Chapter Fifty
Gio
Waking up with Carly in my arms felt so right. This was what I wanted every morning for the rest of my life. The problem was, the woman was stubborn. I knew she would fight it. She was hesitant to let me in before she was attacked. Now? I could already feel her trying to pull away and put her walls back up.
“Good morning,Bella. How are you feeling?”
“Like someone used me as a carving board. Oh, wait, they did.”
“At least it didn’t dull that sharp tongue of yours.” I leaned in and kissed her. “Are you hurting?”
“It’s livable. Seriously, Gio. I don’t like taking pills. Addiction runs in my family and I know pain pills can easily become addicting.”
“I would never let that happen, Carly.” I brushed her hair back from her face. “Promise me you will tell me when you need something for it. If you’re tense, you will not heal as quickly.”
I could tell she wanted to argue with me. I waited to see what she would do. When she heaved a sigh, I knew she was giving in to my request.
“Fine. Just promise me you won’t let me get addicted.”
“You have my word,Bella. If you won’t take what Doc prescribed, then I want you to take some Tylenol. It will help, at least some, with the pain.”
When she nodded her agreement I slid out of bed and went to the bathroom to get the bottle I kept in the medicine cabinet. I brought a glass of water with me, and after shaking two pills into the palm of my hand, I offered them to her.
I waited until she took them before I gave her another gentle kiss. "I will be back with breakfast. You just relax." When she started to argue, I pressed a finger to her lips. "Carly, you need to rest and heal. Let me do this for you. Let me take care of you."
"It's hard, Gio. It's been just me and Eli for so long. Sure, Mama would help with Eli while I was at work, until I moved to Hollygrove and met Risa, but when it came to me, I was on my own."
"I know,Amore, but you aren't alone anymore."
"I'll try to remember that."
"Good girl."
Her eyes lit up when I called her that and I filed it away for later. We would come back to it at a later date.
When I returned with breakfast, I helped her get propped up and joined her on the bed. "I have to leave for a few hours this afternoon. I have some business to attend to. I'm glad you have Risa here to keep you company."
She didn't need to know what that business was.
"Before you go, will you help me change my bandages?"
"Of course,Tesoro. We'll do that after we eat." This would be the first time Carly would see the extent of her attack. I had no idea how she was going to react.
