Page 120 of King of the Cage

“This isn’t the time to talk through our issues, Santori. This is time to focus on your sister — my wife.”

“Shouldn’t we take her home? She hates hospitals,” Sol jumped in. “I mean, I don’t know what’s going on with her, but she knows me and trusts me… and Elio. We could take her back to Casa Nera and let her recover there.”

“Not happening. She’s not getting locked away from me in that armed compound you call home. I’ll never see her again,” I bit out.

“Maybe that’s for the best,” Elio said coolly.

I whirled toward him, and Sol rushed between us.

“No fighting! This isn’t about you two. We need to think about Giada.” Sol turned to me and gave me a beseeching look.

I became aware of a heated stare on the side of my face and spun to Regina. She watched avidly. The woman turned my stomach, honestly. I knew Giada felt sorry for her, but I couldn’t seem to.

“Thanks for your help. You can leave it to her family to deal with now,” I ground out.

Regina wrung her hands. “But I feel I should stay. The hospital did call me, after all.”

“Whydidthey call you?” Elio asked abruptly. “Why you and not me, or her husband?” he sniped in my direction.

“I suppose I was one of her last calls,” Regina said.

“You two talk on the phone?” I interjected. This was news to me. I wouldn’t have liked the idea of Giada having anything to do with The Sentinel’s wife. Apparently, she knew that and hid it. Behind her tough, capable front, Giada was a bleeding heart when it came to women in trouble. She couldn’t help herself.

Regina nodded. “Yes, we were becoming very close. She didn’t mention that to you?” Her expression seemed to suggest that it was a grave failing on Giada’s part to have kept their relationship under wraps. I instinctively disliked the implied criticism of my wife.

“She probably already knew I wouldn’t give a fuck. My wife can be friends with whoever she wants. I’m not interested in them. I’m only interested in her,” I said.

Regina caught her breath and gave me a small smile. “Well, I admire that kind of trust in a relationship. It’s uncommon.”

She glanced around and caught the full brunt of Elio’s impatient glare.

“Weren’t you leaving?” he asked coolly. If tone could kill, Regina would be bleeding out on the floor.

She nodded, flustered by his obvious dislike, and headed for the door.

“I’ll be in touch and come by tomorrow. You’re not alone, Brandon. The Enclave is behind you. You’re practically family now,” Regina reminded me and slid out the doors, finally leaving us alone.

“Thank fuck she’s gone. There’s something off about that woman,” Elio muttered and then looked at Sol. “Get her ready, we’re leaving. I’m taking her home.”

I slapped a hand on his chest. “No, I am. Her home is with me.”

“Not anymore, it seems,” Elio shot back.

I wanted to strangle him. I wanted to break his fucking face.

Elio and I glared at each other in silence until Sol stepped between us.

“Okay, you two, stop. We have to think about Giada.” She gazed up at me. “The truth is that she doesn’t remember the last few months, and unfortunately, that time period covers meeting you. It doesn’t matter if she’s your wife right now, because she doesn’t remember even meeting you. You wouldn’t want to cause her more distress, would you?”

Her words were a fucking lance to the heart.

“She stays with me. If you want, you can stay, too, and make sure she’s okay, but I’m not letting her out of my sight for her brother to poison her damaged mind against me,” I told Sol.

Elio let out a dark scoff. “Not happening, O’Connor. I’ll kill you before I let you take her anywhere,” he said flatly.

There was a deadly glint in his eyes, and I knew he wasn’t joking.

“Why don’t you ask me what I want, before threatening to have a shoot-out in a hospital?” a familiar voice asked dryly from the door.

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