*Tom* I can't keep the smile from my face as we walk inside, Meri walking half a step in front of me, just in case Luca hasn't managed to calm Lumi down. I can't believe she forgave me and I am not sure I deserve it. Honestly Lumi has every right to be pissed at me for what I did. The relief is like a giant rock that has been lifted from my heart and spirit. I never thought I would leave London, and definitely not for Texas, but if that's what it takes to keep Meri in my life, I am happy to do so. "What happened ?" Meri asks shocked, as we walk in on a bloodbath ... or well Luca covered in blood. Luca makes a pained face. "Someone happened to smash my nose with her elbow". "I am so sorry baby, I didn't mean to ... you were not the one I wanted to hit". Lumi is fretting around him, trying to wash off the blood. "No, I was the one you wanted to hit. I am the one who deserves it". I say, feeling sorry that Luca has to suffer to protect me. Lumi snaps around staring me down in a w
4 days later *Meri* "When are you going to forgive him ?" I look at my sister as we get in the car to go into town. Tom is just inside to get my handbag, and he is of course the 'him' I am referring to, Lumi still refuses to talk to him, and it bothers me quite a lot, as I can see it hurts him. She huffs. "Who says I am going to forgive him ? I still don't get that you forgave him that quickly". "I love him, Lumi ... with all of my heart". I smile as I see Tom walk out the house, he already looks much healthier. "And he made a mistake, we all do. You forgave Luca his mistakes". "That was something entirely different". She turns on the engine to Luca's truck. I stop discussing it when the door opens and Tom slides in beside me, giving me a loving smile. "Here you go darling". "Thanks Tom". I lean in, giving him a soft kiss, ignoring my sister glaring at us. Her mood is worse than usual because Luca is currently in LA for some meetings. Tom gently takes my hand, lacing our fin
*Lumi* "Dammit Tom, you chivalrous fool". I kneel down by his side. Of course he acted like the knight in shining armour, what else could I expect from Tom ? Meri is on his other side, tears streaming down her face as she is squeezing his limp hand. "Please Tom, don't ... don't ... leave me". I lift up his shirt, seeing the blood slowly pulsing from the wound. I might not be a doctor, but this is bad, very very bad. I need to do something or I have no doubt he is going to bleed out. I spot one of the bank workers, yelling at him. "First aid kit ... now". Just as he returns a young police officer kneels down next to me. "It looks like the liver is hit, an ambulance is on the way, but we need to try and stop the bleeding". "Yeah, can you check if there is an exit wound". What help will it be if we stop the bleeding on the front, only to have him bleeding out from the back ? The officer slides his hands under him, gently feeling around. Then shaking his head. "I can't find any exi
*Meri* "He is going to be okay right ? He has to be … please say he will". I know it won't really help to beg Lumi, but I can't stop myself. I need someone to tell me that Tom won't die from me. The idea of losing him now is crushing. She kisses my temple softly, just as we pull up in front of the hospital. "He will fight with everything he has, I know that much. Tom loves you so much, and he wouldn't want to leave you like this". "Come on girls, let me get you inside and to the right waiting room". The young officer, Jacob, says. And even in my despair I can't help but notice how he smiles at Lumi. Yeah forget it kid, she is very much taken. Lumi smiles back at him, putting her arm around me for support. "Thank you, Jacob, it's very kind of you". I almost roll my eyes, damn Lumi, don't lead the poor guy on. But she doesn't even seem to notice the way he beams at her. "Oh it's nothing Lumi, just doing my duty". He hurries to open the door for us and then he hurries up to the re
*Meri* Finally, after what feels like eternity, we are allowed in to see Tom. He is finally out of surgery and it went as well as it could. Lumi seems very quiet, but she might just be feeling bad about everything that happened and I know that right now it won't help telling her that it's okay as it would probably just make it worse. I take a deep breath before walking in, knowing that it will be scary seeing him like this. My strong, vibrant Tom, pale and still, filled with all kinds of electronics keeping an eye on him. "Hi handsome". I go sit down beside him, taking his hand in mine. It's so cold and his face is almost ghostly. He looks so fragile and I am fighting the tears, reminding myself that I got to keep him, that is the most important thing. "I hear you did well in surgery.. now I just need you to wake up for me ... I miss you". Lumi sits down on the other side, looking at him with a small smile. "Yeah we need you to wake up Tom, so I can tell you how sorry I am". "L
*Lumi* I look into those warm eyes, seeing love, hope and a hint of fear ... this is Luca, my Luca and he would never ever do something like that. "I ... I … trust you. I trust you Luca". I smile spread on his lips. "Thank you baby". He breathes out slowly. "I swear by everything holy to me that nothing wrong happened ... and I am going to explain everything when we are alone, okay ?" "Okay ...". Honestly I still can't wait to hear what this is about, but I have to trust him, he is my mussu, my everything. There is a groan and then Meri softly says. "There you are. I missed you". "Where am I ?" Tom's voice is mostly a hoarse croak. "What happened ?" "You were shot, saving me from my own stupidity". I say, hurrying over to his other side. "I am so sorry Tom … also for being such a bitch towards you". He whimpers slightly as he tries to shrug. "It's okay Lumi, I deserved it ... Well maybe not getting shot but … Well let's just forget it". Luca's eyes look like they are about to
4 days later*Meri* "Darling, would you please massage my legs ?" Tom is giving me puppy dogs eyes, even though it isn't needed, I am only happy to do anything to help him. "Sure babe, but you don't want the physiotherapist to do it ? I mean he is trained for this". Tom is doing exceedingly well and was moved to a normal room from the ICU yesterday morning. He shakes his head. "No I prefer you, your gentle hands I can feel". "Okay then". I am unsure if it is true, but he claims to feel my touch and if it is true, or if he just believes it is, well then I am definitely not denying him this. I remove the duvet from his leg and grab the massage creme. Starting with his feet and moving up. He is getting massages several times a day, trying to get the blood flowing and the muscle connection back. So far he can't move his legs. "How is it ?" I ask. I always ask, hoping every time that he will tell me he feels it clearly, that by some miracle his legs are okay. "I can ... kinda feel
*Lumi* As soon as we get home Luca is on me, kissing down my neck as his hands softly knead my ass. Clearly he hasn't forgotten my promise. And okay I might have kept stoking the fire just a bit, so he wouldn't forget. "Damn, sometimes Tom talks too much, I have been thinking about you naked and under me for the last hour". He mumbles as he pulls off my shirt. "I am sure Tom would have loved it if you shared that". I grin at him He grabs me, throwing me up on his shoulder. "Naughty, naughty". "Sit me down your oaf". I wiggle and try to slap his ass. "Hey, behave". He pinches my buttocks making me squeal. Then he carries me into the bedroom. Luca gently puts me down on the bed, then he grabs my leggings, pulling them off, followed by my socks. "You look almost edible". "Come have a taste then". I grin, already feeling breathless when he starts dropping his clothes leaving him only in boxers. "Can I ?" His fingers gracing the strap of my bra and I nod, sitting up. His hands