Page 61 of Corporate Bondage

Chapter Twenty-Eight

(Keith)

“Sir, what are you doing?” the nurse cried in alarm as I hopped off the hospital bed. I pulled out the needle they had in my hand ignoring the small blood that spurted out from the wound. There was no fucking way I was going to lie in this bed like an invalid when I had no idea how Gio was. The nurse had said he was in the operating room, but that was like goddamn two hours ago. The information I had been promised once there was new development never came, and I was tired of waiting. If the information wouldn’t come to me, I would go to it.

“I’m going to find out what’s going on with Gio,” I replied to the wide-eyed nurse. I surveyed the room trying to find my clothes because this goddamn johnny gown had my ass bare. “Where the hell are my clothes?”

“The police took them for evidence, sir,” she answered. “Please, get back into the bed. You’ve been through a traumatic experience with moderate loss of blood from the stab wounds. I’ll see what information I can find for you.”

I grunted. “The last nurse who was here said the same thing, and that was goddamn two hours ago. I need to see him.”

“Sir, if you don’t comply I’ll have to call for the orderlies to strap you down to the bed.”

I took a step toward her, and she backed up. “Listen up, lady. I appreciate everything you’ve done here, but I’m going with or without your permission. Now you can run along and pretend you didn’t see me leave so it doesn’t affect your job, but make an attempt to stop me and I’ll strap you down to the bed and see how you like it.”

She stepped aside, taking my threat seriously. I had no remorse for snapping at her. I would work it all out in therapy after I got through this trying time. I couldn’t get the image out of my head of Gio bleeding out on the bathroom tiles while I was tied up and unable to get to him. Thank God for his brother who had entered the scene and shot their father. The third bullet Arcuri had been planning to put in Gio’s head had ricocheted off the tile hitting himself. I believed his own bullet had killed him rather than the one Nic had placed in his thigh. Nic had meant well, but he hadn’t been able to shoot his father where it would incapacitate him. He had fled the scene before the police came, leaving his brother bleeding out on the floor. Pushing myself out of the tub in an effort to get to Gio, I had fallen on the knife lodged into my shoulder. The pain had meant nothing as I crawled my way over to Gio, lying with him and wishing for death, while I pleaded with him to live. The police and paramedics had found us that way. It had been hell getting me away from Gio until they had eventually loaded us into the same ambulance. I’d watched them working on him, talking in their code language as they tried to save his life.

I hadn’t been able to stop them separating us once we arrived at the hospital. I hadn’t seen Gio since, and I was getting more agitated with each passing minute.

“Sir, you cannot walk around the hospital looking like-like-like that.”

I turned to the stammering nurse I happened upon in the corridor. “Lady, don’t even start with me. Y’all gave me the bloody thing to wear, and that’s what I’m doing.”

My ass bare, and not giving a damn, I found the nurse’s station. I ignored the few people who were sitting in the waiting area.

“Where the hell is he?” I demanded from the nurse who sat at the station. She was the same woman who had promised she would check on Gio and send word to me how he was doing. That was over two hours ago.

“Where is who?”

“The Queen of England.” I scowled at her. “What do you mean who? Giovanni fucking Arcuri. I told you that almost two hours ago. I need to know what’s happening with him? Is he out of surgery?”

She flushed as she remembered me. “Shouldn’t you be in your room?”

I placed my arm on the table. “Giovanni Arcuri!” I yelled at her. “If someone doesn’t tell me what the fuck’s going on with him I’ll be banging on every door here until I find him.”

“Good God, Keith, what are you advertising?”

At Bryan’s shocked gasp, I spun to find him and Tate behind me. Tate was scowling as though it was my fault Bryan was ogling my ass.

“We could hear you yelling from the floor below,” Tate remarked.

“I’m trying to find Gio,” I answered, glaring at the nurse. “But this lazy bitch won’t make herself be any help.”

Tate scowled at me. “That’s no way to treat a woman.”

Bryan shook his head at Tate. “He won’t get any better until he finds Gio so don’t bother wasting your breath.”

Tate’s scowl was firmly in place. “We’ll take you to him so you’ll stop harassing the staff.” He removed his jacket and handed it to me. “Here, you may want to cover up. We’re trying to go exclusive here and you’re making it rather difficult.”

“Fuck off, Rosenbaum,” I said at the sarcasm in his tone. “Don’t knock what you haven’t tried.”

“Hey,” Bryan protested. “I think I speak for myself and Gio when I say I don’t particularly like where this is going.”

“Then tell your man to keep his eyes off my ass,” I suggested, wrapping Tate’s jacket about my waist with the arms knotted. “Now lead the way and stop showing how dry as hell your sex life is.”

Tate shook his head but cracked a smile as he and Bryan led the way to the elevator. From their smile and relaxed nature, I took it that Gio was not in critical condition. That was a relief at least, but I could not be relaxed until I saw him for myself.

We encountered Gio’s doctor outside his room. The man looked at us and smiled. “Who’s the relative?”

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