“No, Vanni,” Emma said. “The accident was just that: an accident. A stranger ran a red light. I know because the police officer investigating the crash told me the man who hit me had been treated at another hospital’s ER. He’s not seriously hurt, and is admitting he ran the light.”

He leaned back and peered at her closely. “So you didn’t wreck because you were upset or from unfocused driving?”

“No,” she said, sidestepping the truth a little and not feeling too guilty about it because she didn’t want to burden him further with rage. The fact of the matter was, she might have been hit whether she’d been distracted by thoughts of Vera, Cristina, and him or not. There wasn’t much you could do when someone barreled through a red light. Besides, she was going to have to tell him the truth about Cristina and how it related to Vera’s threats, she realized with a sinking sensation. He didn’t need any extra fury and helplessness in addition to that. “It was rotten luck and timing, that’s all.”

He nodded after a moment.

“Sit down,” she whispered, scooting over slightly on the cot. He perched his hip on the edge of the mattress. Emma curled around him, still holding his hands fast in hers, but wanting to feel him with as much of her body as she could.

“You’re sure you feel all right?” he asked quietly.

“I’m fine, Vanni. Please believe me,” she assured.

“And you meant what you said earlier?” he asked cautiously.

“About not leaving you?” she asked, squeezing his hand. “Yes. I meant it. That’s all past. I’ll stay with you, for as long as you want me.”

Her heart started to thrum in her ears as he looked down at her with a lancing stare.

“Forever,” he said.

She blinked in shock at his steadfast demand.

“Forever is a long time,” she whispered.

“It won’t be long enough,” he stated grimly before he was leaning down, and she was lost again in his kiss.

The golden-pink light of sunset was peaking around the closed curtains in her hospital room when Amanda and Colin stood to say it was time for them to go. Emma had studied the couple closely during the last few hours, seen the way they communicated with only a glance, the warmth in their eyes when they looked at each other. Maybe it was just her new, profound happiness because of what had happened with Vanni earlier, but Colin and Amanda really did seem right together. It made her feel both glad and heartsore. She’d assumed she was the wronged party when they’d gotten together despite her realization that she didn’t want to be with Colin herself. Maybe, in fact, she’d been the one in the wrong for keeping them apart for all these years, all because she needed the security of Colin.

But all of that was over now, and in the past. When it came time for them to leave, Emma hugged Amanda extra hard.

“I love you,” she said earnestly in her sister’s ear when their heads were close.

Amanda pulled back and studied her face. Tears filled her blue eyes.

“I love you, too,” Amanda said.

Emma put out her arms to Colin, who looked shocked by the gesture. She noticed Vanni’s eyebrows go up in doubtful wariness across the room, but he didn’t say anything. As she watched him over Colin’s shoulder, his guardedness and skepticism slowly faded and was replaced with a small smile.

The couple left them alone. Emma had been placed in a private room—a fact that she firmly believed Vanni was responsible for, even though he’d merely shrugged and changed the subject when she’d asked him about it earlier.

Vanni pulled up a chair close to her bed. A nurse’s aide knocked and entered. She poured a glass of ice water for Emma and left the pitcher on her bedside table. After the aide left, Vanni leaned forward and grabbed Emma’s hand. Emma hadn’t been able to keep her eyes off him all day. He was a miracle to her. The feelings she was having were miraculous, too. Yet all the while in the background, a black, heavy threat hovered. She was going to have to tell him about Cristina, and soon. From what he’d told her about his confrontation with Vera on the phone earlier, Vera might be vindictive and pounce the truth on him at any time.

“How are you feeling?” he asked, the low, gravelly sound of his voice making her skin prickle with awareness.

“Fine. Ready to go home,” she replied with a sigh because he was lazily stroking the skin of her inner forearm, and it felt so good.

“Well you’re going to have to be patient,” he replied, giving her an amused, pointed glance. “Since we have plenty of time, why don’t you tell me what’s bothering you?”

She tensed, her gaze sharpening on him. “What do you mean?”

“There’s something weighing on you,” he said matter-of-factly, still stroking her arm. “You’re not very good at hiding things, baby,” he chastised her when she gave him a forced look of surprise. She grimaced and he gave a gruff laugh. He stood and she scooted over for him to sit on the edge of her bed. He squeezed her hand. “Just say it, Emma. I’m not going anywhere.”

“No?” she asked, attempting to smile but not succeeding very well, given the way his gaze narrowed on her face with concern.

“Not a chance. I’ve told you I’m not letting you go. I’m willing to face death again, if I have to, that’s what today taught me . . . that’s what last night did.”

“Last night?” she asked curiously.

He gave her a stern glance. “I’ll tell you about it another time. Right now, you talk about what’s on your mind. Does it have to do with something Vera said that night you came to the Breakers to meet me, and I asked her to find you and tell you we were landing a little late? I wasn’t sure you’d picked up my phone messages.”

“A little late?” Emma asked, surprise temporarily making her forget the anxious topic. “She told me you wouldn’t be returning that night.”

“She lied,” he stated flatly. “She was likely lying about whatever it was that she said to spook you as well.”

Emma recalled the official-looking birth certificates. “I wish she was lying,” she whispered. An image of Vera waving those pieces of paper in front of her face sprung up in her mind’s eye. For the first time, she realized Vanni’s aunt had gone and gotten the birth certificates on purpose. She’d known Emma would be at the Breakers, alone and vulnerable, and she’d prepared for battle. Maybe Vanni saw something on her face, because he squeezed her hand. Her gaze flickered to his face.

“Tell me,” he said.

“It’s just . . . you’re . . . you’re not going to like it, Vanni.”

“Does it have to do with you?” he asked, his blue-green eyes looking like gleaming crescents as he peered down at her through narrowed lids.

She shook her head, looking away from his stare.

“Emma, as long as you’re fine and you’ve given up on this crazy idea about not seeing me anymore, I can take it,” he said. “Everything else is a breeze compared to thinking something had happened to you, worrying I was never going to have the chance to see you again.” His finger brushed across her jaw. “Touch you. Tell you how I really felt about you,” he said more quietly.

She went still beneath his caress. “And . . . how is that, again?”

“Are you trying to sidestep the issue?” he asked quietly, humor quirking his mouth.

“Maybe a little,” she admitted, meeting his stare earnestly.

A smile quivered on his firm lips. Her love for him swelled like a balloon expanding in her chest, threatening to burst.

“Maybe you’re right,” he said, his fingertip brushing across the bridge of her nose. “There’s nothing more important than what’s happening between us.”

“Really?”

He looked at her, his heart in his eyes, and shook his head. “You’ve hauled me into the world of the living again, Emma . . . kicking and screaming in protest at first, maybe . . . but still . . . here I am. I’m going to stay here, too, as long as you’ll have me.”