Page 53 of Ruthless Boss

The doctor removes a couple of tubes of ointment from her case and places them on my nightstand. Well, I assume she’s a doctor—she came to the luxurious rental home where Dante took me. She gave me a check-up, cleaned and treated my bruises, and handed me a bottle of meds for extra pain. Not a prescription for us to go to the pharmacy and fill it. She’s a quick one, for sure.

“You’ll be okay,” she says as she stands in front of me. “In seven to ten days, your face will look less swollen or back to normal.”

I put my hands on my side in the bed as I sit with copious pillows behind me, keeping me comfortable. “Thanks.”

When willIbe back to normal? My heart skips in my ribcage, and I’m glad she already checked my vitals. Otherwise, they’d go through the roof.

I’m not sure what’ll happen to me.

On the drive here, Dante didn’t say much besides checking on me to ensure I was comfortable. His driver was in the car with us.

My cover is blown. I can’t stay in Tulip. I need to move elsewhere. Speaking Spanish would be handy right now. But I’d need a new ID.

Why did Dante stick his neck out for me? He could have let them kill me.

Because he cares, I remember. Does he feel guilty because he couldn’t protect Andie and is overcompensating? Or does he care enough to have me as a permanent fixture in his life? Or does he care but knows I bring more trouble than anything else to his routine?

There’s AJ, too. I would hate to cause her any harm by being back in their lives and stalked.

I shake my head.Take it easy. Just because he came and saved your ass doesn’t mean he’s taking you back.

The doctor says goodbye, and Dante walks her out of the bedroom. I see them exchanging pleasantries as he shows her out.

I sigh.

What am I going to do now? I won’t feel safe until Santini is captured… not because Ciro was a main key in his game, but because I may have derailed his plans, and he’ll take it out on me. Won’t he? I’ve killed two members of his family. Damn. Maybe I should stop my studies and join the mafia. I chuckle at my crazy idea.

Killing in self-defense is one thing, but I don’t think I’d be able to do it in cold blood.

“Amused?” Dante says when he returns to the bedroom.

“Just worried about my rap sheet,” I say.

He waves me off and sits at the edge of my bed. “I stopped worrying about mine a long time ago.”

“Right.” He’s not the best person to advise me about guilt. He’s probably done enough damage to not worry about it anymore.

Silence stretches between us. I want to tell him so much… how much I missed him, ask him if he’s missed me too. Ask him about AJ. When I look into his eyes, I see a touch of impatience, like he’s frustrated, too, but we can’t talk about it yet. I want to, but he wants to wait before delving into stuff about us.

Dante looks around the room, his expression sober. “Listen, you need rest. Tomorrow, we’ll fly back to Chicago. It’s not safe for you to be here alone.”

I wish I could protest, but I like the idea. Being around Dante is the closest I’ve felt to coming home in years. Belonging. But I try to remember he’s being practical. I want him to care for me, to love me, but maybe I’m as delusional as Andie. Maybe we both asked too much from Dante, more than he’s willing to give.

“I don’t want to give you any trouble,” I say, wishing I had the energy to add it to my voice. Truth is, I can’t stay in Tulip now that the Santinis found me. I don’t know if anyone else from the Santini family knows. They’re a smaller operation if compared to the Gallos, sure, but I can’t assume I’ll be safe here.

I swallow the lump of frustration building in my throat. How ironic that my new lease on life didn’t last even one full month until it was taken away from me again—by the same man who ruined it in the first place. At least now, Ciro is done fucking me up. He’s dead.

“A little late for that,” Dante says.

I thread my fingers together. He’s right.

“Relax, Gia. Tomorrow is another day.”

Day. Thoughts flit through my mind, scattered, but the worddayloops continuously.

Day.I pick my brain. What am I missing? The memory flashes in my brain. Ciro’s phone call when I was cuffed back at the motel. The words he exchanged…Day.

“Wednesday!” I shout. “Ciro agreed to meet Ross on Wednesday in Chicago.”

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