He surges up and kisses me, making the ice fall into the bed.
I grab it and toss it onto the tray. “Here.” I hand him a chocolate bar. “Eat it, you're starting to shake. I'm going to get a towel to wipe you down, then rub cream on you.”
He grumbles about having to lay on the bed rather than on me, but he is a good boy as I grab my phone from where I left it on the dresser, so I can text the twins to come in to cuddle with us.
After patting his ass dry with a towel, and making sure none of his welts have opened up and started bleeding, I firmly rub cream into his skin. He wiggles and moans, but allows me to tend to him.
The twins come into the room as I’m returning to the bed from putting the first-aid kit away. They look from Antonio to me, and I give them a small smile. “It's okay. Come join us.”
I shed my clothes and they do the same, then we all join Antonio on the bed. My Bel Fiore crawls up me until he's situated between my legs. I hand him another candy, and open the other water for a drink, before passing that over too.
“Sit up a moment, Bello.”
He does, and I reach for his cage, finally releasing his cock. It's only been off for brief periods of time since it was put on, but…I stare into his eyes as I say, “Thank you for trusting me.”
Antonio’s lip trembles and he throws himself into my arms. “I love you, Sir. Thank you for not giving up on me.”
“Never, Bello, never. You'll be okay. I promise. I'll help you through this.”
He sobs and buries his head into my neck. Nario and Nicolo cuddle up on either side, wrapping their arms around us and securing our beautiful broken flower in a cocoon of love and safety.
This isn't going to be easy, words were said that can't be taken back, but I meant what I said, I'll be by Antonio's side every step of the way, because we are a family. Dysfunctional and chaotic and messy, but a family nonetheless.
Marcus is…not light. At all. Fuck. I glance down the long hallway, and the mere idea of lifting him up the stairs and all the way to our room is a no. A fuck no. Because I’m too old for this shit.
Sighing, Doc eyes Marcus in frustration. “There’s a cot. It’s being put in Carter’s room. I assume you know how to behave. Although, asking anyone in this damn family to behave is foolish. I don’t know why I expect it, or how Sarah managed with all of you as well…”
I bite my tongue, now used to Doc’s sunny personality, and let him guide me to Carter’s room, where there is indeed a cot. I gently lay my lover down and step backward, rubbing my lower back. Doc just snorts at me and mutters something about Jayden—not words I want to hear. My lower back is fine. I do not need a sadistic physical therapist.
As soon as Doc is out of the room, Carter demands, “Is he alright? I thought it was Allesandro who was shot!”
I stare at Carter, slightly impressed by his willingness to wait until Doc is out of the room. Likely because he wants to get out of here soon, and pissing Doc off is not in anyone’s best interest. Walking around the cot and the hospital bed, I stop at the chair next to Carter. But first…the most important part.
Bending down, I brush a kiss against his lips. I don’t mean to linger, but he’s so fucking addictive, and when he moans…damn. All I want is to strip him and worship every inch of him. Fucking injuries. Pulling back, I promise myself to spend hours with him as soon as he’s healed. And the thought of having him and Marcus together makes my dick so hard it fucking hurts. Breathing out and forcing myself to be patient, I sit down and take Carter’s hand in mine.
“He’s fine, Love,” I reassure Carter. “Doc drugged him. There was an…incident in the hallway. Both him and Antonio got a little caught up in their feelings and it devolved into an argument.”
“Wait. Marcus and Antonio?” Carter’s flabbergasted tone matches my thoughts, and had I not seen it all unfold, I’d struggle to believe it as well.
Shrugging, I brush the hair from my forehead, desperately wishing I could just be done with this day. “Antonio still harbors a great deal of anger at Allesandro. He wasn’t happy with Marcus’s decision to bring him here, but that likely saved him. And…in all honesty, I know Marcus struggles with the love and loyalty he has toward Allesandro. Not romantic love, but more the love of a parent.”
Carter cringes as his nose wrinkles in distaste. “Despite…?”
Snorting, I respond, “Yeah, despite the kinky shit. Allesandro does truly love his Boys. That was evident to me when I spent time watching him. He’s just not used to love, and only knewhow to show it in a way that wasn’t right. But, he saved Marcus, and taught him strategy, how to be better. He gave him a place of belonging. Hell, he even gave him the Martelli name.”
“Did he really step in front of Marcus?” Carter’s brow furrows, and I understand. It’s a heavy thought to carry about a man we thought to be our enemy.
I squeeze my Love’s hand, wanting to give him comfort. “Yes. He once again saved Marcus’s life. Quite honestly, I’m not sure what to make of everything. I thought what he did to Lio proved who he was at the core—rotten. But now I wonder if the PTSD just twisted a part of him, one that was already broken, and maybe he has more loyalty than I thought.”
Carter stares at me warily, a frown marring his beautiful face—scars and all. “Would you apply that same thought process to Cristian? That he was only reacting based on what he went through?”
My heartbeat stutters as I’m captured by his words. My frustration toward Allesandro doesn’t come close to the utter loathing I have for Cristian. It’s comparing a spark, a mere ember, to a raging bonfire. Gritting my teeth, I shake my head.
“I don’t know him well enough to say, but…Allesandro has given up everything without a fight. And has shown he puts others before himself. He offered himself to our—to your—disposal.”
Carter merely hums, the pain not leaving his face, and I wish I could fix it. Unfortunately, it’s not my place, and admittedly, I’m biased. I’d rather run a knife through Cristian’s heart than try to accept any sort of amends. Roman being grown doesn’t change the fact they’re still tied together as parents—regardless of what Roman feels—nor does giving a ring back end a marriage permanently. That fear resides in me, that our Love will walk away. Yet, how can I do anything other than wish for his happiness?
Breaking into my bleak thoughts, Carter asks, “Just how bad was the fight?”
