Page 129 of The Merciless King

I should walk away. Get some sleep. Have dinner.

Be Braxton Ashford again.

But before I know it, my feet are walking down the corridor toward her room, and if she wants to tell me to fuck off, then at least I’ll get to say the words I need to say to her.

I stop outside her hospital room.

I stare at the door and take a moment to ask myself what the fuck I’m doing. Then I push it open.

Gianna.

My heart swells as I take in the beautiful dark-haired beauty lying in the hospital bed. She looks surprised to see me, but her expression is hard to read. Like she’s in shock and still coming to grips with what has happened.

I don’t blame her.

If she really has figured out what those women were doing there, it would be an enormous thing to accept. Even if your father is a mobster.

Does she know he’s dead?

That Dante is on the run?

“Can I come in?”

“Yes.” She tries to sit up but clenches her eyes and places a hand on her head. “Ow, fuck it hurts.”

“Just go slow.” I help her, adjusting the pillow, then stand there glancing around the room.

I expected her mother to be here.

Or James, at the very least.

“Gianna where is your mother?” I ask, running a hand through my hair.

She glances down at the blankets and a tear slips down her cheek. Then she lifts her face to mine. “I told them not to call her.”

Fuck.

“You have a head injury.” I shake my head.

Someone has to look after her.

Where does she think she is going?

Gianna nods but she won’t look me in the eye. Nor is she kicking me out of her room, so I take that as a good sign.

“I guess I’m just enjoying the freedom until Papa...” her voice trails off.

Oh hell.

“Gia—”

“I know. The agent told me,” she says, her voice breaking, and then she drops her face in her hands and tries to cry. Then cringes from the pain and cries some more.

I can’t stop myself.

I sit on the bed and pull her into my arms.

“He’s a monster. I shouldn’t cry for him. He’s a monster.”

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