19. Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Nineteen
“Well, aren’t you the picture of sunshine and happiness this morning,” Fizzbo said to Bronx as he walked into his private room and saw the big-ass smile brightening his face.
Bronx was sitting alone in a chair by the window overlooking the front parking lot when Fizzbo breezed into the room. He grinned broadly at Fizzbo and said with levity, “That’s because I’m fully awake and able to see Tony every day.”
“Once your doctors told me you were alert and walking, I figured I’d let you have some time with Tony before I showed up to check on you.”
“Thank you for that,” Bronx said as Fizzbo walked closer then sat down on the ledge of the window sill. “We needed that time to get . . . reacquainted.”
“I’m happy to see the smile back on your face. It says a lot.”
“I should probably thank you for allowing Tony this much time off to be with me,” Bronx said.
“He’s been an enormous strength to me with the fucking rehab which is totally kicking my ass.
But he’s also been a great emotional support as well.
I don’t think my recovery would be this progressed without having him to lean on when I feel like giving up. ”
Fizzbo released a loud sigh. “Listen, I know you’re probably pissed about me putting him on suspension but it was the best possible solution to the problem,” Fizzbo detailed.
“It appeased Dagger to some degree from wanting him fired but I also knew a suspension would allow Tony free rein to be here with you.”
Bronx sat up straighter in his chair, his smile from a minute ago long gone. “His suspension was completely unnecessary,” he said tersely.
“We have protocols in place for a reason,” Fizzbo explained.
“Yeah, I understand, but what you’re doing is punishing him for taking care of me.
He’s the one who made sure I was transported to the ER as fast as I was and then stayed with me when no one else was around.
” Bronx seethed. “The other day, my doctor flat-out told me Tony’s actions saved my fucking life.
He in no way hurt me or enabled that situation to happen.
It was all me. I was the one who kept poking the lion getting him to wrestle like juveniles, and it was me who hit my own damn head.
Tony had nothing to do with that! If anything, he continually tried to deescalate the situation. ”
“I hear what you’re saying, but as the head of security at Ventura, it is my job to make sure our security officers always keep the safety and wellbeing of our principals as their number one priority—above all else.
And in your situation, what Tony did falls into a gray area of our company protocols.
Dagger is looking at this from a business standpoint.
I’m looking at this as you being kept safe above any personal feelings or situations that could jeopardize that.
In my opinion Tony could have done a better job, and that’s why I put him on suspension. ”
“Respectfully, I disagree with your opinion, but as long as Tony is reinstated as my guard once I’m able to get back to work, I won’t complain because I love having him here with me,” Bronx admitted.
“Then we’ll leave it as that,” Fizzbo said and stood up from where he was leaning. “Keep doing the physical therapy and I’m certain they’ll be releasing you soon. After that, we’ll get you moved back home and set up with whatever nurses or therapists you might require.”
“Thank you, and just so you know, I do appreciate everything you’ve done for me and also for Tony,” Bronx stated.
“I know, and we’re good. It was a bad situation all around but you’re on the mend now and soon this will be nothing but a bad memory,” Fizzbo said and smiled. “Continue getting stronger and I’ll see you soon.”
“Sounds good,” Bronx said and watched as Fizzbo slipped back out into the hallway.
Bronx was still grinning when Dagger walked into the room. “You must have passed Fizzbo in the hallway,” Bronx said. “You just missed him.”
“We came together but we wanted to visit one-on-one with you instead of a tag team,” Dagger said.
His body language seemed tense but considering Dagger’s mood had been off the last two times he’d visited, Bronx wasn’t surprised to see nothing had changed.
“How are you doing?” Dagger asked. “You look a lot better and it’s good seeing you sitting in a chair instead of in bed.”
“I’m doing really good,” Bronx said. “PT is moving along and I feel a lot stronger. My balance is greatly improved too.”
“I’m really glad to hear this,” Dagger said as he pulled a chair over to sit near Bronx. “We want you back as soon as possible, so I’m relieved about your progress.”
“This is really fucking things up with the band, isn’t it?” Bronx asked.
Dagger nodded. “It is, I’m not gonna lie,” he said. “With the Vegas residency locked in, this couldn’t have happened at a worse time. But now that you’re out of danger, I’m going to talk to Lincoln to see if he can step in until you’re cleared to perform.”
“I’m really sorry about this,” Bronx said. “But you know this wasn’t planned.”
“No, but it was one hundred percent avoidable,” Dagger said in a more curt tone.
“Listen, my top priority is your health. But every one of you plays an important role in the band. We can’t afford to have anyone out of commission.
As a whole, it’s damaging for the band and it fucks with our tight work schedule. ”
“Again, I’m sorry but if it means anything, Tony and I sorted out our differences and now we’re . . . together.”
“I heard and I’ll admit it’s a relief you’re no longer at each other’s throats, but if this becomes a problem again because you are together, the punishment will be far more severe than a suspension for Tony.”
“I understand but I want you to know that the feelings I have for him are real and I’m very serious about him,” Bronx admitted.
“I can see that and I’m happy for you both, I truly am,” Dagger said. “Just be sure to put the band first—at least until we get through the residency.”
An announcement over the hospital PA briefly interrupted their conversation.
“Maintenance, please to report to the second level public restrooms,” the female voice rang through the speakers. “Maintenance, please report to level two.”
“Son of a bitch,” Dagger said. “Something tells me that call is the result of Dante and Ashton working off steam in the bathroom. I should have left those two fuckers back in LA. I’ll go see what our misbehaving toddlers have gotten themselves into this time.
” Dagger stood and started for the door then looked over his shoulder at Bronx.
“Use the opportunity to rest and I’ll be back in a few. ”
Bronx nodded and watched him hurry from the room.
He shut his eyes after the door shut, suddenly exhausted from the brief exchange he’d had with Dagger.
He thought about Dante and Ashton and their sex-crazed antics and couldn’t help but grin.
Then he found himself wondering when wrecking someone else’s bathroom would become old news for them.
At least this time he could be grateful their juvenile behavior was taking the focus off of him and Tony.
But how long would his reprieve last? Probably not long enough.
An hour later, Dante and Ashton strolled into Bronx’s private room looking well-fucked and blissed-out.
It was really good to see their faces after such a long stretch of not really seeing anyone at all.
A comfortable smile lifted his face, even though he was starting to feel fatigued from all the visitors coming by today.
“I’m surprised hospital security didn’t kick you two destructive, horn-dog fools to the curb,” Bronx said and chuckled.
“And it looks like you’re way ahead of schedule by wearing your Halloween mummy costume,” Dante fired back.
“Yeah, dude. You should probably check your calendar,” Ashton said with a chuckle. “It’s not quite October.”
“Are you referring to my sexy head-dressing?” Bronx asked.
“You’d have to talk to my doctor about the tangled mess he made.
I can’t take credit for it since I was unconscious at the time.
Besides, my doctor told me I needed the seven layers of gauze to hold my massive brain inside my skull and keep it from oozing out all over the floor. ”
“Was it actually confirmed that you have a brain in there or are we still speculating?” Dante teased.
“Yeah, what was the final conclusion to that medical mystery?” Ashton asked. “Brain or no brain?”
“Fuck off, dipshits,” Bronx said and laughed.
It was moments like this that he loved being part of his freaky band family.
It was far better than any blood relatives he had still living, that was for fuck sure.
“How about you tell me the story behind your delayed exit from LA?” Bronx asked.
“I heard it had something to do with you two being tied up together, and you couldn’t get away because neither of you could find the fucking key to the handcuffs.
” Bronx couldn’t contain his laughter and let it spill from his mouth until his head began to hurt where he was still healing.
“Hardy-har-har,” Ashton said and crossed his arms over his muscled chest. “I’m thinking it might be even more exciting to talk about you fucking your guard until it landed you in the ER. That’d be a fun topic to discuss. Wouldn’t you agree, my darling Dante?”
“Jesus, are you two writing sappy greeting cards now?” Bronx asked then pretended to stick his fingers into his mouth to induce vomiting.
“Tell us how it worked, Bronxy?” Dante questioned while he ignored Bronx’s question. “Did you reach orgasm while using Tony’s head as a punching bag or do I have it backwards and it was him pounding on you with his fists?”
Ashton burst out laughing. “Ha! You just said backwards and pounding in the same thought,” he said. “You know how much I love being pounded when we bone. Makes me shiver just thinking about it.”