Sandro (Vittone’s Vampires #2)

1. Sandro

Sandro

Ilay in bed, staring up at the familiar ceiling, and could not keep my mind from thinking back to a completely different view not long ago.

I had felt close to Vitto while on Capri.

I had been careless though, and that had almost cost me my life.

I blinked away the view of the warehouse ceiling and saw where I actually was: my room in the villa.

I was home. I was alive, thanks to a tiny little fox shifter that everyone had underestimated.

And I wasn’t necessarily happy about it.

The coven had a new doctor, one who was much more capable than I could ever be.

I’d gotten to know Rio quite well in the past week while he helped me heal.

I had actually been back with the coven for three weeks now, but I remembered nothing of the first two.

I’d been in some sort of sleep-stasis while my body recovered from the dozens of stab wounds, a pair of gunshot wounds, and losing more blood than should have been possible.

But here I was. I knew it was time to get up, put on a smile that I did not feel, and pretend to be happy for the sake of the family.

I knew that it would devastate Abel if he knew how upset I truly was that he’d found me in time or that he’d reached out to the created warlock to ask for help in saving me.

That still was a lot to take in at times.

I was here, still breathing and walking the earth because of Master Edison.

The created warlock. The very first one.

He had used his magical abilities to heal me.

Knowing that I needed to get up and start my day, I tossed the blanket back to do that.

The immense ache in my body reminded me that just three weeks ago, I was on death’s door, yet somehow, I’d survived.

I knew my coven family cared, which was why I was here.

In some ways, it pained me to know that they were worried about me.

We were family, something I knew but needed to remind myself of, apparently.

I sat up and winced at the shooting pain that ran up my thighs and torso when I moved my legs over the side of the bed.

What I experienced now was nothing in comparison to when I was stabbed repeatedly, but it was a reminder that despite being a paranormal with advanced healing abilities, I still wasn’t fully mended.

I accepted the physical pain as it matched the emotional pain that I knew would never leave.

I felt as if I had failed Vitto, and losing my brother would always haunt me.

I walked into the bathroom, and after turning on the shower, I left the enclosed glass cube in favor of taking care of other needs.

By the time I had relieved those and brushed my teeth, the water was steaming inside the shower, and I stepped into the welcome heat.

It was one of the few times that my body seemed to truly warm anymore, and I didn’t know if that was because I was still healing and somewhat weak, or if it was going to be a new everyday thing for me.

I had more questions than answers, and I didn’t know if I would ever know the reason for certain things, but what I did know for certain was that Abel would be upset if I didn’t get my ass in gear and join the family for breakfast. The light that came into his eyes the first time I joined the family for a meal a few days ago was undeniable.

I liked the little fox shifter, and it was quite a thing to watch Master Vincent gush over little Luci.

He gave her twin, Frankie, attention as well as Naldo’s little Tulio, but it was apparent to everyone that his heart belonged to Luci.

I could understand. It was difficult to not want to cuddle the little principessa.

But her brother and Naldo and Mazzi’s little baby were just as precious to me and just as cuddly.

Perhaps that was what I needed. Some time holding the babies.

I knew it actually wasn’t what I needed.

Time was most important to me. I needed it to heal properly.

I was only dragging myself out of bed and down to the main dining room because of the babies and everything that I had learned that Abel and Mazzi had done to rescue me.

I owed it to them to do what was needed to rejoin the family without complaint.

It didn’t take long to shower, and after I stood under the hot spray for several more minutes in hopes of the heat penetrating my body deep enough to stay with me for longer than a few minutes, I finally turned off the water and stepped out.

I was already going to be late for breakfast as it was, but I knew that there wouldn’t be any issue with my delayed absence.

I dried, dressed, and was leaving my suite a short time after finishing my shower.

I took the stairs carefully, as every step downward caused shooting pains that coursed through my body.

I knew that there was the possibility that I might always experience them, but the hope was that they would eventually fade completely. Just as the scars would.

I paused at the bottom of the stairs to take several deep breaths and hopefully wipe the pain from my outward expression.

At least I had the excuse of tiring easily to not stay longer than necessary.

I heard crying before I even entered the dining room, and when I did, I found Mazzi trying to soothe a fussy Tulio.

I smiled at the younger warlock as he tried to calm his son.

“Sandro!” Abel called out. My gaze was immediately drawn to the little fox, and I couldn’t help but smile.

He was sweet, and although I had to question the reason for his pairing with Marcello, I could see the impact he’d made on not only the coven’s second, but the coven as a whole.

“Good morning, Abel,” I said before my gaze moved back to Mazzi and Tulio.

I would offer to help with the fussy baby, but Naldo came to the rescue with a bottle.

I didn’t understand why Mazzi hadn’t just used his magic to provide the bottle, but Tulio wasn’t my baby, and now that he had a bottle, he was greedily drinking.

Naldo seemed to pick up on my questioning gaze, though, because he explained once he sat beside his beloved. “It was a rough night. Tulio didn’t sleep well and wanted to be held most of the night. Mazzi is overly tired, and the first bottle had coffee in it.”

I opened my mouth to respond but instead shook my head before going over to the sideboard and filling a plate.

I chose a pastry, some chunks of fruit, and a glass of juice over coffee.

It didn’t sit quite right with me still, so juice was preferred.

I sat next to Rio, offered the other doctor a friendly smile, and then reached for my fork and knife.

I felt my hands shaking as I did so, and when I suddenly felt Rio’s hand on my back and then a wave of relief course through my body, I closed my eyes.

I turned my head to the coven’s newest member. “Como?”

Rio leaned closer. “You are shaking, and there are stress lines on your face. Come to the office after the meal before you return to your suite. I wish to discuss some things with you.”

I sighed but nodded. I cut the melon and had just started to raise the piece to eat when Abel spoke up. “Are you going with us to Rome, Sandro?”

I froze and looked to the young man with surprised eyes. “What do you mean?” I asked.

It was Marcello who answered for his beloved. “He’s excited that we are going on a group holiday next week. We’re starting with Rome since it has several places that Abel would like to visit.”

That sounded…painful. I bit my cheek at the thought of having to walk everywhere to see all of the tourist sites that I knew were most likely on the list. “I was unaware of the trip,” I said. Hopefully, I would be able to talk my way out of it.

“Rio is going. You should too,” Abel said.

I looked down at the others at the table. “If he’s going to be away on holiday, perhaps it is best I stay here in case I am needed at the coven.” That was my out. I would be able to stay here, continue to lie about like a sack of sand, and hope for the pain to finally stop.

“Rio is a warlock though. He can—” Marcello, bless him, covered his beloved’s mouth with his hand. He must have said something to him through their bond because Abel nodded, and when Marcello dropped his hand, Abel busied himself with the baby in his arms.

I picked up my bite of melon again and placed it in my mouth, closing my eyes.

Whatever magic Rio had used, there was actually no pain.

When your jaw was broken in several places, then healed in the wrong position and had to be fixed by the created warlock, there still was some pain when trying to eat.

I had made certain to choose mostly softer foods, and ones that required little chewing.

“You are most certainly welcome to join us,” Rio said from beside me. “But I am able to pop back in here if there is any issue that needs to be taken care of whether you do or don’t. I would like to check you over after the meal.”

“I think that would be best,” Master Vincent said as he came into the room. I wasn’t surprised even a little that he was holding a tiny pink bundle.

The thought of our coven master being completely enthralled by that tiny baby in his arms was indeed comical. He was ruthless, and he didn’t spare mercy to many, if any. But Luci wasn’t someone that needed to be dealt with. She was the innocent baby of our coven’s second and his beloved.