No, that’s not quite the last thing. The last thing was a pillow covering my face. An evil bastard aiming to snuff me out. Someone was trying to assassinate me back there. I narrow my eyes on Mateo, and he aims a quick glance at Nikki. She doesn’t know. And it can stay that way.
“You took a slug to the back,” he says. “Came out your chest clean by some miracle, but passed too damn close to your spine. The docs needed to keep you stabilized. And of course, you were being a complete asshole, so I said we’d take care of you here.”
Nikki’s nodding. She’s bought the whole story. “I’m so glad you’re up. We…” She shakes her head, eyes welling with tears. “They said you might not walk.”
I test my feet on the floor beside my bed. Curl my toes. Feel the carpet there. “I think we can stop worrying about that,” I say.
“I want to hear what the doctor says first,” says Nikki firmly. She’s pressing me back against the pillows. And then the door flies open, and a small bundle of boy streaks into the room.
“Papà!” Dani shouts. Nikki tries to stop him, but he’s on the bed and bouncing toward me, pressing himself close. “Papà…I thought you’d never stop sleeping!” His little face is earnest, though his eyes are shining with joy.
“Well, look at you, little man,” I say warmly, not caring that it feels like daggers running through me when he flops onto my chest. “Did you get bigger while I was resting?”
He pulls a face, then flexes a bicep. “I got more muscles,” he says. “Been training with Zio Raoul, and I’m super-strong now!” He beams with pride. “I wanted to surprise you when you woke up.”
“That so, huh?” I murmur.
“Yip! A man’s gotta be strong,” he says firmly. “Gotta protect his family. Those guys tried to hurt you, and I couldn’t do anything. Next time, I’ll be ready.” His eyes seem to have aged since I saw him last. My little kid. This is too much for a child to bear.
“There won’t be a next time, little man,” I assure him. Even if I have to rip out throats to ensure it. Nikki settles onto the bed beside us and runs a hand over Dani’s dark curls. He aims a radiant smile at her.
“See, I told you he’d be fine,” he tells her. He turns to me. “Sister Lovie cried a lot,” he says. “But I took care of her. And she took care of you.”
“I’m proud of you,cucciolo,” I say, my heart clenching. “You’ve become a man while I was lazing around in bed.” He nods, his expression serious, but doesn’t resist when Nikki scoops him against her chest and presses kisses to her forehead.That chest…holy fuck.I’d pay money to trade places with the kid right now.
“My brave, brave guy,” she murmurs. “You’ll need to scoot along now, honey. The doctor’s going to be here soon. We want to be sure that Papà’s on the right track.” Dani slides off the bed without argument, giving me another quick hug before leaving the room.
By the time the door swings open again, revealing the tall shape of what I assume is my doctor, Nikki’s got me tucked in and is bustling around like a mother hen. I don’t resist. I’m too busy checking out her tits. As soon as these assholes leave us alone, I’m gonna—
“Mr. Caraldi!” the doctor says with far too much enthusiasm. “I’m delighted to see you looking so well.”
“Damn right you’re delighted. Your balls were on the block if you didn’t get him through that shit,” mutters Mateo. The doctor swallows hard but keeps his attention fixed on me.
“I’d like to give you an examination, check that things are healing as they should be,” he says briskly. Nikki steps away reluctantly, but Mateo hovers nearby. “I’ll admit, I had my reservations when your family insisted that you come home for your surgical aftercare. With a procedure of this nature—”
“Mr. Caraldi had a better chance of recovery here,” says Mateo firmly. “He prefers his home comforts.”
I nod. “I like my own bed…pillows…” I say, aiming a look at Mateo. He gives a small nod. When he raises a hand and makes a tiny slashing motion against the skin of his throat, I know exactly what he means. The threat has been managed. It’s this knowledge that gives me the patience to sit through the doctor’s questions and probing. Finally, satisfied that my wound is healing, my reflexes are normal, and there seems to be no permanent damage, he rises.
"Well, I have to say, I’m amazed, Mr. Caraldi,” he says. “An injury like that…” He shakes his head. “All I can say is that it must have taken a miracle to have you recovering so quickly.”
“And probably the right care,” Mateo adds. The nurse beside him nods.
“Ms. Love hasn’t left his side since he returned, doctor,” she says. “She even slept in that chair.” I realize there’s an ugly-assed recliner pulled up to the side of the bed. There’s a blanket folded over the back and coffee mugs scattered around it.
She slept in that thing every night? Well, that’s about to change. I run hot eyes over her, and she moves to take my hand. I can feel the concern radiating from her, the tenderness. It’s been too long since someone looked at me that way.
“Of course, I’ll need to run some more advanced tests, Mr. Caraldi,” the doctor is saying. “I’d like you back at the hospital and—”
“Mateo will make the arrangements,” I say. “And I’m assuming we won’t be needing the other nurse anymore.” The uniformed nurse gives a curt nod, perhaps mildly offended. I don’t give a shit. The thought of this woman’s hands on my body while I’ve been unconscious offends me, too. Maybe I could be more grateful for the care, but I don’t give a fuck. I have all the help I need already. And she’s hovering too far from the bed.
“Mr. Caraldi,” the doctor begins, then fades off when I wave a dismissive hand. I’m not listening anymore. I’ve already told him Mateo can take care of it. As if reading my mind, I hear my second-in-command clearing them from the room.
I need to be alone with my woman.
Chapter 3
Nikki Love
