I nod numbly. How can I care about anything when he's here? In front of me. So close...

A smile trembles on my lips as I reach out with my non-injured arm to touch him, trailing one finger over the back of his hand. My eyes close and a shiver goes down my back at the contact. Not even the pain in my shoulder could detract from the utter delight of the moment.

"You're really here," I mumble incoherently, touching him some more—just to make sure he's real. Maybe on any other occasion, I wouldn't have been as bold. But as it happens, I've lost too much in the last years not to grasp onto this chance.

He catches my hand in his, giving it a tight squeeze. He slowly brings it to his lips, laying a chaste kiss on the inside of my wrist that has me blushing to the roots of my hair. Yet what's most striking is the look on his face. He's staring at me intently, his eyes caressing my face. There's a dangerous hunger radiating from him. One I don't remember seeing before—or, maybe I hadn't noticed? His body tenses, his nostrils flaring as he continues to drink me in.

My eyes flutter in confusion.

"Nikki?" I ask tentatively.

He snaps out of his trance and gives me a wide smile—as if he hasn't been looking at me like a starved man. I'm about to return the smile with a timid one of my own when I note the dip of his gaze, his eyes zeroing in on my chest. That's when I recall my state of undress. And it's not just my naked body that I don't want him seeing but also the marks that cover most of my torso.

I quickly wrap my arms around my body to cover myself, but the movement is so brusque that I end up bending over in pain.

"Who the hell did this to you, Luce?" He's next to me in two steps, his big hands splayed over my shoulder as he peruses my wound.

"Sergio." I give him a tight smile. One word that encompasses both of our experiences in this goddamn forsaken place.

His features darken, cold anger emanating from him.

"He needs to suffer for hurting you," he grits out, and my heart speeds up in my chest at the fact that he'd so readily avenge me.

"Thank you for saying that," I murmur. "But right now, I need to take care of my arm. Will you..." I wet my lips, surprised at myself for putting my trust in him so readily. "Will you help me?"

"I'm here for you, Luce," he punctuates each word. "I'll help you with anything you want. But we need to get you to a doctor. It's not safe to do this here."

I shake my head.