Laney pops in front of me, the tears running down her cheeks more painful than any of the hits I just took. “I’m fine, Laney Girl.”
She shakes her head at me, fingers coming up like she wants to touch me but she’s afraid it’ll hurt. She settles on cupping my cheek and I try to smile for her. “You’re not fine. Donatello would have killed you if I hadn’t called Andrea.”
Her words end on a sob and I raise a hand to hers on my face, wincing with how the movement tweaks my ribs. More tears blink from her eyes as she watches me. “Didn’t you see me kicking his ass out here?”
She doesn’t laugh or smile at my attempted joke, doesn’t even attempt to pretend for me. Andrea steps up beside her, lightly bumping her shoulder to get her to move back from me. I slowly shift so I’m face to face with him. “What the fuck are you doing, Wolf?”
My eyes flick over to Delaney at the use of my nickname, but she either didn’t notice or doesn’t care that he used it. She’s probably too in her own head to notice the familiarity, her eyes staring out at the docks and not even looking at us.
He decides he doesn’t care what I was going to say, talking when I go to open my mouth. “Did you fucking forget who the fuck Donatello Genovese is? Use that fucking head of yours and remember your place. If Remy were here, he would have sat back and watched you die, calling it a life lesson.” He turns from me to Delaney, startling her when he grabs her upper arms, slightly shaking her like a child. “What the fuck am I supposed to tell your brother? Huh? Why can’t you find an average joe to fuck around with? Why do you keep picking the ones that give me the biggest fucking headache?”
She looks down at her hands, and if I weren’t in so much pain, my dumbass would probably try and pick a fight with Andrea over it too. “I’m sorry.” It’s whispered to the pavement and Andrea bends, making her look at his face.
“I won’t tell Remy, Piccolina, but you need to figure this out on your own. I’m not a miracle worker.” She nods, a quiet “thank you” said before he drops his hands.
“Go get yourself checked out and hurry up. You have a new job to take care of by the end of the night.” I watch his back as he walks away getting into his SUV and leaving, eyes moving to find Donatello standing in the same place I saw him before, arms crossed over his chest as he stares at Laney.
Touching my arm with her fingertips, she gets my attention, “Should I come with you… to get looked at?”
I grab her hand, lifting her fingers to my mouth and kiss the tips. There’s blood staining her fingers when I let them go, but she ignores it. “No. You should go stay with Beverly.”
She nods, eyes flicking over to Donatello and back. “Okay. Just… call me. Later, when you’re home.”
“I will. Go, Laney Girl.” She swallows but listens, walking toward her car without looking at Donatello again.
We both watch her drive off, turning to stare at each other as soon as she’s out of sight. He moves first and I straighten my shoulders, dropping the hand from my ribs even though the pain makes me want to puke. I don’t think he’s going to hit me again, but I wouldn’t doubt it.
“Your guardian angel must be working overtime, Jessie Mariani. This is the second time you’ve managed to get out of an early grave.”
I sneer at him, swallowing back more blood. “Lucky me.”
He chuckles, the dark dirty sound I’m used to hearing come from him. “Third time’s the charm.” He moves too quickly for my bruised body, slamming his fist into my ribs for what feels like the hundredth time, shoving my bent form onto the ground. “We’ll pick this up later.”
He leaves me gasping on the pavement, speaking over his back. “Better get along pup, you’ve got work to do.”
Halfway to Bev’s house, I pull over realizing I can’t go there unless I want Remy to know something is wrong. He’s just recently started treating mine and Donatello’s relationship with borderline decency and if I show up with this new mess, any progress we’ve made will be ruined. If that even matters anymore.
I want to hate Donatello for what he did, hate him for trying to get rid of the only good thing I’ve ever loved. But I could never hate him, even when I thought I hated him before it wasn’t hate. It was hurt masked as hate, and even now I can’t conjure up the feelings I should have. I know that without a doubt, he would have killed Jessie if I hadn’t been able to get a hold of Andrea. I was just lucky he was already at one of the out stations, or he never would have made it in time. And even knowing that, I can’t fucking hate him. Do I honestly think I would have reacted differently if I were him?
Leaning my head on the steering wheel I close my eyes, lightly banging my forehead against it. I don’t know what the fuck to do. I should probably just go home and talk to Donatello, figure out where we stand in this. Where Jessie and I stand. I should never have let last night happen. I should have cut ties with Jessie the moment I decided to be with Donatello. But I’ve always been selfish, and now Jessie’s paying for it. He will always be the one to pay for it unless I do what I should have done sooner, protect him from myself and my selfish heart.
Taking a deep breath, I pull back on to the road turning toward my house. I don’t know if Donatello
