by Sadie Jacks
“Well, then, you should have been more specific, shouldn’t you? I’m just trying to follow the rules you laid down, Dom.” I blew him a kiss, shot him a saucy wink at my personal nickname for him.
He groaned and rolled his eyes. “As if I would be so lucky that you’d follow my rules. You wouldn’t end up in these kinds of situations if you did what I told you.” He kissed my palm.
Warmth flooded my heart. The second Amatucci son would always hold a special place in my heart. If it hadn’t been for Tali, I think I would have been adopted by Dom all by himself. We had an odd brother/sister thing that could turn into more if we let it type of relationship. Since neither of us were willing to risk the friendship, we flirted like crazy and stayed friends.
“Keep wishing, Dom.”
“I do,” he said as he kissed my palm again. “You okay?”
I nodded. “Floating.”
He gave me a bleak smile. “If it gets too bad, you tell me. You hurt yourself playing with that pain and I’ll drug you deaf, blind, and dumb.”
“Promise.” I brought his hand to my lips. Pressed a kiss to the back of his hand. “I learned my lesson the last time. I won’t go too far.”
His butterscotch eyes studied me for a moment. “I’m taking that chit, Will.”
I nodded. I winced as something jarred my lower body, causing a rush of spiky sensation up my legs.
Dom turned, slapped his hand over the back of his youngest brother’s head. “Careful, Rafael. She’s not a slab of meat to toss around.”
“What? You think I don’t know that?” the youngest Amatucci male said in his gruff voice.
I looked down the length of my body. I quirked my lips. Unfortunately, nothing got in my way. The Boob Fairy had apparently been booked pretty full when it was my turn to get my portion. Either that or she’d donated all the rest of it to my ass and hips.
Rafe was near my knees, his hands moving over my thighs. His dark brows were furrowed as he studied my body. The EMT trained family medic was inhouse trauma care for when the rougher side of the family business got a little bloody.
“Can you feel this?” he asked as he moved my leg from side to side.
I nodded. “Yeah. Do I still have toes?” Shit. That just slipped out. I bit my lip. The headache was apparently turning me into Sally Sharer.
He jerked his gaze up to my face. “You can’t feel your toes?”
I shrugged. Kept my mouth shut.
He leaned down towards my feet. Moved one of his arms.
I giggled as he raced the nail of his finger up the arch of my foot. “Yup. Still there. Now stop.” I tried to arch away as he did it to the other foot. I hissed out a breath as the pain flared in my thighs. “Crapcakes, that hurts.”
Dom put a finger under my chin and pulled my face to look at him. “Too much?”
I did a quick self-assessment. I didn’t lie to these boys, this family. They were all I had. And even if it hurt me, I wasn’t going to damage these relationships with stupid lies. “It spikes. Forces me out of the smooth and into the rough when I move. I can handle it, but I’ll probably need something once I start moving.”
Dom’s eyes widened slightly. “Then we’ll have something on hand for you. I think Mama’s got some morphine left.”
I jerked back as if he’d slapped me in the face. I turned away. Tried to pull my hand from his.
“Shit,” he whispered. He held on, squeezed my fingers. “Look at me, Will.”
I continued to study the fallen table. The cast iron base weighed at least fifty pounds. That didn’t include the quartz stone top that looked as if it weighed half that. I was lucky I didn’t have any broken bones. If I got away with just some deep muscle bruising, I would finally take Talia up and join her Krav Maga classes.
“Willow, look at me,” Dom ordered. His voice was hard and gruff.
I turned to look at him, my gaze hard.
“You could take a half. Even a quarter. That much isn’t going to take you back down that path. We would monitor it for you. No one else.”
“Damn right I would be monitoring it,” Rafe said. “We won’t lose you. And certainly not like that, Will. Talia would snatch us all bald-headed.” He ran a hand over his dark hair. His was long enough to brush his shoulders. To curl over the collar of his shirt. “I like my hair too much.” He gave a dramatic shiver. “Here’s the good news. I think you’ve got just the deep bruising. Walking is going to be difficult for a while. Do you have any jobs in the next few weeks?”
I nodded.
Turo laughed. “Didn’t you read the newspaper this morning, Rafe? Our Will is big time nowadays. Schedule booked out until 2025.”
I laughed. “Not quite, but yeah, I’ve got gigs that I need to be able to move for.”
Rafe smiled. “Good for you, little sister. I’m so proud.” He tapped a finger to his lips in thought, his other hand smoothed my dress down my thighs... “Any kind of movement is going to be painful for a while. If you overdo it, you could end up in the hospital or on bedrest with passive therapy.” He watched me.
I grimaced. “Then I’ll behave.”
All three men snorted. “We’ll believe that when we see it, Will,” Dom said for all of them.
“Let’s get you on your feet and see what kind of ROM we’re looking at.”
“English, bro,” Turo whined as he got his hands under my shoulders.
“Range of motion. If you’d pay attention while I’m going over basics, you wouldn’t sound like an idiot asking for English.” Rafe pushed the table farther away and stayed crouched near my knees. “On three, boys.”
Rafe wrapped his warm hands around the back of my knees as Turo pulled up on my shoulders. Dom stayed near my pelvis and helped stabilize that as I was lifted upright.
My brain dipped and swayed with the sudden change in elevation. I felt my belly swirl as my dizzy head tried to orient itself to being upright. I was glad all three men were still there and holding onto me. I would have dropped like a bowling ball if they hadn’t been.
My legs quivered as searing pain turned my stomach and set my thighs on fire. “I’m going to pass out,” I said softly.
“Turo, drape her over Nico’s back. Now. Hurry,” Rafe ordered.
Dom stiffened his spine under my chest as I sank against him. My legs were the least of my worries as my stomach tried to escape my body through my throat. Dry heaves shook my chest as they forced more blood to pound through my head.
“Fuck,” Rafe whispered as he sifted his fingers through my hair. “She’s bleeding from her head. And there’s a lump the size of a baseball back here. We’ve got to take her to the hospital for a CT scan. Now.”
It was the last thing I heard before I passed out.
Crapcakes.
Chapter 2 – Willow
I blinked rapidly as I tried to figure out where I was. The sterile white walls, the beeping, the cloying smell…hospital. One of my least favorite places.
“And I’m her medical power of attorney, you piece of shit. Try to come in this room again, and you’ll be up before your review board, your state board, and anything else I can stick you with. She doesn’t want to see you, she refuses your care, and if you touch her, I’ll file assault and battery charges against you on her behalf,” Dom’s voice was hard as steel and sharp enough to flay skin.
I couldn’t understand the reply, but I knew that voice. I closed my eyes as I tried to escape it. It haunted my dreams. Stalked my waking moments. Left me a shuddering quaking mess deep inside myself.
The machine I was hooked to betrayed me. I wanted to throw it out the window, me along with it, if that’s what it took to escape him. I kept my eyes closed as I heard footsteps edge towards my bed.
“Just me, Will. He’s gone. And he won’t be back. I promise you that,” Dom said as he took my hand.
I opened my eyes. Shut them again as the sterile walls and blank ceiling mocked me for my weakness. My stomach clenched as my chest spasmed. “I’ve g
ot to get out of here, Dom.” I turned to look at him. Focused on his handsome face to the exclusion of the horrifying room around me.
The corners of his eyes pinched. “You can’t, babe. Not yet. We’re still waiting for someone to read your CT. The huge lump on the back of your head was a scalp hematoma. Rafe says you’re fine from that one for now. They did some drainage to help reduce the swelling on that part.” His mouth firmed as his dark eyes blazed. “He’s not coming in here. I swear to you, he won’t get anywhere near you. But we can’t treat this at home.” He reached out for my hand, sandwiched it in between his larger palms.
They didn’t understand. And I still couldn’t bring myself to tell them everything that he’d done to me. Hell, I still didn’t know everything he’d done to my body. So all of us were left with half-answers and more questions.
I closed my eyes as reality set in. I was stuck here. Vulnerable—in so many more ways than one. I pushed aside the terror, put on a brave face. I shot Dom a smile. “Well, as long as one of you gets to stay, at least I’ll have some nice scenery.”
He laughed because that’s what I needed him to do. It didn’t reach his eyes and his smile was more upside down than right side up. He perched his hip on the bed next to mine. “We’ll be here, Willow. I swear to you. Amatucci promise.”
My eyes widened. Oh shit. I shook my head. Winced as I rolled over the bruise on my skull. “I don’t need that. Your word is good to me, Dom. I know nothing will get to me if you say it won’t.”
He leaned down, brushed his lips over my cheek. His skin was warm and his lips soft. “You wouldn’t be here, the literal place of your nightmares, if it wasn’t for something that happened in our club. We take care of our own, Will. You know that. And you’re one of ours.”
He lifted his head so he could look into my eyes. The space between us warmed with our shared breath in the close space. “You’re one of mine. And I’ll end anyone who tries to hurt you.” He brushed his lips over mine in the sweetest, softest kiss I’d ever received.
My lips started to tremble. My belly dropped away, leaving nausea in its place. I pulled back after a moment. My heart tripped in my chest, the machine giving me away. I could feel the tears building, that deep aching burn that proved my cowardice.
It ridiculed me even as it provided sanctuary. I opened my eyes to watch him. To torture myself with what could be.
He sighed, his eyes closed as he seemed to fight with himself. When he opened them again, he settled back a few more inches. Fathomless love showed in his gaze, melted the dark chocolate depths. “One day, Will. I’ll wait for you forever.”
The desire on his face broke my heart. Lashed my insides with guilt. I could never return the kind of love he needed. The soft and good kind. The kind that washed the heart clean.
That wasn’t inside me. Not anymore anyway.
He rubbed a thumb over my cheek, caught the tear that escaped my control.
“Knock, knock,” Tali called from the doorway.
I shifted my gaze, thankful for the distraction. My savior was still dressed to kill in five-inch heels, short skirt, and a plunging neckline. Her riotous curls had been restrained in a long tail down her back leaving her bronze skin scrubbed free of all artifice and makeup. She had a large paper sack in her hands.
If I were into girls, I’d be all up in her business. I sighed. Wished for a moment that I could be a taco lover. My gaze dropped to Dom’s lap. Yeah, I wouldn’t be jumping on the muff diver train ever. Not with that kind of deliciousness available.
Tali cleared her throat, pulling my attention. She rolled her eyes as she opened her mouth. “Lamenting again?”
I chuckled. “You know it.”
Dom looked between us, his eyebrows raised in question.
We ignored him.
“If what I heard in the hallway was correct, then you’re about to be sprung,” Tali announced when her brother glared at her. “Unless they’ve called for other head CTs on this floor at this time of morning.”
I perked up at the idea of getting to leave. “Yeah?” I pulled my abs in to help me sit up. The pounding in my head was down to a managed dull thud. As long as I didn’t have to move too quickly, I should be fine.
Tali nodded. “Yeah. Let’s get you up and dressed.” She shooed her brother out the door. “Stand guard at the door. We’ll open it when she’s ready to see people.”
Dom looked at me again, assessed me with his analytical gaze. After his analysis was complete, he squeezed my hand and rose from the edge of the bed. “I might have to let the doctors in, Tali.”
My insides froze at the words even though I’d already heard Dom threaten him. I’d lost all respect for doctors. Especially important ones who could lie through their teeth and not have their actions dissected like normal humans.
“He’s not getting in here, Chase. We’ll make sure another doctor does your discharge. Easy does it. If you code out because of stress, you’re not getting out of here for ages,” Tali said as she helped me swing my legs to the side of the bed.
I hit the button on the machines, turned them off. After removing the IV line from the back of my hand, I detached the diodes and monitoring equipment.
“Damn straight she’s not,” Dom said right as he closed the door behind himself.
I grimaced at the door, glad—so freaking glad—that Dom was here. That I could lean on him and he’d not push me farther than I could handle. Another part of my heart split off and burnt up at how I was treating him. I couldn’t give him what he needed, but I couldn’t do without him.
I’m an awful person.
“Wipe that look off your face or I’ll have him come back in here,” Tali threatened.
I looked up into her dark eyes. Understanding shone in their depths. The acknowledgement of my duality not lost on my too perceptive best friend. If there were such a thing as magic or the ability to hear thoughts or read auras, then Tali would be one of the special few. She just knew things. Good and bad. And she loved me in spite of it all.
She wrapped me in her arms and cuddled me for a moment as I awkwardly patted her back. “I thought I’d lost you when you passed out on Dom,” she whispered into my hair. “You’re not allowed to scare me like that, Chase. Not now. Not ever.” She pulled back, her hands on my shoulders. “You understand me?”
I nodded. “I’m sorry. I just thought it was the headache, not that my head was actually bleeding. If I’d known I was bleeding all over, I would have said something.”
She narrowed her eyes at me.
I spluttered a laugh. “Honest. Blood equals hospital.” I shivered. “I’d submit to a cavity search without lube or prep to avoid being here.”
She snorted. “Yeah. That is true.” She let me go and leaned over to pick up something from the floor. “I brought you some clothes. I had to borrow from Massi, but at least we know they’ll fit.”
I laughed. “Fitting into your clothes would have restricted my blood flow.”
She chuckled. “Maybe. But you would have looked fiercely sexy as you strutted out of here. Given He Who Shall Not Be Named the what-for as you left.”
My soul shivered at the idea of even his eyes on me. Especially when I couldn’t see him. Never again. I tried for a chuckle since she was trying for a joke. “Oh yeah, bedraggled and crazy hair are such man bait, it’s crazy.”
She lifted her head from her bag search. A bright smile on her face. “Exactly.” She tossed the clothes down on the bed along with a small packet of face wipes.
“Goddess bless you, Tali,” I leaned up and pecked her cheek.
She giggled. “You and your goddess. Need help getting out of that gown?”
I eased my feet to the floor, waited for the room to stop spinning and the bone-deep ache to subside. I pressed my toes into the cold floor and got reacquainted with my body in its present state.
My legs were on fire as my belly tried to decide if it liked its present position. My head finally stopped spinning and t
he cold hot flashes subsided as I breathed in through my nose and out through my mouth. “No.” I shook my head. “I think I should be good.” Something else in my body made itself known. “I need to pee though.”
Trembling legs and unsteady feet made for an interesting trip to the bathroom. Once I was finished and had washed my hands, I studied myself in the mirror. Smiled. Not the best look of my life. I laughed. Certainly not the worst either. Once I got this makeup off, I’d feel better about a lot of things.
A loud noise came from outside the door.
“Yes, she doesn’t belong in here. Remove her.”
No. No. No. No. This couldn’t be happening. I couldn’t feel my fingers as terror seized my brain. He was here. He was inside my room. Where the hell was Dom?
“You can’t make me leave! I’m her sister. He doesn’t get a say in her treatment,” Tali yelled, her voice sharp as a blade. “Touch me one more time and I’ll have your job, stupido bastardo del cazzo.”
“Doc?” an unknown male said.
“She’s interfering with my treatment, they aren’t related. Get her out of here,” the man from my living nightmares said, his voice low and furious.
Someone tapped softly on my door three times. Tap, tap...tap
Tali.
I eased the door open and watched as two security officers physically removed Tali from the room. In the fuss they were making, I snuck out while the main door was still open.
The pounding in my head worsened as my vision narrowed to a long, blurry tunnel. I had to get out of here. I looked around. Except for the fracas that Tali had created, everything else seemed normal.
Nurses were busy reading charts or at computers. Other patients were in their beds.
Where was Dom? He’d promised.
A noise in the room behind me had me turning too fast. A door had slammed. The bathroom I’d vanished from. Feeling in my entire lower body disappeared for a second as my poor abused head tried to figure out what the hell I was doing to it. With nowhere else to go and no idea for escape, I slipped into the next room before he could find me. Skittered back behind the curtain of the second bed.