Page 64 of Owning Nicci

I had no idea getting shot would hurt this badly.I can live through a shoulder wound, right?I haven’t come this far for it to end here before I get a chance to make my father pay for all he’s done. My brother, too.

Fighting for breath, I make it until Savio puts me into the car, before blessed darkness pulls me under, and the pain is momentarily gone.

—

I’m notsure how many times I go in and out. I’m aware, at one point, of being in a hospital room. I hear a nurse tell Savio that he has to leave, hear him roar that he’s not going anywhere, not until he knows if I’m going to be alright. I hear her ask what his relationship is to the patient, and somewhere in the back of my head, I want to laugh as I wait for his answer.

Owner? Master? Which one are you going to say aloud?

“I’m her…partner,” Savio says, finally, his voice thick. Something jolts in my chest at the sound of it, another pain to add to the hot wave of it throbbing through me, and I let myself slip under again.

The next time I wake up, it’s just for a moment, to bright lights, as I’m taken into surgery, before the anesthesia takes me out again. And then in the recovery room, blurry and sore, wondering if Savio is going to come get me.

He arrives a little while later, after I’ve been taken back to my hospital room. He’s in one of his Armani suits, dressed impeccably, and he stands out in the cold, sterile hospital environment. I remember thinking, what feels like a long time ago now in that back room at the Gilded Lily, that he’d stand out anywhere.

I still think that’s true.

“Seems like I made it,” I croak, and Savio’s face softens. He walks to my bedside, reaching up to brush a piece of hair away from my face, and I turn my face away.

He swallows hard and steps back. “The doctors said you’ll be fine. You’ll need some physical therapy for the shoulder injury, but you should recover without too much trouble beyond that.”

“Francis and Martin?” I turn to look at him, and Savio nods.

“Both dead,” he says quietly, low enough for no one else to hear. “You got Francis, and I got Martin. I’m sorry—” His voice catches. “I’m sorry I didn’t get him fast enough. This is my fault,principessa. All of it.”

“I knew there was a risk. Four of us in that small room? Something was going to get fucked up.” I bite my lip, wincing as I try to shift a little, testing my shoulder. It’s still very painful. “I’ll live, clearly. Are there any issues with the hospital? Since I came in with a gunshot wound?”

Savio shakes his head. “I’ve taken care of it. Money and the right names dropped at the right time can cover up anything,principessa. There won’t be any questions.”

I nod, leaning back into the pillows. Exhaustion sweeps over me, and I briefly close my eyes before opening them again. “My father and brother are next. We need to?—”

“We need to take a break,” Savio says firmly. “You need to recover. I’m taking you to?—”

“Like fuck we’re going to take a break!” I shove myself up, instantly regretting it as pain shoots through my shoulder and chest. “This was the wholepoint, Savio! You think I’m just going to lie here and?—”

“Look at you,principessa.” He shakes his head. “You’re in no state to go after anyone. You need to rest. We’re going back to the cabin. You can recover there?—”

“We’re not going back to the penthouse?” I frown at him, confused, and Savio sighs.

“I was in a rush to get you to the hospital. There was a lot of blood—I was afraid of where he might have hit you. I didn’t call the cleaners soon enough. They got there before the cops, but they only managed to clean up part of the scene before they had to leave. I’m not sure what the police might have collected. I’ll need to pay some bribes and make sure it’s covered up. Until then, we both need to be out of the city.” He glances toward the curtain blocking off my room, and I see a hint of nervousness in his face. “The nurses are getting your discharge paperwork now. They wanted to keep you another night, but I think we need to go.”

The urgency in his voice keeps me from arguing any further. I nod, sinking back further into the pillows, as Savio goes to see where the nurses are.

As much as I hate to admit it, by the time I’m in the car, I know Savio is right. Just the effort of getting into the wheelchairand being taken down to the parking garage— and then having Savio help me into the car—has me breathing hard and tired. My head slumping against the window as Savio follows me in.

I’m going to need time to recover before I can do much of anything.

25

NICCI

Iend up sleeping on the entire ride upstate to the cabin. It’s dark when we get there, and Savio comes around to open my door, helping me out. I can’t help but lean on him as we walk up to the cabin, the driver following us with bags that Savio must have packed for us—and I hate that I feel so helpless right now. That Ineedhis support. The last thing I want is to need him for anything, especially when being this close to him means that I can’t ignore how good his warm, broad body feels against mine, or how much I missed the smell of his cedar-scented cologne.

I shouldn’t miss anything about him. But I can see in his face, in every step, every touch, that he’s worried about me. That he’s done nothingbutworry about me since Martin’s bullet went through my shoulder. And I can’t help but be touched by that because no one has ever worried about me before.

“I really, really want a shower,” I murmur as Savio leads me into the house. “I feel awful. How long was I in the hospital?”

“Two days.” He turns to motion for the driver to take the bags upstairs. “Alright,principessa. I’ll help you get into the shower.”

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