Di Giorgio sitting up in bed reading the newspaper. Bouquets of flowers and baskets of fruit occupied every inch of available space.
He looked up when she entered the room. “Miss DeLongpre.”
Cara shook her head. “Honestly, Frank,” she said as she drew a chair closer to the bed, “don’t you think it’s time you called me Cara?”
“I’m surprised you’re speaking to me at all,” he muttered bleakly.
“What are you talking about?”
“I failed you.” He shook his head, his eyes filled with self-condemnation. “The first time you really needed me, and I failed you. Maybe it’s time I retired.”
“You didn’t fail me. I’d probably be dead now if it wasn’t for you.”
He snorted softly. “And I’d be dead if it wasn’t for whoever, or whatever, jumped those hoods.”
Cara frowned. What did he mean, “whatever”? “It was Vince,” she said.
“If you say so.”
“What are you talking about? I saw him.”
“If you say so. Whatever I saw had eyes as red as hellfire. And it growled.” He shook his head. “I could have imagined it, I guess.”
“You must have,” Cara said, but even as she spoke the words, she remembered standing on the balcony of her bedroom and seeing a pair of red eyes staring up at her from the yard below. “I’m so sorry this happened.”
“I’m sorry I let you down.”
Cara shook her head. The man had been shot while protecting her and he felt he had failed. “If you hadn’t been there, it would have been a lot worse. Now, stop blaming yourself and just get better.”
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Do you need anything, Frank?”
“Are you kidding? Your father’s taking good care of me. I told him I was well enough to go home, but he told me to stay put for a day or two. Not only that, but he’s having all my meals catered so I don’t have to eat hospital food.” He snorted softly. “I get new flowers or a fruit basket every hour. I’ve had so many, the nurses are giving them to other patients. In addition to all that, your father gave me a raise.”
Cara smiled, pleased that Frank was being well taken care of. She had come to the hospital expecting to find him at death’s door; instead, he looked as strong and fit as ever.
Rising, she took his hand and gave it a squeeze. “If there’s anything I can do for you, let me know.”
He nodded. “Thanks for coming.”
“I’m sure my folks will be by later tonight,” she said, and wondered if Frank knew that his employers were vampires.
Di Giorgio nodded. “You be careful out there.”
“I will.”
After pulling out of the hospital parking lot, Cara glanced in her rearview mirror. For the first time in years, Di Giorgio wasn’t behind her. It seemed odd not to have him following her. For years, she had thought it was foolish of her parents to insist she have a bodyguard. Now that he was gone, she felt suddenly vulnerable—and guilty. Frank Di Giorgio was in the hospital and it was all her fault.
At home again, she called a florist, and even though Frank didn’t need any more flowers, she ordered a bouquet to be sent to his room. And then, knowing he had a sweet tooth, she called the best candy store in the city and asked them to send him a two-pound box of assorted chocolates. It wasn’t much, but it made her feel better.
After kicking off her shoes, she opened a couple of windows, then took the trash outside and dumped it in the barrel, only to hurry back inside when she heard the phone ringing.
She grabbed the receiver, hoping it was Vince, felt her heart skip a beat when she heard his voice.
“Hey, darlin’, where’ve you been? I’ve been calling you all morning.”
“Oh, I went over to the hospital to see Frank.”
“How’s he doing?”
“He looks fine. He’s in a private room.”
“How are you?”
“I’m okay.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.” She smiled into the receiver. “Will I see you later?”
“You bet.”
She heard the sound of a horn honking in the background.
“Blast, I’ve got to go,” Vince said. “I’ve got a customer. I’ll see you soon.”
“All right. Bye.”
“Bye, darlin’.”
Sarah Beth’s eyes widened in horror when Cara told her what had happened the night before.
“You could have been killed! Or worse! Are you all right?” Sarah Beth’s narrow-eyed gaze moved over Cara from top to bottom. “You must have been terrified!” she exclaimed.