The more my mind comes too the more aware I am of how badly my body hurts. I pinch my face up as I look over at my arm again. Following my eyes his crease with worry as he remembers my wound. He stands up, and scoops me into his arms as he carries me over to a SUV parked a short distance away. Climbing in to the back with me still in his arms he instructs the driver to take us home. Never releasing me from his hold.
“We need to take you home, get you out of these wet clothes. The doctor is already on his way to our home. He will take care of you and make sure everything is okay”
Hearing his words I don’t have the strength to nod or acknowledge them. Instead I lean my head down on his chest as I snuggle into his warm body. Trying to absorb as much of his heat as I can into my now chilled skin. I feel him draping his jacket over top of me, helping to cocoon the warmth around me.
Laying against him with his heat radiating onto me, my mind starts to fade as the exhaustion mixed with my already weak body, pulls me under once again.
Strong arms tighten around me gently as I begin to stir. Blinking my eyes open I see I am back in our room, in bed, wrapped in Nicos arms as he holds me in his lap. I tilt my head up looking back at him as he is already watching me. His eyes look strained and weary compared to the focused gaze he usually holds.
“How are you feeling?” He asks as he shifts me gently over his lap.
“Sore but okay. My mouth is crazy dry though.” I run my dry tongue over the roof of my mouth as I say it.
He chuckles lightly at me as he reaches over to the nightstand, grabbing a bottle of water and a pill, he hands them to me. “Your mouth is so dry from the anesthesia and medication the doctor gave you last night to put you out while he worked on your arm. He mentioned you would be out for a while as the effects take time to wear off. You had lost quite a bit of blood last night though so I couldn’t sleep until I knew you were okay and would wake back up.”
“You stayed up all night watching me?”
He only nods at me as he leans his head back against the headboard of the bed. Having finally woken up and given him the peace of mind he needed he closes his eyes. “Yes, I needed to insure you were okay.” My heart squeezes at his vulnerable admission. Still sleepy myself I snuggle back into him.
“Well I am fine now, so lay down and get some rest.”
He gently shifts his body and mine farther down on the bed until he is laying next to me. Pulling me close, it isn't long until his breath comes out in short even draws letting me know he has fallen asleep. As I lay next to him wrapped in his arms I too am lulled back to sleep in the protection of his arms.
32
NICOLI
Coming back to the club the next day I find Alice is still locked in a spare room adjacent to my office. Two men standing guard outside the door greet me as I make my way down the hall to them. As I near the door I begin to hear the shrill voice on the other side as Alice continues to screech and threaten the men keeping her captive. At hearing her voice my rage begins to rise, knowing she played a vital part in trying to take Liliana from me, and having almost lost her.
Knowing I do not have the control to see her right now without killing her I go straight to my office slamming the door closed. I pace the length of my office as I contemplate what to do with her. I have every right to kill her right now for her betrayal to me, for going against the Capo of this familia. My hand twitches at my side eager to grasp the cool hard metal at my waist and end her miserable life before I am reminded of her father. He is one of the higher underbosses in my territory, a respected man and many others look up to him in a way. No, I can't kill her. I can't risk an uprising from him in resentment, plus I don't typically harm women. It is something I can't bring myself to do after watching my mother day in and out.
Frustration at the situation has me slamming my fist down onto the desk causing the wood structure to shake. She needs to be punished. I will not allow her to get away with what she has done. Marina had called and told me all about Alice’s rolls in this little scheme. If I wasn’t so worried about and needing to be with Liliana I wouldn’t have been able to stop myself from coming here and holding her by the throat as I watched the light fade from her eyes. Pulling out my phone I send a text to Marina telling her to meet me here. After confirming she is on her way I step back out of my office and into the hall.
Nodding to the guards they unlock and open the door for me. As I walk into the room I close it back behind me leaving me alone with Alice once again. She is sitting on a couch at the back end of the room, still in
