“Why are you sorry,baby?”
“He took my submissive collar and yourBentley.”
“Baby, I can get another collar and Bentley. I can’t get another you.” She pulls away and I use my thumbs to wipe away her tears. “You’re the only thing that I’m worried about. You… and our maybebaby.”
That brings a smile to her swollen face. “Our maybebaby?”
“Well, we don’t know if there is a baby ornot.”
“I told the doctor that I could be pregnant, and they did an ultrasound. They didn’t see ababy.”
I don’t know anything about pregnancy, but I do know that if Emma Lia were pregnant, it would be extremely early. “Maybe you aren’t far enough along for them to see it yet? Besides, the physician you’re seeing here is an ER doctor, not an OB-GYN. I want you to see Cat. She can tell us forsure.”
Emma Lia nods. “I would likethat.”
I take my phone from my pocket. “Whoever did this is going to be sorry he put his hands onyou.”
“What are youdoing?”
“Calling in afavor.”
“What kind of favor?” sheasks.
“Your grandmother isn’t the only one with connections. And I’d like my connection to find the man who did this before the police get tohim.”
“How are you going to dothat?”
“The Bentley has a tracker on it in the event that it was ever stolen. I can pull up its exact location right now.” And send my people to fuck himup.
I kiss the top of Emma Lia’s hand. “I’ll be right back,baby.”
I go out into the hallway and phone Franco, the man I call whenever I have shit that needs to be taken care of on the downlow.
“Do you want me to hold him so you can take care of him yourself,boss?”
I’d love nothing more than to be the one to make him sorry for what he did to my girl, but I won’t leave Emma Lia’s side right now. Not even to beat the fuck out of the thug who put herhere.
“I can’t leave her right now, Fran. I’ll need you to take care of this one on mybehalf.”
“Don’t worry. I know how to make the fuckersorry.”
I return to Emma Lia after my call with Franco and sit in the chair beside her bed. I take her hand in mine, kissing the top again. “That fucker is about to get what he has coming tohim.”
“You aren’t going to tell me what you just spoke about with your connection, areyou?”
“No, mon bien-aimé. I’m not.” I don’t want her to be connected in any way to whathappens.
“Can I make a request?” sheasks.
“Maybe.”
“Tell your connection to kick the shit out ofhim.”
“He’s going to do that and so muchmore.”
* * *
The nurse finishesEmma Lia’s discharge instructions. “Do you have anyquestions?”
