Not like how they took Sienna from me. I couldn’t let it happen.
Not again.
thirty-one
Althaia
I blinked away the tears. I looked up to see Damiano staring at me with his hands in his pockets, his thoughts and feelings hidden, as usual.
“Okay, you’re all set here.” I looked down to see Ellie had bandaged my foot. “I don’t believe it’s not broken, but I would like you to come to the clinic to do a proper check-up. Until then, do not put weight on your foot, okay?”
I gave a small nod when she smiled and went back to grab a wipe and gently dabbed around on my brow.
“I really need to stitch you up now.” Ellie said, and my nose scrunched up involuntarily as I imagined the pain of being sewn in the face.
“Fine.” I murmured, feeling relaxed enough to agree. Whatever she had given me was working.
She pulled on a fresh pair of gloves, picked up the needle driver and tissue forceps, and moved closer to my face. Out of reflex, I smacked her hands away from me, almost making her drop the things in her hands.
“Try not to hurt my wife.”
My eyes shifted towards the doorway where Antonio stood.
“She’s your wife?!” I exclaimed in surprise and immediately looked at her hands to search for a ring.
“It’s around my neck in a necklace. I can’t always wear a ring as a doctor.” Ellie explained when she noticed what I was looking for.
“How come I didn’t know you were married?” I asked Antonio, looking at his hands and finding a ring I had failed to notice before.
“You didn’t ask.”
“I’m pretty sure I asked, and you were like, ‘I would rather not have you ask me questions.” I said, trying to imitate his voice.
“That sounds like Nino.” Ellie laughed.
“Aww, she calls you Nino? That’s so cute!” I beamed.
“You can’t call me that.” Antonio narrowed his eyes at me in a warning.
“Why not? It sure makes you less scary–Ow!” I yelled when I felt a painful pinch on my brow. Ellie took advantage of my distraction with Antonio to stitch me up.
“Don’t move!” She tried to keep me still when I leaned away from her.
“That’s it, I’m holding her!” Arianna sat behind me on the bed and held my head.
“Let me go!” I tried to get away, but Arianna was surprisingly strong as she had me in a headlock-like position.
“Careful, Arianna.” Damiano told her firmly, and I sent him a glare that he was approving of this.
“You will get a scar if you keep moving. I’m almost done.” Ellie scolded me and kept torturing me with her needle.
“Ow, shit! It hurts!” I winced and clenched my jaw when I felt another painful pinch.
“Stop being a baby!” Arianna hushed me.
“All done now.” Ellie let out a breath and stepped back right when I thought of kicking her away from me.
“Already? Oh, that wasn’t too bad.” I said and Ellie gave me an ‘I told you so’ look.