With Us (The Amato Series Book 1)

by Layla Frost

  I was wrong.

  The pain may have been bad, but it was the regret that was stealing my life.

  A small light flickered from the table as Mystic lifted my card. Carefully, he rubbed his thumb across the top of it until it began to separate. Once it did, he pulled it fully apart. He set my card back in its place, the light beginning to fade again. Before it did, he set the newly formed other half of my card in the empty space.

  Every light in the room buzzed to life. Candles lit, the flames growing high. The pain in my body eased, the warmth returning even stronger than before. I was able to stand, feeling better than I had before I’d walked in.

  I looked down at the table to see Theo’s card between mine and his family.

  Mystic’s eyes blazed into mine. “Your days require darkness before the light. Not all good is truly good, and not all bad is evil. You dance with the devil, but the devil needs love. Stand tall as the coal he’s made you, and the pressure will make something beautiful.” Additional cards spread on the table below Theo and me, each one showing a blurry face.

  Our babies.

  Even without seeing them, I knew they were our babies because the feeling of love brought tears to my eyes.

  His voice lowered in warning. “But stand by as ash, and you will blow away at the first sign of a breeze.”

  A small puff of air blew my card away from Theo’s. In turn, his ripped in two. Pain tore through me, straight down the middle. Grief and regret choked me as the blurry faced cards disappeared with a poof. Quick as a blink, the room went dark before returning to its normal lighting.

  Mystic Stones was gone.

  As were every card but one.

  It was just me, alone on the table.

  No Theo.

  No family.

  No babies.

  Gulping in air, the pain still tearing me apart, I turned and rushed through the empty lobby. When I reached the parking lot, there were no cars or shoppers. It was deserted.

  “Luc!” I yelled, spinning around and around as I looked for his SUV. I started to run, my slow jog turning into a thigh burning sprint as I screamed until my lungs burned, too. “Luc! Please! I want to go! I need to go home!”

  All I heard were echoes of my cries.

  The sun was shining bright, but shadows followed me as I moved.

  “I want to go home! Luc! Home!”

  “Dahlia?” I heard, muffled and fuzzy. I looked but couldn’t see through the darkness.

  “I need to go home,” I sobbed.

  “You are home.”

  My heartbeat slammed in my ear, the noise nearly deafening as my body grew weak. The darkness spread, blocking out the sunlight.

  “Dahlia, wake up,” I heard, hands on my shoulders shaking me. “Holy fuck, you’re on fire. Dahlia, you’ve got to wake up.”

  “Too tired,” I muttered, wincing as I tried to curl up. I gathered the blankets around me, my teeth chattering. The minimal warmth they’d given disappeared when Luc pulled them off me, leaving only my sheet.

  “You’ve got a fever,” he explained.

  Cowbell.

  The only cure is more cowbell.

  I waited for him to laugh at my joke, only to realize I hadn’t spoken. My eyes were so heavy I couldn’t open them no matter how hard I tried.

  “Ma?”

  No, I’m not your ma. I’m no one’s mama. They blew away.

  “I’m fine. Sorry for the late call. Dahlia’s burning up. I have no clue what I’m supposed to do.” He paused for a moment. “I usually just chug some Nyquil and sleep for a few days.” He gave a low growl. “Now’s not the time, Ma. Dahlia’s really out of it.”

  Poor Dahlia, whoever she is.

  “Ben, get up here!” The shout echoed through my head like a pinball, causing an ache each time it bounced around. “Sorry,” Luc whispered, squeezing my shoulder gently.

  “What’s wrong?” Ben said before Luc shushed him.

  “Find a thermometer.”

  I must have dozed off, because the next thing I knew, I was in the shower, clothes and all. The water was warm, but it might as well have been ice.

  “Dahlia, can you hear me?”

  Of course, you’re right here.

  “Okay, get her out and wrapped up, but not too much,” a woman’s voice ordered.

  I fell asleep before I could see who it was.

  “Don’t you dare say a word,” I heard a woman demand, her tone leaving no argument.

  Somehow, the other person didn’t pick up on that because they argued, “I have to.”

  A new voice floated in. “It should be here in a few. What was the last one?”

  “A hundred and six.”

  Wow, that person is old.

  “Don’t,” the threat came again.

  I won’t.

  “We’ll see.”

  Maybe after a nap.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Escaping Arkham

  Dahlia

  Buzzzzzzz.

  I swatted around, trying to kill the annoying bug. I hit something, but it felt bigger than a bee.

  “Ouch.”

  Prying my eyes open, I saw Ben sitting next to me, rubbing the side of his head.

  “Sorry,” I croaked out, my throat like sandpaper. I rubbed at my nose, yanking the irritating tube out. A small, constant hiss of oxygen was almost more annoying.

  Ben grabbed a small pink jug and brought the straw to my mouth. “Water.”

  I drank quickly, regretting it when the liquid felt like dense lead in my chest.

  “Shit, sorry,” he said. “The nurse said to sip.”

  More awake, I looked around and realized I was in the hospital. The buzzing noise was a fluorescent light above my bed. I glanced down, not seeing any bumps or scrapes, yet my body was sore and weak.

  “What happened?” I asked.

  “You have pneumonia. That’s all the information we could get since we aren’t family.” He pressed a button. “Maybe now that you’re up, the nurse will tell you more.”

  “When?”

  “Two nights ago.”

  My eyes widened. At least I thought they did. Bone deep exhaustion hit me hard. “It’s Tuesday?”

  He shook his head. “Wednesday. When you stayed in your room Sunday night and Monday, Luc thought you were just… needing your space. You were yelling on Monday night, and that’s when he realized you were sick.”

  I remembered talking to Julie and then sitting in bed for a bit, feeling off. After the day I’d had, however, I hadn’t thought much of it other than I’d needed sleep.

  There was a quick knock on the door before two men came in. One was older, somewhere in his forties with a receding hairline and cartoon covered scrubs. The other looked closer to my age, his focus on the cart he was pushing.

  “You’re up!” the older man said with a kind smile. “I’m Chris, I’ll be your nurse until nine. This is Mark, your technician until the same time.”

  “Hi.” My voice came out as a murmur as I tried to sit up. My head swam, my stomach lurched, and I was exhausted by the minimal effort.

  “Whoa there,” Chris said, placing his hand on my shoulder. “Relax, we’ll do the work. Consider this almost like a vacation, but with Jell-O instead of cocktails.”

  “Hate Jell-O.”

  “Me, too.”

  As Chris typed on a computer, Mark wrapped a blood pressure cuff around my arm. He swiped my forehead with a thermometer before looking at it and doing it again. “Thirty-nine eight.”

  The smile faded from Chris’ face. “BP?”

  “Ninety over fifty-six.” Mark put something on my finger. “Sats is hovering around eighty-seven.”

  What’s that mean?

  Realizing I hadn’t said the words, I tried to open my mouth.

  “What’s that mean?” Ben asked for me.

  “Her fever is up and her blood pressure is down.” Chris looked at me. “How’re you feeling, Dahlia?”

  “Tired,” I mutt
ered.

  “You awake enough to listen?”

  I nodded.

  “What started out as walking pneumonia developed into the severe form. Mark paged the doctor, but do you have a health proxy to make decisions if you’re unable to?”

  I shook my head.

  “Family?”

  “Theo.” My eyes got heavy. “I want Theo.”

  “Her fiancé,” Ben lied. The rest of his words faded as I began to doze.

  Before I could fall into a deep sleep, I blurted out, “Rachelle Amato. She’s family.”

  Ben’s voice was warbly and far away when he said, “She’s in the lobby getting coffee.”

  She is?

  ···

  I shivered. Liquid dripped down my face, and I wanted to ask for more. I’d be willing to swirly myself if it meant cooling off.

  “Hot,” I said, easing my eyes open to see Rachelle wiping down my head.

  “Your fever is back up.” She gave me the kind of smile I’d imagine a mom gave when she didn’t want her child to worry. “They’re trying a new antibiotic.”

  I wanted to ask more, but I was too tired.

  ···

  I needed to get out.

  Looking down, I almost choked myself on my cleavage. The purple and hot pink leather outfit was impractical for a stealth mission. Walking, I nearly twisted my ankle in the ridiculous heels.

  The hallway corridor was dark and abandoned. I pressed myself tight to the wall and moved as swiftly as possible. When I found the stairwell, I gripped the railing and vaulted myself over. I landed in a crouch.

  Nailed the superhero landing. Awesome!

  I heard a door creak open and ducked into the shadows. I thought I was in the clear until the sound of a river flowing filled the small space and another door closed.

  “Who’re you?” a deep voice bit out.

  “You’re not supposed to be here,” another said.

  I stood and casually leaned against the wall. “Hiya, boys.”

  “Who’re you?” the deep voice repeated, sending a tremor down my spine.

  “A nurse.” My own voice sounded odd.

  “That’s not a nurse’s uniform.”

  Damn this impractical outfit.

  “I must be in the wrong room,” I tried.

  The men approached quickly. Without thinking, I kicked my leg out and spun, catching them both in the jaw. They were relentless, getting right back up to crowd me again. I jabbed one in the chest with the heel of my palm while I stomped the other guy’s foot.

  Back flipping three times, I ended up near the door. One of them was calling for backup while the other groaned in pain.

  But he was too late. I’d escaped into the darkness.

  ···

  “Should she be sleeping this much?” I heard a voice ask from far away.

  I’ve developed more super powers. How else would I be able to hear Theo?

  “Her body is working hard to fight the infection. Between that and the meds, an increase in sleep is expected.”

  “Thanks, Doc.”

  I wonder if I can move things with my mind.

  ···

  Opening my eyes slowly, I took stock of myself. I still felt weak and sore, but I no longer had the urge to stick my head in the toilet to cool down.

  I glanced to the side and saw it was night, only bits of light streaming through around the heavy blinds. The TV was on, but the sound was muted. Continuing my scan, I saw Luc or Ben sleeping in a chair. I began to look away when he shifted his face towards me.

  “Theo?” I croaked out.

  He jolted awake, his eyes snapping to meet mine. Before I could sit up, he was out of the chair and by my side, sitting on the edge of the bed. His large hands cupped my cheeks. “Cazzo, gattina. You’ve had us all scared to death.”

  My own hands reached up to cup his face. His beard was rough under my palms.

  One side of his mouth quirked up in a sheepish smile. “Yeah, I’m a bit overdue for a shave.”

  “This is my favorite one,” I whispered, each word hurting more than the last, and for more than one reason.

  “Favorite what?”

  My throat burned and ached as I spoke. The real pain, however, came from knowing that in a few short moments, I’d likely be thrust back into the real world. I’d open my eyes and he’d be gone again.

  “Dream.”

  “It’s not a dream, gattina.”

  “That’s what you said in the last one. Of course you had a handlebar mustache in that one, not a beard. And you kept talking in an accent about indie bands I’d never heard of.”

  Dream Theo held his arms out. “Not a hipster.”

  He was right. His gray tee and dark track pants were his own. The beard was new, but everything else looked like the real Theo.

  “I have to be dreaming,” I murmured, more to myself than him.

  Still, he answered me by cupping my cheeks again and lowering his face close to mine. “Does this feel like a dream, gattina?” His soft kiss quickly evolved into something more. Controlled pressure became intense and powerful.

  Moving his hand down to my waist in an attempt to get closer, Theo accidentally snagged my IV and tugged.

  It hurt.

  “Ouch,” I cried, wincing before realization dawned. My eyes widened.

  “Fuck, are you okay?” Theo scanned my face, alarm growing on his as I remained speechless.

  “You can’t feel actual pain in dreams.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “That hurt.”

  “I’m sorry—”

  “Which means you’re you. The real you. And you’re here.” I gripped his forearms, tears spilling down my cheeks. “How? Why? What happened?”

  “I got early release.”

  “This fast?”

  “It’d been in the works for a while.”

  “How?”

  “Costa had already been working on getting me early release, pulling in favors left and right. It’d been approved, but everything is a process.” He looked embarrassed. “Costa said ‘the grieving girlfriend’ could help speed things up. Had I known you were sick, I wouldn’t have ever agreed to it. But I’d sure as fuck have done everything I could to be out sooner. I’m sorry, gattina.”

  “I… It’s overwhelming. What’s going on? Why?”

  “We’ll talk about it later.”

  I glared at him, my pounding heart hardening at his words.

  Jaw clenched tight, Theo closed his eyes for a moment. Opening them again, his gaze was intense on mine. “I promise. We’ll talk as soon as you feel better. About everything.”

  The door opened suddenly, the light from the hallway flooding the room.

  “Oh, you’re up.” A smiling nurse came into the room, another one behind her.

  Before I could say anything, they both held out their ID tags.

  “I’m Tara,” the nurse said. “This is Beth. She’ll be grabbing your vitals. How’s your pain?”

  “Achy. My skin feels tight and my throat burns.” I looked down as Beth wrapped the blood pressure cuff around me. “Are my fingers swollen?”

  “A little.” Tara typed away at the computer before scanning my bracelet and some packets of meds. “You had fluid on your lungs from the pneumonia. To clear it out, we had to give you some diuretics. But we also have been pumping you full of IV fluids so you don’t get dehydrated.”

  “What day is it?”

  “Saturday.” Beth looked at the clock. “Nope, sorry, Sunday.

  I glanced at the bathroom before looking back at Beth. “I haven’t…”

  “Catheter.”

  “Oh.”

  Somehow, I lost an entire week. All I have are flashes of things, and I’m not even sure which are dreams or memories.

  And now Theo’s back.

  What the hell is happening?

  “Thirty-eight three,” Beth said after running the thermometer over my forehead. “And one forty over ninety.”


  “Sats?” Tara asked.

  “Ninety-nine.”

  They exchanged a look, but it was Tara who spoke. “Are you feeling flush? Heartbeat feeling off or different?”

  I shook my head.

  “Why?” Theo asked. “What’s wrong?”

  “Her fever has crept up, and her BP is elevated.” Beth answered. “It’s been low previously.”

  “I’m just… surprised,” I said, my gaze darting to Theo before landing on Beth. “I still thought it was a week ago. I think it’s just high because I’m feeling a little overwhelmed.”

  Tara handed me a paper cup with pills and a small bottle of water, listing through what they were. I was having trouble following along. Based on Theo asking questions, he wasn’t having the same problem. She switched my IVs, and then gathered her garbage.

  “I’ll be back in about a half an hour,” Beth said. “You’ll likely be asleep, but I need to recheck your BP. If it’s still up, I’ll have to page the on-call doctor.”

  I nodded. My eyes were already growing heavy, so it was doubtful I’d even be aware of it. “Why so tired?”

  I’ve turned into the Hypersomnia Joker. ‘Why so tired?’ doesn’t have the same punch as ‘Why so serious?’.

  Tara’s response was warbled. “Side effect.” There was more she said, but I wasn’t sure what.

  “Thanks, Batman.” I turned to look meaningfully at Theo as I forced my eyes open. “I’m glad you’ve escaped Arkham Asylum, Two-Face.”

  Then I fell asleep.

  ···

  How am I still so exhausted?

  Gingerly, I used the bathroom and got changed into some clothes Rachelle had brought me. It felt great to be out of the faded and scratchy hospital gown.

  I pushed open the door, nearly hitting Theo as he hovered close by. “Let me help you,” he whispered, reaching for me.

  I shook my head. “I want to stand for a minute. It feels good to stretch.”

  “The nurse said he’d be back with your discharge papers.” When his cell beeped, Theo pulled it from his pocket.

  “Everything okay?”

  “Just work stuff.” It began to ring, but he silenced it. “I’ll call them back.”

  “Go ahead now. The discharge stuff will be a while.” When he hesitated, I tilted my head toward the bed. “I’ll even rest while you’re gone.”