Page 42 of City of Wind and Lies

"But, are you sure you can trust her? How well do you really know her, Bowie?”

I pause mid-pace, locking eyes with him as his words sink in.

He's right.

I had the same fleeting thoughts earlier. Sure, she passed a background check when she was hired at Vento, but could it be a coincidence that she was at the Monarch Club that night, then started working for me? Not to mention that douchebag ex of hers has made a habit of popping up at all of my businesses. I don't know her, not really. But she's also never pried into my personal life until tonight, and that was my idea.

I swallow roughly at the thought that Wren could have dubious intentions or that it might not be my child. I'm not ready to admit it yet, but the idea of being a father made my stomach swoop in excitement. And the thought of my child growing inside Wren… fuck, if it didn't make me hard imagining her petite frame with a swollen belly…

Cazzo.

"I'm going to move her in with me, have Doctor Marino do a paternity test to start and I'll take it from there." I hitch a few steps forward, adjusting my hardening dick to the side before turning to face Rocco. "Not a word of this to anyone in the family." Stepping closer, I level him with an ardent stare. "And that goes for blood and made."

He gives a curt nod, drawing in a deep breath and releasing it as his eyes dart around us. "If it's yours, we need to get a handle on business sooner rather than later," he says, his voice just above a whisper. "A girl and an heir are the perfect type of weakness Gabriel would like to get his hands on."

I gnash my molars together, the vein in my neck pulsing as blood rushes through my ears. "I know this. But first, we need to deal with the fucker who put her here-"

Soft feminine giggles interrupt us as two young nurses follow the same path we did, taking up the bench across from the one we'd occupied moments earlier.

My lips flatten into a thin line as I tip my head in the opposite direction and we walk off further down the path, to another outdoor seating area. Once I'm sure there's no one else in earshot, I fill Rocco in on Allen. He usually has no reason to be involved in Vento's business matters, but now that it's bled into family dealings, I want him fully up to speed. I go into all the details of how Wren came to work for me and her part in bringing Allen down. He listens intently, forehead creasing when I recap what Dallas witnessed today. Even without the mention of attacking her, I know my cousin’s loyalty would've easily been extended to Wren because I've deemed her trustworthy.

"I have Dallas sitting on his house now with more guys on the lookout. O'Ryan gave us his plates, and flagged his license and passport under a classified case if he tries to leave the state. I want this one, though. I want to be the one to deliver his punishment before he takes his last breath."

My phone vibrates repeatedly in my pocket with an incoming call and I pull it out, expecting to see Dallas' name on the screen. Instead, it’s an unknown number. I slide to answer, and a ripple of panic rolls through me as the nurse from the desk’s tepid voice fills my ear, telling me I need to get inside immediately.

Ending the call, I sprint toward the Emergency Room entrance. Rocco's close on my tail as I weave through the halls and turn the corner to Wren's room. A sheen of sweat covers my skin as I slow my pace and compose myself when I don't hear any alarms or shouts of urgency coming from the room, but as I step through the doorway, Doctor Katz is dabbing blood from his nose and Wren is hunched in the bed, body shaking with silent sobs.

My expression must be murderous, because all the color on the nurse’s face drains the moment our gazes collide. "Doctor came in to check her vitals and he must’ve scared her when he woke her, because she punched him," she rushes to explain.

I do my best to suppress a laugh at the thought of that scene unfolding, but the relief I feel is short-lived when I hear Wren sniffle, my heart clenching tightly in my chest. Moving towards the bed, I reach my hand out to lay it on her shoulder, and she flinches the second I make contact. "Hey Passerotta," I coo. "Are you okay?"

She lifts her head, glossy blue eyes rimmed red. "I- you weren't here, and Allen-" she sucks in a sharp breath and it comes out in a ragged sigh before she continues. "It felt like… I thought I was still there…"

My spine goes rigid, hand curling into a fist and flexing open at my side as I try to release the inward-facing disgust I have for leaving her and not even thinking about the possibility of a trauma response to the attack.

I trace the curve of her spine with the tips of my fingers and she starts to relax under my touch. "I should have been here. Forgive me?"

Nodding, she shifts in the bed, tear-soaked lashes fluttering as she moves aside to make space for me. Her voice trembles slightly as she asks, “Lay with me?"

Warmth seeps from the inside out, lips tugging up in a smile as I toe off my Tom Ford loafers and slide an arm around her shoulders to position myself beside her.

"You aren't supposed to-" Doctor Katz starts.

My head snaps around, pinning him a callous glare, and he’s quick to swallow the rest of his condemning words, instead excusing himself from the room.

From the corner of my eye, I clock the look of intrigue on Rocco's face as he stands with his arms folded across his chest beside the door.

"Wren," I say, tucking a loose tendril of hair behind her ear and tipping my chin to Rocco. "This is Rocco, my cousin. Though he’s really more like a brother."

Her mouth splits into a weak smile, offering him a polite greeting as she molds her body to mine, fitting perfectly beside me.

"Go home to Isa, we'll handle business tomorrow," I say, pulling my phone and wallet from my pocket and placing them on the table. "I'll text you when she's being released."

With a nod of confirmation, he says his goodbyes and pulls the door shut as he slips into the hall.

"Now rest, Passerotta. I won't leave," I murmur as I press my lips to Wren's temple and tuck her against my chest.

"You’d better not," she whispers, the heat of her palm splayed on my chest seeping through my shirt. "Or I'll deck you next."

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