Page 35 of The Mob Boss' Pet

“Aunt Nancy called me this afternoon.” I switch gears. How I handle Stephania is up to me, not him. He’s not in charge of this family.

Giving up on the window, he sits back on the bed. “How is she?”

“Better than I expected,” I say. Nancy’s been living in a bottle since our uncle, her husband, died when we were kids. Sergio spent most of his childhood in our house, away from her drama.

“How bad?” he asks.

“Well, I could understand her words.” I try to smile, but the whole situation sucks. “She wouldn’t let me make the arrangements, but I have Anton helping her.”

“I’m surprised she’s letting him near her. She hates attorneys.”

“Not really much of a choice. If she wouldn’t let him help, I’d take over for her. She’s got enough sense left in that head of hers to know when to give in.”

His shoulders drop.

He looks up at me with pain-filled eyes. “Sarah’s coming over tomorrow.”

I raise a brow. “She hasn’t been by, I assumed you hadn’t told her anything.”

“I told her not to come over.” He pushes himself back onto the bed, kicking the blankets away from him. “I need a fucking shower and my own clothes.” He pulls at the sweatpants Anton brought over for him.

“Then have Sarah bring you clothes when she comes tomorrow,” I tell him. “You can walk your ass to the kitchen if you’re hungry. I’ll tell them to stop bringing up food for you.”

He rakes his hand through his short hair, making it stand on end.

“I’ll ask Stephania if it’s okay for you to shower with those bandages and that catheter in your hand.” I point to the contraption she has taped down to his right hand for his treatments.

“Do that.” He nods and closes his eyes.

“What is it?” I ask. Anton gets broody, but this isn’t like Roberto.

“She’s going to flip when she sees this.” He brushes his hand over the bandages. “I didn’t tell her what happened.”

“I thought you weren’t going to lie to her.”

He shoots me a glare. “I didn’t. I just didn’t tell her why I was staying here for a few days. She assumed it was work but dropped it when I told her not to ask questions.”

“You’re afraid of losing her.” He’s twisted up with grief over Sergio and the possibility of losing Sarah, too.

“Hell, yeah, I’m afraid, Vincenzo.” He blows out a breath. “You think it’s weak to love a woman, but I’ve never felt stronger than when I’m with her.” He chuckles. “It sounds cheesy, but I just can’t imagine my life without her in it.”

He sounds like our father. Our parents were enamored with each other. No matter what shit was coming his way, our father kept our mother safe and happy. Even when the stress of the world was weighing him down, he took time to be certain she had everything she needed—even if what she needed was his time.

“You’re right.” I shake my head. “It does sound cheesy.”

“Whatever.” He laughs. “Go get your girlfriend so she can give me my medicine and give the okay for a shower. I can smell myself and it’s not attractive.”

“I’ll get her, but I’m going to have her teach Sarah how to do it when she comes tomorrow. Until we have this whole thing resolved I’d rather you not go home, but maybe Sarah can stay here with you. She can be your nurse.”

His eyes flash to mine. “She’ll want answers.”

“Then I really suggest you put a fucking ring on her finger when she gets here tomorrow.”

“You expect me to marry her tomorrow?” His eyebrows shoot up.

“No. You tell her the bare minimum then ask her to marry you. If she doesn’t run,” I shrug, “then you can tell her whatever you’re comfortable with.”

Sarah’s a good woman. She’s been with Roberto for a long time; she’s handled the secrecy he’s had to have with her well.

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