CHAPTER 9 #2
“Arran sent me a message to say they had a lead they needed to follow. They’ll be back later,” Cal answered.
He crossed the room and knelt before me, placing the tray on the floor beside him.
On it sat a couple of bottles of water, a glass of what looked like orange juice, and some small bowls filled with chopped fruit, popcorn, and another with my favourite malted chocolate balls.
“Think you can drink something?” Cal asked.
“Water please,” I whispered. Cal screwed off the cap then handed the bottle into my shaky hand. I took a few sips, the cool liquid soothing my raw throat. I took one more drink, then handed the bottle back, not trusting myself to keep a hold of it with how badly I still shook.
“I brought some more blankets, but I also grabbed Arran’s sweatshirt if you want to put that on. I know you like wearing our oversized clothes,” Cal offered as he held out a black hooded sweater, with the cutest smile on his face.
“They’re comfortable,” I shrugged, then I reached for the sweater.
“You can buy more clothes if what you have isn’t comfortable, Cara.
Just go online and get whatever you need.
You don’t need to borrow things that don’t even fit you,” Rafe told me, and I nodded, but there was no way I’d be doing that.
I didn’t just steal the guys sweaters because they were comfortable and baggy.
I stole them because they made me feel closer to the owners of the articles when I was struggling, and missing them and their company.
Rafe and Cal both helped me to pull Arran’s sweater on over my own clothes, and I sighed to myself discreetly when I sat back and was surrounded by the scent of Arran.
It was a mix of the aftershave I knew so well already, mixed with something citrusy, which I assumed was his shampoo or bodywash, all mixed with a note that was just Arran.
It brought me so much comfort to have that part of him close to me after the panic of the last hour or so.
While Rafe and Cal fussed wrapping me in multiple blankets, Dio’s phone rang and he left the room to take the call. I was just settling in against Rafe again when Dio came back in looking stressed and somewhat angry.
“What happened?” I demanded as I sat up and tensed for the next disaster to hit.
“Nothing, Carr. It’s just an issue at one of our hotels. I’m going to need to steal Rafe away if you’re feeling better?” Dio assured me.
“Can’t you handle it?” Rafe sighed, not even trying to hide his annoyance.
“Sorry brother. This is something you definitely need to be involved with,” Dio replied.
“Go.” I turned in Rafe’s arms so I could see his face. “I’m better now. I just want to sleep.”
“Not in your room. I don’t want you sleeping in there any longer. You’re not comfortable there, and you don’t feel safe. We’re going to set you up a new bedroom, and you’re going to tell me exactly how you want it to be. No more sleeping in the dressing room, Tesorino,” he told me firmly.
“You can’t do that, Rafe. I…I’ll get used to it.”
“I can, and I will. Tomorrow we’re going to talk about it and get the ball rolling, but for tonight I don’t want you to be alone.”
“She won’t be. I’ll stay with her,” Cal interjected.
“I don’t need someone to keep an eye on me,” I argued, even though I realised how ridiculous the statement was after the epic meltdown I just sank into.
“No one is keeping an eye on you, Piccola. We just don’t want you to be alone after this. We want someone close if it happens again,” Dio countered, and when I met his eyes, I saw nothing but genuine concern.
“It’s not just for you, Cara. I want to be close to you after seeing you that way. You scared me and I’m not okay yet,” Cal added, and when I looked to him I realised he wasn’t joking around. He looked pale and legitimately shaken.
“I just want you to be, and to feel secure, Cara. Tell me what you need, sweetheart. Do you want me to have men bring a bed in here, so you can sleep here? Cal can stay here with you too. I could have a television brought in too, so you can watch films and try to relax,” Rafe offered, and I hated the desperation in his voice.
He would literally do anything to help me, and I’d never had that before.
It made me feel guilty, because I knew I was hurting him every time I failed to keep it together and scared him.
“Cal and I can watch a film in the living room. The sofa there is big enough for us both to crash on. I’ll be fine there,” I suggested, hoping it would soothe him.
“I don’t like the idea of you sleeping on the sofa,” he grumbled.
“I’ve slept in far worse places, Rafe!” I shouldn’t have snapped, but I was just so tired and stressed out with everything that had happened. It was myself I was angry with, for losing my control so majorly and scaring not only Rafe, but all of them. “Shit. Sorry,” I sighed almost instantly.
“We’ll figure it out, Rafe. I’ll make sure Cara’s comfortable enough to sleep. You both should go and put out whatever fire needs dealing with. I’ll give you a ring if Cara needs anything,” Cal cut in, and I was so grateful to him.
“Are you sure you’ll be alright now?” Rafe asked as he held me against him again.
“I’m sure. I’ll be asleep within ten minutes, wherever I am,” I assured him.
“Okay, but you ring me if you need anything. I want to know if you start to feel anxious again too. Am I clear?”
Once Rafe had my nod of agreement, he stood and lifted me with him, setting me on my feet, but not releasing me until Cal was close enough to wrap an arm around me.
“Stay with her,” Rafe uttered to Cal as he passed him, obviously thinking I was far enough away, but I heard it. I didn’t say anything though. I knew my brother was terrified to leave me, and the only person to blame for that, was me.
“Try to rest, and listen to Cal. Let him take care of you,” Dio told me quietly as he approached a laid a kiss on my temple, lingering for just a moment or two longer than was necessary.
“You sound like Dante,” I smiled.
“We want the same thing, baby – to take care of you in every way possible. Be a good girl for Cal.” The last was whispered in my ear, then he turned and strode from the room as I stood there blushing furiously and confused by not only his words, but the sexy and strong tone he’d used to say them.
He had me pressing my thighs together tighter to fight the ache he caused there.
It was overwhelmingly new, but thrillingly exciting all at once.
“If you need anything, Cal can send one of my men to get it. Just let him know. You can ring or text me at any time if you need me or just want to talk, alright? No matter what I’m doing, you come before the business, always. Understand?” Rafe told me as he approached me again.
“Okay,” I nodded a little emotionally. When I’d been a kid, and lived with Marcello, nothing had come before business. That was a rule we all grew up knowing, and one I never forgot. It was huge for Rafe to tell me the complete opposite now, and it choked me up. “B-be careful. Please?”
“You can’t get rid of me that easily, Gioia.” He smirked, then kissed the top of my head, before he turned and followed Dio from the room.
I didn’t know what they were going to ‘handle’ but I was pretty sure Dio wouldn’t have dragged Rafe away from me that night for an issue at a hotel.
Something bigger was going on and I knew it.
I’d push for the truth tomorrow, but for that night I was done.
I sank against Cal’s side and almost sobbed when he gathered me up into his arms and pressed me against his chest.
“I know you’re tired, gorgeous,” he soothed gently. “Let’s get you comfortable so you can sleep.”
“Just d-don’t leave me, Cal. Please…I c-can’t be alone. Just for tonight. Stay with me,” I pleaded.
“I’m not going anywhere. I’d stay with you forever if you asked me to, babe. I’d happily spend the rest of my life holding you, just like this.”
“Yes,” I whispered tiredly, laying my head on his broad shoulder and nuzzling against the heat of his neck. “That’s what I w-want. That sounds perfect.”
“Rest now. I’ll take care of you.”
Sleep, or exhaustion must have pulled me under then, because the last thing I remembered was laying my head against his shoulder, and him placing a soft kiss on the corner of my mouth, then nothing.