Page 51 of Ruthless Passion

"We probably should have done that before the closet."

"And my office," he adds with a smirk.

"You're not worried about me?"

"Should I be?" He places an arm above me, leaning in as my back's against the wall with his eyes staring into mine.

"No."

"We'll make an appointment together, Jo. No reckless behavior until after we get our results. How does that sound?"

"More responsible and less fun."

He leans down to kiss me gently and backs away. We continue down the hall until we're standing outside room 419 where Duke's ordering one of nurses around.

"This is absolute garbage. I don't want to eat this shit!" Duke yells and throws a tray through the door.

"Sir, if you don't calm down, we'll have to sedate you," the nurse replies with a heavy exhale.

"I think we should go help her before she does what you want to do." I nudge Luca.

He nods and steps into the room, over the discarded hospital food splattered across the floor.

"Even with a black eye and busted arm, you still don't know how to talk to women?" Luca shakes his head as we get closer for Duke to see us.

Duke's eyes are large, full of rage and causing him to spit as he speaks. "Get the fuck out of here. This is all your fault. You miserable little weasel. You had your goons in the house waiting to attack me."

"What were you doing inside my house, Duke? I thought we had an understanding that you're supposed to leave me and Jett alone."

"You can't stop me from seeing my kid, Josephine."

"He's not your kid anymore according to the papers you filed," Luca replies, taking another step closer to Duke.

The nurse is on a phone attached to the wall calling for a cleanup crew, and hopefully a team to sedate Duke the Puke.

"This is none of your business. Why are you assholes following me? Stay away from me you fuckin psychopath. You're probably one of the guys who did this to me!" Duke shouts, pointing his finger at Luca. There's a cast wrapping around his thumb up to his elbow.

"Unfortunately, no, I had nothing to do with this," Luca tells Duke. "Can you tell me anything about the guys who were in the house?"

"Why do you want to know? Ask the police. I told them everything already."

"I'm working to keep Jo and Jett safe in their home. I have to know who attacked you. Did they say anything? Anything at all?"

"You mean, 'It'll cost ya without the coaster'? Or was it ‘La Cosa Nostra’?" Duke shrugs it off. "Mafia guys, right? Is that what you're into now, Fee? The mafia? Listen, Luca, buddy. I know you want to make her a star but look at all the trouble she's causing. You don't want to get tied up with the family. There's no way Fee's head can be that good that you want to put your life on the line."

"You can leave here with a broken jaw, too, Duke," Luca cuts him off.

"You really like my little Fee, don't you?"

"I'm not yours, Duke. And for god's sake, stop calling me that." I tell him with a sigh of defeat. Talking to him is pointless.

"This isn't me liking Josephine, Duke. This is respecting Josephine. You will not disrespect her in front of me or anywhere, if I have anything to say about it. This is my last warning to you. She already has a restraining order in place. Stay away from her. Stay out of her home. Or next time, you'll be lucky if you end up in the hospital." Luca's threatening tone fills the room with tension that makes Duke's lip actually quiver.

It's the first time in a long time that I've seen him afraid. Fear. I like the way it looks on Duke, especially when it's on my behalf. Still, Duke can't keep his mouth shut.

"You—you heard him!" he shouts at the nurse who rolls her eyes and turns around while continuing her phone conversation. Duke yells, "He threatened me! If anything happens to me, just know it was this asshole or that Dacosta guy. They're in it together! They're trying to steal my family."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Everett. I wasn't paying attention to your visitors. As for you two, this patient needs a sedative and some time to rest," the nurse tells us. "You'll have to come back tomorrow for visiting hours."

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