Chapter 27
Laurie
Sitting up in bed, I stare at the bandage around my right arm.
I haven’t mentioned it to anyone, and I don’t think I ever will, but the bullet could’ve hit Adriano in the middle of his chest if my arm wasn’t in the way.
The thought makes icy chills spread over my body, and I feel a sense of loss even though he wasn’t shot.
It’s as if I’m mourning the split-second difference where I was too late, and Marco shot Adriano in the chest.
It didn’t happen, though.
Maybe it’s because I’m grieving the loss of Elise that I’m struggling to stop thinking about the what ifs.
I’ve fallen so hard and fast for Adriano, I really don’t want to live without him. I’ve done that, and it sucked ass.
Emotions pour into my chest, everything from gratefulness to love.
“Hey?”
My head snaps up, and seeing the man of my dreams taking a seat on the side of the bed, a concerned look on his face, I burst out in tears.
The shock of having a gun pressed to my head, Adriano almost getting shot, and the strain the entire horrible episode took on my body overwhelms me.
“Amore mio,” he murmurs lovingly while engulfing me in his arms.
I press my palm to the center of his chest as a sob escapes me, wishing I could weld myself permanently to him to act as a shield against anyone who wants to harm him.
“Why the tears?”
“I almost lost you,” I whimper against his shirt. He presses kisses to my hair, his grip on me too gentle, so I complain, “Hold me like you mean it.”
“I don’t want to hurt you,” he argues.
Not happy at all, I push away from him, but then he moves forward, and placing his hand behind my head, he locks me to his body in a firm embrace that feeds my soul.
“Don’t be angry with me,” he says, his tone hoarse. “Please.” He gives me more kisses. “I’m sorry. That was stupid of me. I’ll crush you all you want.”
“You better.”
A chuckle rumbles from him, then he asks, “How do you feel?”
“Okay. Bored.” I let out a heavy sigh. “I wanna go home.”
“Doc says you have to stay at least three more days. You lost too much blood, and he wants to keep an eye on the wound to your arm.” Adriano pulls back a little and cups my cheeks, wiping the tears from them. “So no begging me to take you home. Your health comes above all else.”
“Fine,” I mumble. “Can I at least get my phone? Then I can read or play games.”
“I’ll bring it later.”
He stares at me for a long moment, as if he’s trying to see inside me to ensure I’m okay, and it just makes me love him so much more.
“With everything that’s happened, I never got to tell you about the wedding gift I have for you.”
“Adriano! You’ve already given me everything I could ever need.”
Hell, I haven’t even touched the ten million.
He tucks some hair behind my ear, something dark creeping into his eyes. “I paid Heather a visit.”
My eyebrows fly into my hairline. “What?!”
“I had my men trash the place, and I put the fear of God in her until she wet herself.”
The image of Heather peeing in her pants almost has me chuckling.
“Then I visited Jason. I was going to bankrupt him, but he said he didn’t know how they were treating you, so I showed him mercy.”
“Oh good.” I press my hand to my chest. “He was never in the office. That was Heather’s realm to reign over.”
Adriano’s expression turns vicious. “I met Austin.”
“Ugh.”
That’s all I get out before he continues, “My men roughed him up. Last I heard, he was in the hospital.”
When I don’t feel bad for him at all, a frown forms on my forehead.
“If you dare tell me I shouldn’t have done that, you and I are going to have our first fight.”
“No, it’s not that.” I wet my lips before asking, “Is it weird that I don’t feel bad for him?”
“Not at all. It would be fucking weird, though, if you did,” my possessive husband grumbles. “Anyway, I’ve emptied their bank accounts, leaving them penniless like they did with you. I’ll kill them soon. I’m just letting them suffer while the fear eats them alive.”
This time I shake my head hard. “No, Adriano. You can’t kill them.
That would be taking it a bit too far.” When I can see he’s going to argue, I give him the most serious look I can conjure on my face.
“They aren’t a part of your… our world,” I quickly correct myself.
“They were just mean people, and you scaring the crap out of them is enough punishment for me. Trust me. If you did that to me, I’d sleep with one eye open for the rest of my life. Let them live with the fear.”
He lets out a heavy breath. “Fine, but only because it’s what you want.”
“It is.” I place my left hand against the side of his neck. “Thank you for my wedding gift.”
Just as he leans in and kisses me, we hear, “Laurie!”
When Yuki and Nina rush into the room, I’m so surprised, I just stare at them.
Adriano quickly gets up, then Yuki gives me a tight hug before Nina embraces me as well.
They came.
My nose tingles as happy tears threaten to fall, but I fight them back.
“You came,” I voice my thoughts out loud.
“I’ll go get your phone. Do you need me to bring anything else from home?” Adriano asks.
When I shake my head, he gives me a quick kiss before leaving me with my friends.
Friends. Plural.
A smile spreads over my face as I look at Yuki and Nina.
“Are you okay?” Nina asks.
“Yeah. They’re just keeping me prisoner for observation.”
Yuki lets out a chuckle. “I take it you don’t like hospitals?”
I shake my head. “Who does?”
“I couldn’t believe my ears when Augusto told me what happened,” Yuki says. “It’s insane. I didn’t know Marco, but it’s damn scary to think one of our own can turn on us like that.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever trust the guards,” Nina gives her two cents. A dark expression moves over her face, making me wonder if there’s a story there.
When she sees my questioning gaze, she says, “A guard almost killed Simi. Georgi saved her.”
“Jesus!” My eyes go wide as saucers, hearing her daughter was in any kind of danger.
Nina showed me photos of Simi at the barbecue. I can’t believe anyone would hurt that adorable little girl.
“Since that day, Georgi has been Simi’s prince,” Nina says, a soft smile curving her lips.
Yuki lightly slaps Nina’s shoulder. “Tell her the good news.”
“Yes. I could do with hearing something positive,” I join in.
Nina lifts her left hand, showing me a gorgeous diamond on her ring finger. “Georgi proposed.”
Yuki shrieks as if she’s hearing the news for the first time, while I smile from ear to ear, saying, “I’m so happy for you, Nina! Tell me everything. Was it romantic?”
“It was perfect.” A dreamy expression settles on her beautiful face.
“Georgi told us to meet him for a picnic in Central Park. I thought he was running late because of work, and Simi was running around with a bottle of bubble solution, blowing bubbles everywhere when men started blowing trumpets. You know, like in Disney movies?”
I’m not sure, but I nod anyway.
“Santino, our head of security, was dressed as a royal herald and shouted, ‘Hear ye. Hear ye, Prince Georgi requests the attention of Princess Simi and Princess Nina.’ Simi almost lost her mind from excitement as Georgi came along riding on a horse, prince costume and all.”
“Oh my God,” I gasp, completely engrossed.
“He then went down on one knee in front of Simi and asked if he could be her daddy. While I cried, and I mean, I sobbed, she said yes, and by the time he kneeled in front of me, I was a blubbering mess.”
“I would be too, girl,” Yuki says, rubbing Nina’s shoulder.
“He then asked if I would do him the honor of becoming his queen and marrying him, and of course, I said yes.”
“That’s so stinking romantic!” I give her left hand a squeeze, then I look at Yuki. “How did Augusto propose to you?”
“He didn’t. Ours was an arranged marriage.”
My jaw drops. “They still do that in this day and age?”
Yuki nods but grins happily. “He saved me from a very bad situation.” Shrugging, she adds, “We love each other so it all worked out for the best.”
Since the hospital belongs to the Cosa Nostra, they visit with me for a while until my mother-in-law walks into the room.
“Laurie, are you okay?” she asks, concern making her frown. “You’re so pale.”
“I’m fine, Mom. Just a little tired.”
I’m exhausted but also enjoying the visit.
“We should get going,” Nina says.
They both give me a hug, and after they leave, Mom lifts her eyebrow at me. “You’re overdoing it.” She helps adjust the bed, and when I lie back down, she sits beside me and brushes her fingers through my hair. “How do you really feel, sweetheart?”
“I’m okay. Processing what happened.”
“It was an isolated event.” Her touch feels so comforting, I reach for her other hand and grip it tightly in mine. “Something like that has never happened before. Not since I’ve been a part of the family. So I don’t want you to worry about it or doubt our guards. Okay?”
I nod and take a deep breath before I say, “You’re such a good mother.” Mom shrugs, and when I can see she’s going to downplay it, I add, “You’ve shown me more love and support in the short time we’ve known each other than my mother ever did. Trust me when I say, you’re an amazing mother.”
“Thank you, sweetheart.” Her expression softens as she continues to brush her fingers through my hair. “Sleep. I’ll watch over you.”
With my mother-in-law bathing me in attention, I drift off.