"I'm right fucking here, Tony. Quit talking about me like I can't hear you."
"There's the spitfire we know and love. Sorry, Boss Lady. "
When I realized the reason he'd acted like I couldn't hear him was to pull me out of my shock, I couldn't be angry with him. "Thanks, Tony. "
"I'm taking you back to bed,Bella."
I was suddenly too tired to argue with him. The adrenaline rush had worn off and now I just felt exhausted. “Fine.”I looked between them a moment. “On the bright side, it pays to have good connections. At least I have someone to clean up after me.”
Tony’s chuckle followed us as Gio carried me out of the room.
I must have dozed off. One minute, Gio was carrying me upstairs, the next I was being stuck with a needle.
"You tore several stitches. You have to be more careful."
"Sorry," I mumbled. "It won't happen again."
"See that it doesn't."
"I'll make sure of it, Doc."
"You'll have to forgive me for doubting that, Gio. You didn't do such a good job the first time around."
I bit my lip to keep from laughing. The doctor had a point. The look Gio gave him was filled with a mixture of anger and contrition. “It’s not Gio’s fault. I was careless.” No need to tell the doctor I’d just committed murder.
I was a murderer.
I let that thought sink in. I didn’t even like to kill bugs. Yet, I took a life and felt...nothing. I wasn’t filled with shame or disgust, like I should be. What did that say about the person I was?
“Bella? Carly?”
I realized I’d gotten caught up in my own thoughts and Gio was trying to get my attention. “I’m sorry. What?”
“I said, try to be more careful. I don’t want to have to come back out here to replace torn stitches again.”
“I will, Doc. Thank you. I didn’t think there were any doctors left who made house calls.”
“Yes, well, I’m a dying breed, my dear. Take these. They will help you sleep without the fear of bad dreams.”
I took the two pills he offered me and swallowed them with a little water. Dreamless sleep? Yes, please. I wasn’t sure how he knew I was afraid to go to sleep, without aid, out of fear of having nightmares. “Thank you, Doc.”
“Rest,Bella. I’ll walk the doctor out and be back soon.”
He pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead before I snuggled into the blankets and let the pills do their job.
