Doc puts his medical stuff away, and snaps his bag closed.“Ice it well, keep packs on the area for fifteen to twenty minutes at a time faithfully for the first twenty-four hours, and then after that go to warm compresses for the next two days.That will give you the best chance of getting rid of the bruising which will surely follow a blow like that.”
My only consolation is that the other guy has it worse than me,” Sophia quips, adjusting herself against the pillows lying against the headboard.
“That he does,” the good doctor says, flipping her a half smile but then turning back to me.I gesture to his black bag.“You already saw him?”
He nods.“I’d like to say mostly superficial, but it’s not.He’ll be in surgery tomorrow, and about six weeks to mend.”
Sophia swallows and averts her gaze while the doctor looks at me with those eyes that I can’t quite decipher.Questioning concern is how it feels.
Never once in all the years with this family has he so much glanced my way when tending to someone and the ones he’s stitched up or cauterized to save have been far worse than Sophia.
I’d be hard pressed to trust that I didn’t plan to hurt her for almost killing my man if I were him too.He’s never seen me with any woman I care about, only hurt soldiers, enemies and the like.
Well, join the fucking club doc because I’ve never been in this situation either, because I’ve never fucking cared before, not even a fucking little bit.But with Sophia?Fuck.
I walk with him to the door and close it behind us as we get into the hall.“It’s not what it looks like.She’s mine.You should be worried about the man going to surgery, because if I had gotten to him before you, he’d be dead for marring her lovely face.”
Doc’s eyes widen with sudden understanding, and then his lips quirk.“Well, I never thought I would see this day.”
I smirk, because, shit, neither did I.“Leave, you’ve overstayed your welcome.And if you ever disrobe Sophia again, I’ll put a bullet in your head.”
When I return, my kitten is curled up in bed on her side with her head on my pillow and her arms wrapped around it.I undress quietly, absorbed in her beauty, wondering how this woman has gone from being an enemy to a spark of light I want in my life, to the woman that I want for my very own and who I am undoubtedly going to have to ignite a war between the families to claim for my very own.
And after what I’ve learned and expect to learn I may have to break her heart in order to put the pieces of it back together again.
30
Sophia
Three long days of being stuck in bed, icing and holding warm compresses on my face, having the good doctor come to rebandage my feet, and being brought meal after meal.There’s only one thing missing, and that’s Massimo, and it’s almost more than I can handle.
If Massimo were here spending time with me, it would be different.He would keep me entertained in the best of ways.But he doesn’t have to tell me what’s on his mind, what’s bothering him or what he’s been doing twelve and fourteen hours while he’s away.Inherently I know, and it claws at my insides, worse than any injury would do.
Maybe part of it is as he says to help me stay off my feet, but there’s a part of me, deep down, that knows there’s a hell of a lot more to it than that.And I’m done being left alone in his bedroom and completely in the dark, especially if it involves Desiree.No doubt about it, jealousy is an unwelcome and life sucking bitch.
I run a finger through my freshly shampooed and dried hair, smoothing my hands over the silk blouse that goes exceptionally well with a pair of snug fitting designer jeans and the tan Italian leather flats that cost more than most people make in a week.Elsie walks into the room with fresh towels in her hand.“You look beautiful.”
She passes through to the bathroom and comes out shortly empty handed.“Massimo asked me to bring a few pieces of jewelry for you to wear while you’re here.”She digs in her pocket to pull out multiple small boxes.
I lay them on the dresser and open the smallest one.A pair of drop diamond studs on a delicate length of gold shimmers in the box.She smiles.“There, put them on, then you’ll look like a real princessa.”
My heart swells as I look at the beautiful pieces.“You’re entirely too kind.”She’s not wrong, they do sort of make me feel like a princess, but a very left in the dark princess which I’m not tolerating well at all.“Do you know where Massimo is?”
I wait patiently for an answer, observing her intently, because the eyes are always the most telling.They truly are mirrors to the soul that will give you away if you aren’t very adept at hiding your emotions from those who seek the truth.And I have learned that trait from Papa.
She catches me off guard by blushing, her eyes lighting up with amusement.“The boss is very surprising these days.He is like a different man when you are around.He doesn’t usually have much, umm company, if I can be so bold.”
I try not to smile, but inside my belly dances with excitement.I finger the small delicate bracelet in the second box before putting it on.“Well, if he treats all the women he brings home like this, leaving them to fend for themselves hours upon hours of the day while he works, I can certainly see why they would leave.Pretty jewelry or not.”
Her face falls and I immediately feel awful.“I’m kidding, Elsie.”
She puts a finger to her lips.“You never heard this from me, but I like that you put a smile on my boss’s face, and that around you, he is different.He’s never brought anyone here to our home but you.I think he absorbs just a little bit of your light.”
Elsie manages to surprise me yet again.I find myself unsure what to say without appearing nosy and jealous, both of which I am.I decide to find him and get the answers directly from him instead of asking questions of Elsie.Knowing that employees of my father who divulged personal information would be fired on the spot, if left to live at all.“Where is he now?I’ll ask him my questions.”
Her eyes get a little wide.“As much as I like you, I don’t think I can tell you that.So sorry.”She’s clearly said way too much and now second guessing even talking to me at all.She makes her way to the door in a quick bustling stride leaving me watching her back.
“Elsie?”
