21. Tennant
I glare at the bland walls of the previously unused room in Doc’s wing of the house. It's boring and uninspired; how do they expect anyone to recover in here? It's more likely to drive someone insane.
“This is stupid.”
“I could have left you in the office with Emilio and Il Padrone,” Doc replies.
“You're still healing, and I want to keep a close eye on you.
The only reason I'm moving you is because I'm pretty sure Il Padrone will try to kill me and”—the bastard smiles wickedly—“I’d hate to have to hand a mafia Boss his ass.”
I laugh and then wince at the pain of the action. Doc frowns at me, but thankfully, doesn't lecture me. He probably figures the deep ache from my wound is reprimand enough.
“This keeps you close to someone who can help, since we're still doing rotating shifts on Emilio—so don't think you can get away with anything.”
I scowl. “I could just take myself upstairs once you're gone. Might take me a while, but I can do it.”
"If you do that, I will shoot you in the leg and let you recover without pain meds. Try me,” Jayden says as he walks into the room.
I glare at the redheaded man as he walks over to stand at the end of the bed. Aside from his hair being several shades lighter, and his freckles and big brown eyes giving him an…innocent and approachable look, he heavily resembles his oldest brother, Joel.
Though, unlike my pain in the ass bodyguard, Jayden doesn't put up with anyone's shit. It's what makes him a good physical therapist. That and the fact the man is a sadist who gets off on making people cry.
“Oh joy, you're here.”
He slides his hands into his pockets and stares at me, humming softly to himself before saying, “I am, because you decided to get yourself shot. As if I don’t have a long patient list already, but sure, I can drop everything and help get you back on your feet.”
“If you’re going to be an asshole, you can leave.”
Jayden laughs. “You wish it were that easy.” He turns to Doc. “Has he been getting up?”
“Rose escorted him to the restroom a few times today. Yesterday, I had him on bedrest because it was the first time he was fully coherent.”
Jayden nods and looks back at me. “No unsupervised walking around. I’ll do a full evaluation of you tomorrow; I’m already working on your PT regiment.
We can do this the easy way or the hard way, Tennant.
Your choice. I know which one will make me happy.
” With that, the asshole turns on his heel and leaves.
“Sometimes,” I tell Doc, “I don’t know who I want to kill more, you or him.”
Doc laughs. “You’ll be fine.” He sobers quickly. “Seriously, Ten, you scared the shit out of everyone. You can’t keep doing this.”
“It’s my job, Doc.”
He sighs, but thankfully, doesn’t give me anymore grief.
“Your lovers are waiting for you. I’ll let them know they can come in.
Remember, you just had major surgery, so no stupid shit.
You’re more vulnerable to illnesses now, so be careful—I’ve already told them they have to wash their hands, and make sure whatever they bring in here is properly sanitized.
I’m not taking any chances while you’re still in my care. ”
“And Cris?”
Doc rolls his eyes. “Will probably visit you later. He knows what it means to have your lovers in here while you’re fully coherent, and away from the tension in the other room.”
“Yes, yesterday was hard enough, with not being able to get out of bed, let alone having to deal with Il Padrone fawning over Emilio while trying his best to simultaneously ignore us and kill us with his eyes. I’m almost afraid to ask what happened when you kept me under.”
“I’ll give that job to Hollis. For now, I’ll leave you, but remember, there are cameras with audio in this room, and the monitors are connected to my phone. So try not to stress out, and I’ll tell your merry band of lovers the same thing.”
“Since when do we have that type of technology that you can creepily monitor my vitals remotely?”
He laughs, long and loud. “Since Donovan can’t wear his implants when he’s asleep—they sync with his smartwatch when he’s on overnights. Anyway, I’m just warning you, I’m like fucking Santa; I see you when you’re sleeping and know when you’re awake and all that, so behave.”
“Isn’t that your Daddy’s line?”
Doc rolls his eyes, but turns for the door. He steps into the doorway and says something too low for me to hear, but it must be permission because soon enough he’s gone and Hollis is the first one striding through the door.
My Tesoro looks like shit, there's no two other ways to say it. His dark hair isn’t the “I forgot to brush my hair today” one he usually sports, but more “Don’t ask me when I last washed it”.
There are dark circles under his eyes that not even the frames of his glasses can hide, and his skin is paler than it should be.
I flick my gaze to Jude and Roman, who are close on his heels.
Neither of them look like they’ve been sleeping well, but they don’t look half as rough as Hollis does.
I am surprised to see Benjamin trailing in behind Roman and Jude.
I am pleased to see him, but I figured he’d be with Emilio.
I know how important the boy is to my Baby Mouse.
Before I can say two words to any of them, Hollis marches to my bedside and slaps the shit out of me. The crack of his hand against my skin echoes in the bare-walled room. As does Benjamin’s shout of protest.
“It’s okay,” I say, looking at the younger man. “I promise, Topolino, it’s okay.”
“How the fuck is that okay?” he argues.
Roman stops him when Benjamin takes a step forward. “Don’t interfere in things you don’t understand, Paperotto. The Martellis have their own style of punishment. This is ours—well, Hollis’s.”
Benjamin grimaces, and I can assume part of that expression is him realizing that soon enough, Hollis’s ire will be turned on his best friend. For now, though, I’m my Tesoro’s sole focus.
Hollis roughly grabs my chin and turns my face to his. “Leave the room for a moment, Benjamin, if you can’t watch; I won’t think any less of you. But please, do not interfere, this is between me and this asshole.” Hollis’s grip is bruising as he addresses my Topolino.
Benjamin decides to stay, and my admiration for him goes up a notch.
“You can’t do this to me, Ten,” Hollis says in a rough voice. “I can’t survive without you.”
I swallow and say, “I was doing my job, Tesoro. I will never apologize for that.”
Tears fill his dark eyes, and I hate knowing I did this to him.
“I know. I will never fault you for that, but dammit, you are mine. The only one allowed to hurt you is me.” He moves his hand down to my side, pressing down just above the incision, making me wince.
“I hate knowing someone else put their mark on you. It makes my skin itch. I want to carve you up and show the whole world that every bloody inch of you is mine.”
“I am yours, Tesoro. Always. Nemmeno la morte può portarmi via da te.”
“I’m worried that won’t be true one day.”
“No.” Reaching for him, I wince as the movement tugs at my wound, but don’t let it stop me from grabbing his too long hair and pulling him in. “I will always be yours, Hol. In this life and the next. Nothing can take me from you.”
“I’ll kill anyone who dares to try,” he whispers, before pressing his lips to mine.
I smile against his mouth. I can’t help it.
Hollis isn’t a fighter, but anyone who thinks that is a disadvantage doesn’t know him at all.
He is extremely possessive and protective, and I know nothing will be able to bank his fire should the unthinkable happen one day.
Thankfully, that isn’t something we have to worry about right now.
It’ll take more than a bullet to take me out.
Hollis pulls back and rubs his fingers over my cheek. “That’s going to bruise,” he mutters.
“Good. I like it when you mark me.”
He smiles tiredly. “Haven’t done that in a long time. Soon.”
“Promise.”
One last kiss and then he moves away slightly, making room for someone else to get close.
Jude is next. He raises an eyebrow at me and shakes his head.
“Next time,” he signs slowly, an amused smile on his face.
“I’m going to shoot you myself. You can’t leave me alone with these two. ” He points at Roman and Hollis.
I laugh. “I was in charge of both of them by myself for over a year and a half, Agnellino. You can handle a few days.”
“I really, really can’t,” he voices. “There were tears, Tennant.” His eyes darken a little, his expression sobering. “I don’t like seeing Hollis cry. Don’t do it again.”
“I’ll do my best.”
He leans in and kisses me harshly. “I mean it, Ten. I maybe care about you a little. So don’t get yourself killed.”
I huff out a laugh, swallowing down my wince. “I’m sorry.”
His expression softens, and he presses a soft kiss to my cheek before taking a seat next to the bed, and gesturing to Roman and Benjamin. They come closer at the same time, one on either side of the bed.
Roman’s eyes are shiny with tears, but he doesn’t let them fall. “Why did you do that?” he asks as Benjamin takes my hand.
I reach for Roman and he comes easily, sitting on the bed next to my hip—on my good side—and taking my hand in both of his.
“It’s my job, Roman. No,” I say before he can interrupt.
“I know you don’t like it, but it’s true.
There were six people in that room, but only four of them were important.
I had to make a choice, and I did the best I could under the circumstances.
If I could have, I would have saved both you and Emilio, but I accept I am just one man. ”
“It’s my fault,” he whispers. “I was too hasty, too emotional. I let my need to save Dad get the best of me, and I drew attention to us. You and Lio might have been okay if it wasn’t for me.”