Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 75107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
“Thanks, Milo,” I said, taking the phone and watching him follow the boss out.
“I was thinking,” Brio said, making his way over to me.
“If it’s torture plans, my fucking head is banging, man, I’m not in the mood.”
“Nah, man. Been thinking about Christmas presents.”
“Okay…”
“You get one for her yet?”
“For Steph? No.” Should I have?
“Just saying, lots of good dogs in the shelter who’d like a home for the holiday. And dogs make good buddies during a recovery.”
“I will give it some thought and let you know.”
“I’ll throw in all the shit to go with it for free. They got big ones, small ones, fluffy ones, old ones, puppies, you name it.”
“I got a feeling if I don’t give you a direction, you’re gonna show up at her door with whatever you want then.”
“You’re not wrong.”
“I will feel around for what kind. Know her friends got a French Bulldog she loves. Maybe I’ll ask them what she might want.”
“Get on it quick.”
“Will do.”
I watched him leave, shaking my head, wondering how someone with such a bloodlust could be such an animal lover.
I mean, I heard a story that he’d once heard about some big dog-fighting ring where the perpetrators got slaps on the wrist. He’d been so enraged, he taken several of them into his little torture room, chained ‘em around the necks like dogs and made them fight. Then once the lesson was learned, he went ahead and killed them anyway. Because ‘there’s some kinda sick you just can’t fix.’
The door opened and Cosimo came back in. “Got a driver waiting out front for you. Take your time, but he’s keeping it warm.”
“Thanks, Cos.”
He shrugged that off and headed back out.
“We’re all set here,” Salvatore said from the exam room doorway. “Got your kit, meds included. And I’m gonna need an address to come to check her feet tomorrow.”
“Thanks so much, Salvatore,” Steph said, looking suddenly worn out.
“Don’t gotta thank me. Just stay off your damn feet.”
“But I have cushions now,” she said, waving down to her bandaged feet. “I know, I know,” she said when Sal shot her a look. “Sit on my ass and be catered to.”
“Exactly,” he agreed. “I’ll carry the kit out if you’ll carry the patient.”
“I would say you don’t have to carry me,” Steph said when I got close. “But I’m pretty sure Salvatore will have a conniption if I don’t let myself be carried around.”
“I don’t mind,” I assured her, lifting her up into my arms. “How you feeling?”
“Still numb. I’m not looking forward to the locals wearing off.”
“That’s what the pain medicine is for. You take it ahead of the shots wearing off. But we gotta get some food in you first.”
“Food,” she said with a little sigh.
“Anything you want,” I assured her as I pressed her into the backseat of the town car.
“Keep her warm. Keep her off her feet. Keep them elevated, if possible. I’ll be over tomorrow to check on her,” Salvatore said, passing me the care kit.
“Thanks again, man.”
“You sure you don’t want me to look at anything?”
“I’m fine.” My face felt like a punching bag. But it was what it was. I’d had worse. A couple of aspirin and I would be good as new.
“Let me know what time tomorrow. And if you got any questions, you know where to find me.”
With that, I slid into the back with Steph, telling the driver the address, then pulling her legs over my lap.
She leaned into me, sucking in a deep breath.
“Are you really staying with me?” she asked, voice small and vulnerable.
“As long as you’ll have me.”
And I really kind of hoped that she might feel like that was forever.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Stephanie
You’d think that Andy and Sammy were watching out the peephole with how quickly after Venezio placed me down on the bed they came bursting into the apartment.
“I hope you two were having a fuck—” Andy started, trailing off when she got a look at my feet and Venezio’s face. “What happened?”
“What happened in the living room?” Sammy asked, coming in behind Andy. Meatball was in tow, running at Venezio like they were old friends.
He leaned down to give the dog a quick pet.
“You want me to stay for this or give you privacy?” he asked, looking at me.
“Did you get her involved in mafia shit?” Sammy asked, straightening.
“Wait… what?” I asked.
“Yeah, what?” Andy asked.
“How’d you know?” Venezio asked.
“Oh, come on. I had suspicions. Then I saw you all chummy-chummy with Vega.”
“What does that mean?” Andy asked.
“It means everyone knows that Vega is close with the Costa Family. Mix that with how you act, how you talk, it all just kind of lined up.”
“But you didn’t tell me?” Steph asked.
“Or me?” Andy asked, crossing her arms.
“It was a suspicion,” Sammy said, holding up a hand. “I didn’t know anything for sure. I figured I had time to look into it.”