✧

I didn't move away from Angel's side for the remainder of the day, terrified he'd slip away from me again.

To be honest, I believe my protective instinct has gotten out of hand, but I can't help it. The thought of losing him was killing me on the inside, and it was something I didn't want to experience again, or ever.

Despite Angel's complaints of leaving the hospital, stating he was fine to leave, I stayed with him overnight since I, along with his mother, didn't want him to leave for at least another day.

I knew he'd be okay if he left; nothing seemed to bother him, let alone hurt him, but I still wanted him to spend another day just in case.

It was now Wednesday morning, Angel was currently showering while I sat on his hospital bed buried in my own thoughts

I wasn't sure what to make of this new anger inside of me; it surprised me at first, but it's now gradually getting stronger and not bothering me.

Whoever shot him has to be someone who despises him or me.

And whoever this person was, I was certain I wanted them to face the consequences.

The door of Angel's room abruptly opened, revealing Tyson.

As he walked through with a bag in his hand, he grinned at me.

"I brought you some clothes and books," Tyson says as he hands the bag to me.

"I've also informed your school that you're sick, so you're free to skip school for the rest of the week." Tyson informs me.

I give him a big smile and hug, showing my appreciation.

"I love you, thanks, Ty!" I exclaim.

He chuckles and gives me a hug in return.

"Yes, it's a one-time thing, so don't get used to it. You also have graduation the next week." He reminds me.

Shít I forgot about that.

"Forgot?" He questions rolling his eyes.

I look down at the bag in my hands and smile shyly.

"I'm heading back to work, stay safe." He says and kisses my forehead before leaving.

I sigh and reach for the two novels he'd brought me, both of which are among my favourites.

I set it on the table next to the bed and put my clean clothes in the bag to the side.

Angel emerged from the bathroom just as I was finishing up.

My gaze was drawn to him, he was dressed in a black fitted t-shirt and grey sweatpants, his hair damp and flowing over his forehead.

I bit my lower lip and averted my gaze from his god-like figure.

"How are you feeling?" I ask him, scooting over in the bed making room for him.

"Fine." He replies, shrugging.

Angel lays down on the bed and pulls out his phone and begins messaging people, I assume.

"Angel?" I call out softly.

He hums, putting his phone down turning all his attention to me.

"It's Wednesday." I remind him, playing with my hand.

His eyes scan over my features before replying.

"Don't worry about that bambina. I've told my father, he's sorting it out." He tells me, his voice slightly raspy.

I immediately feel at ease, knowing that the threat is no longer there.

I'm suddenly pulled on top of Angel, and his arms effortlessly hoist me up. I honestly doubt his strength at times.

"Have they found out who shot you?" I ask, straddling Angel as he pulls me against his body.

He shakes his head, his hands roaming all over my body.

"We only know it was one of the members of that gang we were talking about."

"The Slavics?" I question.

He hums, his lips brushing against the corner of my mouth.

"How did they find out?" I ask him, my voice just above a whisper, due to his hands coming around to my aśs.

"That night, they caught some of their men hanging around." He replies back, his lips travelling from my jaw to my neck.

I don't respond as my mind becomes clouded from his touch.

"I want them to pay." I reply abruptly, biting my lip, as his teeth skimmed the sweet area on my neck.

Angel's lips pressed against my neck as he brushed his tongue over the mark he'd made, soothing it.

"Pay how?" Bringing his face back in front of mine, he asks.

His bright eyes were filled with curiosity and mischief.

As I tilt my head to the side, I wrap my hands around his neck, pushing him closer to me.

"They hurt you, Angel, and they should be hurt back." Looking down at his silver chain, I react by twirling my finger around it.

I wasn't even afraid of what was coming out of my mouth at this point; I just wanted them to feel hurt and pain for what they had done to him.

Slowly, his hand came to my chin tilting it up to face him.

His eyes were immediately filled with emotions; it was as if a switch had been flipped in his head, causing all of the feelings to come flooding through.

Our gazes were transfixed on each other, his intense gaze piercing into my brown eyes.

Slowly, his head neared mine, kneeling in front of mine until we were face to face.

His lips were hovering over mine, and his breath mixed with mine, eliciting erotic sensations in my lower region.

"Ti Amo."

If we weren't so close right now, I wouldn't have heard him whisper so gently.

His lips crushed against mine, giving me a slow kiss, which I returned with equal intensity.

I had no idea what it meant, but it wasn't on my mind right now; instead, my attention was drawn to his warm lips exploring mine.

We drew back after a bit, and I grinned up at him, my gaze resting on his red, luscious lips.

His phone suddenly starts ringing, causing him to roll his eyes as he picks it up.

As he answers, I lean against his chest, my sight darting across the room, inspecting everything until it lands on something gleaming on a chair that was placed against the wall near the window.

I narrowed my eyes slightly as the sun beamed down on the object.

It was a gun, Angel's gun, to be exact.

A quick idea crept into my mind, and I knew it was something that would help me gain leverage.

I patiently waited for Angel to hang up the phone; the person on the other end of the line sounded stressed as they spoke in Italian.

Angel appeared to be doing nothing but listening and looking bored out of his head.

He soon hung up and ran a hand through his hair before returning it to my waist.

"I want to ask you something." I say this as I move my head away from his chest and tilt it up to gaze at him.

His hand comes to the side of my neck, sliding his fingers through my hair and resting his thumb on my cheek; he tilts his head slightly, signalling that he was paying attention.

"Could you teach me how to use a gun?"

As he gazed down at me, a little smirk came on his lips.

"Why?" With his thumb tracing circles across my skin, he asks.

I shrug and innocently gaze up at him.

"Protection?" I say, unsure of why I actually wanted to.

He chuckles and pulls me close to him, his head resting on my neck.

"If that's what you want, bellissima." He mumbles into my neck.

"It is."

He pulls back and brings his lips to my cheek.

"We can start tomorrow." He says.

I give him a big smile, excitement coursing through my veins.

The door swings open unexpectedly, drawing our gaze in that direction.

With a clipboard and a pen in her hands, a girl our age or somewhat older entered the room.

Angel tightened his jaw and rolled his eyes as I swiftly got off of him and sat next to him on the bed.

I swear, he's going to get them stuck one day.

The girl walks over and glances up from her clipboard, her eyes meet Angel's, and she instantly blushes and bites her lower lip before returning her gaze to the paper.

I sighed inwardly, knowing that this would be yet another female hitting on my boyfriend.

Yeah, well, he likes , remember.

She walks over to him, looking down at her clipboard.

"Angel Romano?" She questions looking at him.

He gives her a blank stare and a single nod.

She then begins questioning him about his health and how he is feeling.

His attention is fixed on me the entire time, making me squirm under his stare.

My gaze is quickly drawn to the girl as she rests her hand on his huge bicep, and I have to bite my tongue to keep from retaliating.

It wasn't jealousy; it was simply irritation that another girl touched him.

Angel fixed his emotionless, hard gaze on her, silently instructing the girl not to touch him.

She brushed it aside and continued to write.

"At the front desk tomorrow morning, you can officially check out. You've also been prescribed some pain relievers by your doctor. Do not engage in any harsh activity for the next four to five weeks. I'll be in a room a couple doors down if you need anything."

She gives him a seductive smile and walks away.

I roll my eyes at her little hip sway; she was a truly gorgeous girl, surely she could go after someone else's boyfriend.

I'm suddenly carried into someone's arms, and a small squeal escapes my lips as I'm lifted up.

He wraps my legs around his waist, and gives me a devilish smirk.

"Jealous, moonlight?" He questions with fake curiosity.

He tilts his head and stares at me with an intense gaze, mischief swirling in them.

I scoff at his words and look away from him.

"Of course not, Romano." I reply back innocently.

"Nothing to be jealous of." I say shrugging with a small smile.

He bites his bottom lip and smiles as he shakes his head at me.

I look down at the books on the side table, moving my sight away from him.

I moved slightly to the side and bent over and took the first book in my hands, waving it in front of him.

"I got the goods," I grin as I move away from Angel and lie next to him.

He shakes his head as I snuggle against his side and he wraps his arms around my waist.

I open up the book and began reading softly to him, feeling completely at peace.