Page 38 of Charity's Torment

I glanced down and noticed the scarlet bloom across my gown. I pressed my hand to it and laid back down. “Sorry.” An unwanted tear slipped down across my cheek.

“Hey… why are you crying?” His honeyed voice soothed me. He pulled up my gown to see the damage I had done.

“It’s nothing.” I ran my hand down my face and wiped it away. I didn’t want him to know it bothered me to see Chris die. What if they thought I’d grown a conscience? They would rule me as a liability, and when they found Josh, they’d kill him right along with me. I couldn’t allow that. “How about you call Doctor Dan, and I’ll take care of the dinner thing?” I suggested.

“Yeah. Okay, sure.” He pulled my gown back down into place and retrieved his phone, putting it to his ear before he walked out of the large chambers.

I reached for mine sitting on the nightstand and tapped the picture of my dad’s face, and it rang.

“Hi, Cupcake.”

“Hey, Dad.” My weakened voice sold my story.

“You don’t sound so good. Are you okay?” He honed his detective skills tonight.

“That’s why I’m calling. I think I caught a stomach bug from all that Carney food last night.” Everyone would believe that.

“I’m sorry to hear that. I’ll have your mom make you some of her noodle soup.”

If anyone looked forward to being sick, it was me because of Mom’s noodle soup. She only made it during times of illness. Hell, I would fake sickness when I was a kid just to have it.

“That would be great, Dad, thanks.”

“You were at the carnival last night?” he asked. “Did you hear any gunshots or notice anything strange?”

I froze. Why would he ask me that? “No… not that I recall. Why? It was loud there. Between the rides and the screaming kids, I’m happy to inform you; I didn’t lose my hearing.”

“Hmm. We had reports come in that people heard gunshots. I just wanted to see if you saw or heard anything.”

“Nothing to report. Sorry.” Nico came back in with the doctor. “I have to go, Dad. Bye.”

“Bye. Feel better.”

I hung up and showed the doctor my seeping wound. He hummed as he irrigated and stitched me back up. “Now,” he pulled the thread high, finishing up the last stitch, “do not get up unless it’s to use the restroom and even then do so with help. I don’t want the internal stitches to tear.”

I nodded and agreed to follow his instructions, placating the pained faces. I wanted to be in my bed. Luca’s was plush and comfortable, but there was nothing like sleeping in your own bed. Nothing could compare.

The doctor packed his supplies and left, leaving Nico and me alone again.

“Where are the others?”

“Taking care of Giovanni.” He laid on his side next to me, then wrapped a lock of my hair around his finger.

“I should be there.” It was my job, and I needed to take care of business. Giovanni betrayed not only Luca but me, too. He turned on me and served me up to the enforcer of a rival family. And for what? What did I do to cause him to make this decision?

“They are handling it for you. They have some frustrations to work out.” His raw knuckles brushed against my cheek, then he pressed his lips to my forehead. “Just rest.”

“I see you got in on some action,” I noted, pointing to his hand.

He put his knuckles in the air and examined the damage. “I hadsomegrievances to express.”

I chuckled and quickly regretted the action. “Is he talking?”

“He’s said a few things in the beginning, but nothing much. Now, he denies it all.”

“I can make him talk.”

“We know you can, but you need to rest.” Concern laced his words, and it made my heart patter. Never in any length of time did I think Nico Moreno would lie next to me, taking care of me.

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