1. Sandro #2
I turned my attention back to Rio and nodded.
“Certainly.” Then I smiled over at Abel.
“I would enjoy joining you and the others on holiday if there is room. It’s been some time since I have been to the Colosseum as well as other sites in Rome.
” I would endure it because I knew that no matter how much I tried to come up with an excuse, it was useless.
I owed Abel my life, literally, and if the little fox wanted me to join him in Rome, I was going to grit my teeth and join them on their holiday.
“We’ve rented an apartment for the week,” Marcello said. “There is plenty of room though,” he added. “Naldo and Mazzi are joining us with Tulio. And, of course, Rio.”
I nodded. The warlock doctor patted me on the shoulder again, and although there was no wave of magic this time, it wasn’t needed.
“If there is room for me without imposing on anyone, I would enjoy joining the holiday,” I said again.
I knew getting away from the villa would be beneficial to my mental health.
No matter what I did, I couldn’t walk the walls of the villa without thoughts of Vitto.
I missed my brother and always would. There was nothing that could replace his absence in my life.
I managed to stay out of the conversation and eat my breakfast while others talked around me.
I had thought—no, hoped—that I was going to be able to get away from Rio when I finished my meal, took the dishes over to the other side of the room, and placed them in the dirty bin.
Only the warlock doctor was right there behind me, waiting.
“Ready? I promise it will only take a moment of your time.”
I could feel everyone’s gazes and knew I was left with no choice but to go with Rio and let him check me over. I’d done what I could to avoid the family as much as possible since I’d been rescued, but I often found myself wondering if it would have been better if I’d never been found.
I walked through the familiar halls to what used to be my office.
I shared it with Rio now, but in reality, it was Rio’s office.
He was a perfect fit for the coven. More than I ever was.
I only joined to watch after Vitto, because he wanted the feel of family.
More than what I alone could give him. Now he was gone.
That same family that he loved—I did as well, if I were honest—had been the reason he was gone.
“Your thoughts are dark,” Rio said as we entered the office.
“How do you know that?”
He gestured to the exam table that I’d stood over, digging out more than one bullet and patching up many deep knife wounds. I rolled my eyes and hopped up on it.
“Lie down,” Rio said.
I did as I was told, and then Rio’s hand started glowing bright green. He hovered it over my body as he moved it from my head down to my feet, and then the glowing stopped.
“Your body is physically healing, but you do still have some wounds that aren’t quite what they should be. They would heal quicker if you were to feed from someone.”
“Is that an offer?” I asked, trying to lighten the mood.
“If that’s what it takes to bring you out of your funk, then I wouldn’t be opposed to it. You’re an attractive man,” Rio said, “but I don’t believe you truly are interested in me that way.”
“You’re right. You’re not my type,” I said as I sat up.
“There is no need for you to be in pain. I can use magic to help with the aches and pains until your body completely heals. You were almost dead.”
I sighed. My first thought about that was that I would have preferred it, but I knew Abel didn’t feel that way. He’d gone against Marcello in order to save me. He’d risked his own life, something I would never forget.
Rio crossed the room and stood in front of me against the wall. He crossed his legs at the ankle and his arms over his chest. “Tell me what’s really going on. You went through a lot, more than any of us know because you aren’t talking. I am here to care for you if needed.”
I shook my head. “I appreciate that. I will be sure to come ask for a dose of whatever it is that you gave me at the table the next time I need one.”
“That isn’t the answer, Sandro. Yes, I will happily help you, but you need to open up enough so I know how to best help you.”
“Are you a psychologist now too?” I asked, glaring at the warlock.
Rio returned my glare. “No. But I’m trying to help you, which is more than you are doing.
I understand wanting to be in your room to rest. I recommend it, actually.
But you need to either stay there or be present when you aren’t.
” Rio pushed away from the wall. “You were so in your own mind that you didn’t hear Abel trying to talk to you about the twins and how excited he is about his upcoming trip.
” Rio crossed to the door and stopped just inside the room.
“If you are going to be poor company on the holiday, I suggest you stay here and not spoil it for him. He’s been through hell unlike any of us have known. ”
Something in me snapped. “What do you think I went through?”
“You’re right. But were you sold by your father into sex slavery?
Were you raped over and over? What both of you went through was horrific.
But don’t think that your tragedy is the only one in the coven.
I’m sorry about your brother. I will never get the chance to meet him or learn how wonderful he was.
I’m horrified for what you went through at the hands of Dino Piscano and those with him.
But Abel is trying. You could too.” Rio walked out the door, leaving me with my own thoughts.
He wasn’t wrong. I was being a cranky ass.
I was avoiding everyone. I wasn’t living; I was existing.
Yes, I was still healing, but I knew how to make that less painful and how to speed my recovery time.
Yet I was being a martyr for whatever reason and was welcoming all of the pain I was enduring. Why?
I slid off the table, expecting shooting pain to race up my legs, but was surprised that there was none.
I owed Rio a genuine apology and gratitude for helping me.
I looked over at the desk that I’d sat behind for years.
There was a smaller one in the corner, one that wasn’t nearly as significant, and I knew it was the one that Rio had been using.
He was here, and he was an amazing asset to the family, but in looking around the office, it was obvious that he was unsure about his position here.
It was possible that he was of a mind that he would be unwanted once I was fully healed. That absolutely wasn’t the case.
I left the office, for the first time without pain shooting through my body with every step, and went in search of the warlock doctor. Perhaps if I could talk to anyone about what had been troubling me, it was him.