Chapter 26
ALEX
Dante was due home any minute. I watched for him out the front window, sitting on my knees, facing backward on the couch. Every time I heard a car, I tensed, but no one stopped.
Then I saw a black SUV moving slowly up the street. Something told me this was him. It was exactly the kind of car a mobster would drive.
As I’d expected it would, the car slowed, stopping in front of Dante’s house. I didn’t recognize the driver. It wasn’t Rafe. I’d hoped to get another chance to talk to him and to see him together with Dante. But that would have to happen later.
The driver got out, opened Dante’s door, and helped him out of the vehicle.
Dante was wearing sweats and a button-up shirt that was much too large.
His left arm was in a sling. The driver grabbed a black duffel bag.
He clearly intended to follow Dante to the house, but Dante shook his head.
I could tell the man didn’t want to let him go, but he eventually handed Dante the bag and got back in the car. Dante made his own way up the sidewalk.
While I’d been watching, I hadn’t seen the guards that had been present last night, but I had no doubt they were still there somewhere.
I raced to the door and opened it, grabbing Dante’s good arm and pulling him inside. “Come sit down,” I said, leading him into the living room.
“I’m okay. I can walk, and I don’t have to sit down right away.”
“Yes, you do. You lost a lot of blood yesterday, and you’re supposed to be resting. Rafe told me you’d try to do too much.”
“What else did Rafe tell you?”
“That you were stubborn. That it was going to be hard to keep you off your feet. That you would want to go back to work too soon. He said I should make sure you rested and took your pain medication and antibiotics. Oh, and you need to drink plenty of water.”
“Rafe would never follow any of those instructions.”
“Well, those were the instructions I got, so I’m going to see that you follow them.”
Dante grumbled as I led him to the sofa, but he sat down.
When I fluffed up some pillows and insisted he relax on them, he didn’t argue.
He wouldn’t let me put a blanket over him though, insisting that it was fucking hot and he did not need a blanket.
Adenine came sauntering into the room, jumped up on top of Dante, and curled up.
“Good to see you too,” he said as he scratched her ears. He pointed to the chair next to the couch. “Come talk to me. What have you done while I was gone?”
“Mostly watched movies, snuggled with Adenine, and hoped you would call.”
“I would have called sooner if I could.”
“I know. I’m just so glad you’re here now. I ordered you some soup. I didn’t think you’d want me trying to make it. I might’ve burned your house down.”
He should definitely not be cooking alone. “You need a few more cooking lessons before trying that, unless you’re just heating it up from a can.”
“Are you hungry now? Rafe says you need to eat plenty to keep up your strength.”
“Jesus, did he write you a whole book of instructions?”
“No, but he probably wanted to.”
“He would. I’d love some soup and maybe a beer.”
I shook my head. “Nope. No alcohol. I’ll bring you some water.”
The next few days were going to hell if this kept up. “I might as well stay with my brothers if I’m going to be watched over like this.”
“I’ll treat you good too. Just wait.” He smiled, and despite everything I’d been through, my cock perked up. I was very interested in how good he could make me feel.