25. Zeno
CHAPTER 25
ZENO
“O nly a few more to go, Lily,” the Emergency Room doctor at Sunrise Medical Center says, completing the last of his stitches.
Fortunately, the bullet exited as fast as it entered and no surgery was needed.
“You’re being so tough right now,” I murmur against her ear. I know she’s in pain but she’s trying to be strong, squeezing the shit out of my hand each time the doc works his needle.
She nods, her lips barely visible because she has them stretched into such a tight line. The tips of my fingers are ice cold because she’s cutting off my circulation, but hey, this is what you do when you’re trying to comfort your girl.
My girl.
Damn, who’d have ever thought I’d be using, and meaning, those words?
Not me, that’s for sure.
Yesterday, all I wanted was to escape from my prison, otherwise known as the Excelsior.
Today?
Well, let’s just say my priorities have shifted.
I drop a kiss on the top of Lily’s head as the doctor peels off his latex gloves. He steps back with a smile. “You’re a great patient.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Easy,” I say. “She’s my great patient.”
The doctor’s eyebrows fly upward and he steps back, meeting my menacing glare. “I’ll just write up a prescription for some Percocet and have the nurse come in to show you how to change the bandage.”
Lily smiles at him. “It’s okay. I’m good on the bandage maintenance. I’m an aspiring veterinarian. I’ve had some practice.”
The doctor nods quickly. “Okay, then. Nice meeting you both.” He looks pretty young, obviously easily intimidated. My jaw twitches as he backs out of the curtained-off area.
She looks at me with a roll of her eyes. “Was that really necessary?”
“He was getting too handsy.”
“He was stitching me up! What was he supposed to use, his toes?”
I shrug. “I didn’t like the way he looked at you.”
“Is that so?” she says in a teasing tone.
“Yeah,” I say in a gruff voice, sweeping my hand over the side of her face. “I want what I want and what I want isn’t available for public consumption.” I smirk. “Only for my consumption.”
“So, let me get this straight, if I want to be with you, it has to be on your terms?” She quirks an eyebrow at me.
I give a swift nod. “You know the rules.”
“Some rules are meant to be broken.”
“These were created especially for you,” I whisper, nuzzling her ear. “And I think you can agree that they’ve benefitted you when you follow them.”
“I’m curious about their long-term potential,” she says, a teasing lilt to her voice. “I mean, yeah, now they’re all fine and good but?—”
“Whoa, whoa. Fine and good?” I recoil as if she’s just attempted to impale my eyeballs with her fingers. “ Fine and good ?”
“Well, I don’t want to swell your head.” With her good hand, she grabs my dick, palming it through my pants. “ Yet .”
This woman.
She couldn’t be further from the girl I thought she was when I saw her in that stupid t-shirt wrangling Vito at the casino.
Lily may resist her world but damn, she belongs in it.
Ruling it.
With me by her side.
Jesus. When did I become this guy?
She laces her fingers with mine, staring up at me. Her face is void of color, and her hair hangs in stringy strands around her face.
Lily Salesi couldn’t possibly be any bit more beautiful.
I run a hand down the small of her back. “Hey, are you okay?” I ask, my face serious. Because for all the badass juice she’s got flowing through her, she was almost kidnapped again and shot by an evil motherfucker. She’s experienced some pretty serious trauma, and even though she’s handling it like a champ, I know at least ninety percent of it is for show.
Her shoulders quake slightly as she leans against my chest. “Today was scary,” she murmurs. “I mean, talk about being thrust into reality. No lube, just a hard plugging.”
“You were amazing,” I say, stroking the back of her head.
“Not lucky,” she says, almost to herself.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I said I was lucky once, like I told you. I got away from Messina’s guys the first time because someone heard me screaming and called the cops. But I really got away because I knew how to take care of myself. I mean, yes, luck was part of it, but…” She lets out a deep sigh, wincing as she shifts her shoulder. “I don’t want to win because I’m lucky. I want to win because I’m just that good!”
“I’ll tell ya someone who wasn’t lucky today,” I say. “Your pal, Rayleigh. I heard that you shot her twice while I was chained to a wall in the middle of the desert.”
She giggles. “Yeah, well, she pissed me off.”
“Noted.” I grin. “And then she was offed by her uncle. I mean, talk about getting a raw deal in this whole operation. And hey,” I murmur. “You are that good. Don’t ever doubt yourself, Lil. What you lack in experience you make up with heart and confidence. And that’s sexy as fuck.”
“ You got kidnapped, though,” she says, a teasing smile on her lips.
“Thanks for pointing out my fatal flaw of losing focus when I’m circling your universe,” I grumble.
“I hope you don’t get too dizzy. Because I want you circling it for a long time to come.”
“Don’t plan on that. I’m coming in for a nose-dive. Soon .”
I dip my head, grazing her lips with mine. I’d stand here forever if she’d keep letting me kiss her like this. Hell, I’d dance across hot coals if her lips were waiting for me at the end.