“Still numb. I’m not looking forward to the locals wearing off.”
“That’s what the pain medicine is for. You take it ahead of the shots wearing off. But we gotta get some food in you first.”
“Food,” she said with a little sigh.
“Anything you want,” I assured her as I pressed her into the backseat of the town car.
“Keep her warm. Keep her off her feet. Keep them elevated, if possible. I’ll be over tomorrow to check on her,” Salvatore said, passing me the care kit.
“Thanks again, man.”
“You sure you don’t want me to look at anything?”
“I’m fine.” My face felt like a punching bag. But it was what it was. I’d had worse. A couple of aspirin and I would be good as new.
“Let me know what time tomorrow. And if you got any questions, you know where to find me.”
With that, I slid into the back with Steph, telling the driver the address, then pulling her legs over my lap.
She leaned into me, sucking in a deep breath.
“Are you really staying with me?” she asked, voice small and vulnerable.
“As long as you’ll have me.”
And I really kind of hoped that she might feel like that was forever.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Stephanie
You’d think that Andy and Sammy were watching out the peephole with how quickly after Venezio placed me down on the bed they came bursting into the apartment.
“I hope you two were having a fuck—” Andy started, trailing off when she got a look at my feet and Venezio’s face. “What happened?”
“What happened in the living room?” Sammy asked, coming in behind Andy. Meatball was in tow, running at Venezio like they were old friends.
He leaned down to give the dog a quick pet.
“You want me to stay for this or give you privacy?” he asked, looking at me.
“Did you get her involved in mafia shit?” Sammy asked, straightening.
“Wait… what?” I asked.
“Yeah, what?” Andy asked.
“How’d you know?” Venezio asked.
“Oh, come on. I had suspicions. Then I saw you all chummy-chummy with Vega.”
“What does that mean?” Andy asked.
“It means everyone knows that Vega is close with the Costa Family. Mix that with how you act, how you talk, it all just kind of lined up.”
“But you didn’t tell me?” Steph asked.
“Or me?” Andy asked, crossing her arms.
