Page 63 of Beautifully Savage Butterfly

Lorenzo is waiting on the dock with a couple of large men, both sporting buzz cuts, standing stiffly. Even in jeans and t-shirts, I’d pick them out as cops from a mile off. Of course, I already knew these two were cops anyway.

“Grif.” I nod in greeting. “Vander.”

“Moretti,” Vander greets me for the both of them, eyeing the kids trailing behind me. “I was just telling your brother that he’d better have a damn good reason for dragging us out here at this time of night.”

“It wasn’t for your company,” Lorenzo says dryly, and Vander laughs.

“I see that.”

“I trust you can take it from here?” I ask.

“Yeah, we’ve got it,” Grif says.

“Good. I’ve gotta get Orion to the hospital.” I nudge him to get him moving again.

“Are you okay?” Enzo seems to notice Orion’s state of undress for the first time.

“I’m fine,” he says, more firmly this time. It sounds like the shock has worn off, his voice deep and clear again like I’m used to. “I don’t need the hospital.”

“What do you have against getting stitches?” I arch an eyebrow at him. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of needles.” His scowl deepens and he huffs through his nose. My eyes widen and I bark out a laugh. “Oh my god, you’re afraid of needles?”

“I’m not afraid,” he grumbles.

I wrap an arm around him and take over holding pressure on his wound while we walk, making our way back to the car, leaving everyone else to wrap up this bullshit.

“Sure, Boss,” I tease lightly. “What if I promise to hold your hand the whole time?”

He growls in response, and I laugh again.

When we reach the car, I help him inside, guiding him into his seat. He grabs for my tie before I can lean out, yanking me in roughly and claiming my lips in a hard, biting kiss that steals my breath and makes my pulse race more than anything else tonight has.

“I love you, Elio,” he says gruffly when he lets me go.

“I love you too, Orion,” I murmur, dragging my tongue along his bottom lip. “That’s why I’m taking you to the hospital.”

“Dammit,” he rumbles, letting go of my tie.

It only takes me a few seconds to get in on the other side and get us the hell out of here. He reclines his seat a few inches and closes his eyes.

“How are you feeling?” I ask, glancing over at him every few seconds. He hasn’t lost much blood, but that doesn’t stop me from worrying.

“Like a Moretti,” he answers wryly.

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

He’s quiet for a few seconds, and I hate that I hold my breath while I wait for his answer. After everything, I feel like I’m still waiting for his verdict. Waiting to know whether he can see himself in this with me long term. Can he handle the life I’m stuck in?

“It’s… a necessary evil,” he finally says, reaching over to put a hand on my thigh. “And it’s worth it.”

“For me?” The surprise in my voice is borderline embarrassing, but I can’t call it back once it’s out there.

Orion’s laughter is deep and rumbling, filling the car and vibrating right through me. “Yeah, Brat. For you.”

Chapter 23

ELIO

“I can’t believe you bullied that doctor into giving me Oxy,” Orion mutters around a chuckle, following me into my apartment… our apartment. The triage nurse looked like she was about to piss herself when I turned up again tonight, holding the bloody shirt to Orion’s oozing gut. At least she didn’t give me attitude this time before scurrying off to get Doctor Anderson.

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