Chapter 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Deuce
Tired but wired is less a catchy internet phrase from well-meaning health professionals and more of a state of being right now.
It’s been twelve hours since the police arrived on the scene and barked orders at all of us like we hadn’t taken care of business for them.
Fazio and his goons were already neutralized.
I despise that word.
It’s mafia speak designed to separate feelings from the actual action of taking a life. It’s part of the whole culture of kill or be killed.
And I want nothing to do with it.
Carrying her in my arms, I wouldn’t let them separate me from Valentina when all the sirens and cops and nosy citizens arrived on the scene.
Not in the back of the ambulance and not when we got to the emergency room.
They had to put us in exam beds next to each other, sewing up the cut on my temple while another doctor worked on Valentina while I kept a close eye on her.
She hasn’t woken up since she collapsed in that dirty cabin.
I left her hospital room momentarily to make sure Papa was picked up by his neighbor.
He was no worse for wear after the kidnapping, which is more than I could have hoped for.
One minute I was bargaining for his life, the next he’s clapping me on the shoulder with a wink, headed for home so he can heat up a chicken casserole to share with Tommy.
“She’s waking, Deuce,” says the nurse that just came on day shift as she sticks her head out of Valentina’s room.
Normally I’d know the woman’s name by now, along with where she grew up and how many siblings she has, but I haven’t been able to clear my mind enough to engage in charming the pants off her.
There’s only one woman’s pants I want off and she’s currently nursing a concussion and some dehydration.
I rush over and thank the woman, not stopping until I’m half sitting on the bed, Valentina’s hands encased in mine. Her dark hair is a matted mess under multiple pristine white bandages. Jesus, how many times did he hit her? Rage makes my hands tighten on hers.
God, I want to kill him all over again.
Valentina whimpers and I clear my head of all stupid vengeful thoughts. That’s Bettina’s way of life. Not mine. All that matters now is making sure Valentina recovers fully from this ordeal.
“Valentina?” Her eyelids flutter again, along with another moan dropping from her lips. “Wake up, baby. The doctors want to see if you’re okay.”
I need to see that you’re okay.
The eye that’s not swollen shut opens. The pupil is dilated, a fact the nurse observes as she pushes her way between us to check her vitals.
“You’re in the hospital, honey,” the nurse drawls, hitting a button to move the head of the bed upward.
“You’ve taken a few knocks, but you’re gonna be just fine.
Plus you have a handsome man here waiting for you to wake up, so I suggest you muster up the energy.
” She leans in and whispers just loud enough for me to hear, “Whoo-eee. He’s worth it, I promise ya. ”
I smile gratefully at her as she leaves Valentina’s bedside but quickly turn my focus to the only woman who matters to me any longer. She’s staring right at me, a smile tugging on those pretty lips. I miss her bright red lipstick, though I’m sure that’s the least of her worries right now.
“Hey,” I whisper, leaning closer to kiss in the center of her forehead, the only square inch on her head that’s not covered in bumps and bandages.
“Hi,” she says back, voice even rougher than normal. “Marcel.”
I lift my hand to quiet her. “He’s fine. At home eating dinner, no worse for wear.” I can’t tell you how much it warms my heart to know she thought of my father the second she opened her eyes, but I need her focused on getting well herself.
Valentina squeezes her eyes shut in relief. Then she shifts in the bed and winces. “I feel like I got my ass kicked. I must look hideous.”
I take her in, thinking I’ve never seen a more courageous, fierce woman. She could be wearing a burlap sack over her head and I’d still find her wildly attractive.
“You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” I say sincerely.
She purses her lips. “You blind, ciuccio?”
My mouth hitches to the side. I’m too relieved to see her fighting spirit alive and well to worry that she’s still calling me a dumbass.
“Nah, I ain’t blind. I saw my woman use some fine pickax skills last night.” I shake my head in amazement. “I’ve never seen teeth go flying like that.”
Valentina snort-laughs, then pulls one hand away from mine to hold her skull. “Oh God, don’t make me laugh!”
I pick up her other hand and kiss the back of it. “I’m sorry. I just want to make you feel better. I can’t believe that asshole hit you.”
Valentina drops the hand from her head and smiles softly. “You’re already making me feel better by being here. I don’t like hospitals.”
“Then I won’t leave your side until it’s time to go home.”
Valentina opens her mouth but gets distracted by her cell phone vibrating on the little table with wheels next to the bed. The screen says Bettina. We both groan. She lets it go to voicemail. Then my phone starts buzzing in my pocket. Our gazes lock and the tension in the room rises exponentially.
When the buzzing stops, she asks, “Have you talked to her?
I shake my head. “I keep pushing her to voicemail.”
“Why?”
“I wanted to wait until I knew you were okay and I didn’t need to go scorched earth. I want to talk to her as a united front. You and I need to agree about how we’re going to handle her.”
Valentina is quiet, the sounds of the hospital outside her door the only noise. Then her index finger begins to stroke the back of my hand. “We?”
“Yes, we. You and me. If there’s a team to be on, I’m on yours. And you’re on mine.”
“That’s how it is?” she asks quietly.
I nod once. “That’s how it is.”
She’s quiet for a moment, then her face starts to quiver. I shift closer, thinking maybe she’s having a medical event, but then her eyes get shiny and one single solitary tear slides down her cheek.
Valentina is crying.
The bed rocks as I jump to my feet. I lean in and cup her face, careful to keep my touch light as a feather. “Baby, what’s wrong? Are you in pain? Should I get the nurse?”
She shakes her head and then groans at the movement. More tears slide down her cheeks. “I’m fine!”
I can’t even see her eyes now. They’re squeezed shut as she sobs. My heart physically lurches in my chest. My girl is in pain. I won’t stand for this when stronger pain meds are readily available. I release her face and straighten. “I’ll be back with better pain meds.”
“No!” Her eyes fly open and she reaches for me.
I stand there, on alert, unsure what I should do.
Valentina stops sobbing just long enough to huff. “I’m just feeling things.”
I gape at her. Like, painful things? Why won’t she let me get the nurse? “Like what exactly?”
Valentina throws her hands in the air. “I don’t know! You just said we’re a we and now I can’t stop my eyeballs from crying, which is really annoying because I don’t cry!”
I take her in, red-rimmed eyes, leaking nose, tears streaking down her face. Oh, she’s definitely crying. But I don’t point that out. She’s dealing with enough right now.
“Yes, I can see your eyes watering quite a bit,” I mutter.
Valentina glares at me, but the tears don’t dissipate. “I’ve never had anyone choose me.”
All the fight leaves my body. My knees buckle and my ass hits the mattress.
It’s a simple statement and yet it packs a punch.
No one has ever chosen her. Goddamn, that’s enough to bring a man to his knees.
I’ve lived such a privileged life with two parents who have chosen me.
Sure, in a flawed way, but that’s the human experience, is it not?
But to live your whole life feeling like no one has ever prioritized you?
That’s no way to live at all. Suddenly my eyeballs are feeling like they want to cry too.
I grip her hands in mine, wanting to infuse her with this other simple truth.
“If I have my way, you’ll spend the rest of your life being put first. Being chosen over and over again until you get sick of being chosen.
You’re my priority from now on, V. Against my better judgement for a smooth-sailing life, I love you. ”
God, it feels good to finally say it out loud. I don’t even instinctually reach for my ribs to protect them from the tip of her knife. I trust her. Implicitly.
Valentina lifts her chin, lips quivering as she sucks in a deep breath. Her watery eyes drill into mine, searching for the truth in my statement. It’s all there. She just has to let herself believe it. I see the very second she does. Her shoulders release and her whole face goes soft.
“I love you too.”
She says it with a tone containing all the wonder reserved for miracles, and I suppose this is one.
I lean in and kiss her, softly, more chaste than I’ve ever kissed a woman.
Her lips tremble against mine. We breathe each other in and rest in the knowledge that two very independent people have decided to be a we.
There’s no rushing, this is not a stolen moment to pack in everything all at once.
We have the rest of our lives to rest in each other.
I pull back, only when the door opens and the doctor strides in, two nurses at her heels. Still, Valentina and I stare into each other’s eyes. The intensity will always be there with us, but we can also be quiet and calm and gentle with each other too.
“Well, my dear, we need to get another scan to make sure there’s no swelling, but if it comes back clear, you’re free to go home under concussion protocols and constant supervision.”
We give the doctor enough attention to assure her Valentina will be well taken care of at home with me.
Then the group leaves and it’s just her and me again.
Her hands grip me tightly, as if she’s afraid to let me go and break whatever this spell is we’re under together.
She’ll learn to trust in what I’m offering.
This isn’t fleeting. This won’t be taken from her.
Our relationship will not be used as a bargaining chip in someone’s power play.
“I’m not going back to the Barzettis,” she finally says, voice tired but firm.
All the residual tension in me leaves in one long exhale of gratitude. “Thank fuck.”
Valentina shoots me a teasing look, despite the swollen eye and bandages. “That’s not very Southern of you.”
I kiss the back of one hand, then the next. “I wasn’t going to try to tell you what to do, or influence you one way or the other. I think you’ve had enough of that with Betty. But I can’t say I’m not relieved you’re refusing to go back.”
“I’m done with that life. Not because of panic attacks though, but because I just don’t want it. You’ve opened my eyes to other things that are out there for me.” She squeezes my hands and grins. “Hell, I think I’ve fallen in love with small towns.”
My eyes shoot wide. “Don’t you mean one small town?”
Valentina shrugs, her eye dancing with mischief. “I don’t know. I haven’t seen other small towns.”
“I’ll take you to every single one, then.”
She tilts her head to the side. “No, thank you. I just want to be in Heaven. With you.”
“Then move in with me. For good. Let’s be the hottest couple in all of Heaven, Mississippi.”
Valentina snorts. “I think I need to heal my face before I attempt that moniker.”
I shoot her a wink. “Nah, you got me, baby.”
“I hope your big head doesn’t fit in your precious car and you have to sell it to get an old person’s Buick.”
I let go of her hands and swivel, stretching out next to her on the bed.
There’s really not room for two of us on this thing, but I don’t care.
It’s going to be a very long time before I ever leave her side again.
She snuggles into me as I wrap her up in my arms. For all her bluster and mean wishes, she’s a squishy little marshmallow underneath.
“I hope you marry me one day and make me the luckiest ciuccio in the world,” I whisper in her ear.