Page 18 of This Thing of Ours

“Can I get you anything? Something to drink?”

She raised a brow. “A shot of tequila would be nice.”

He closed his eyes and sighed. “Please tell me you’re okay.”

“I’m fine.”

His eyes snapped open, maybe from her tone or lack of one, and he reached out a hand. “Streghetta—”

A commotion at the door interrupted whatever he was going to say. His hand arrested mid-air before falling and landing on the cushion that separated them.

Nico and the doctor filled the room. Marco stood, running his fingers through his hair and scrubbing his hands down his face before tucking them into his front pockets.

Nico looked between them. “The door’s broken.”

Marco dipped his chin. “It’ll be fixed tomorrow.”

The doctor cleared his throat. “If I may, I’ll examine Gabby in the bedroom.”

Nico flashed her a look then gave the doctor a curt nod.

“Come, my dear.”

Gabby reluctantly stood from the couch and led the doctor to her bedroom.

“I’m fine, really,” Gabby said once Greene shut the door.

He looked her over with a critical eye. “You don’t look fine.”

Gabby took in the elderly doctor’s stern expression. Used to treating hardheaded men, he didn’t have the best bedside manner. Never going the traditional route, the Conti family doctor had been treating Gabby for as long as she could remember. And he knew her well. She put her game face on and replied, “It’s just a few scrapes and bruises.”

“Are you sure that’s all?”

“Yes.”

Sighing, the doctor walked to the bed, set his bag down, and opened it. “You know I can’t leave here until I’ve examined you.”

“And by examine you mean…?”

“Exactly what you think I mean.”

“You can’t examine me without my consent.” She eyed the syringe and small vial he pulled from his bag. “What’s that?”

He didn’t bother looking at her as he filled the syringe. “Just a light sedative to help you relax. It won’t drug you or make you unaware.”

She took a step back and to the side, putting more distance between the doctor and moving closer to the door. “I don’t want it. The bath I took relaxed me just fine.”

He capped the syringe and tossed it back in his bag. “I was only trying to help. I won’t force it on you.”

She breathed a sigh of relief.

“I do still need to examine you though, to make sure you’re alright.”

His hand reached for her, and her mind flashed back to other hands. Hands that hurt, clawed, and ripped. Logically, she knew the doctor wouldn’t hurt her, but that didn’t stop the panic that crawled up her throat to choke her. She tripped over her own feet in her haste to get away, falling and landing on her ass. Greene grabbed her arm. More than likely to help her up, but she was too far gone to be rational, and she yelled, “No, get off me,” while kicking out with her leg.

The door flew open, banging against the wall, and Marco, looking pissed, loomed in the doorway, taking in the situation. He reached them in less than a second, ripping the doctor off Gabby and pulling her to her feet. “What the hell is going on?”

“Explain yourself,” Nico said, grabbing the doctor by his arm.

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