Page 30 of Enzo
I can do most things on my own nowadays, but Jayden is a worrier, even if he’d never admit to it, so he’d definitely insist on helping me if I tried to shower. No thanks.
Once I’m settled in my bed, Jayden leaves, and it’s just me and my thoughts since Kail is with Lara. It’s good for him to get out, to see his family, to be away from having to tend to me. I won’t ever voice it, but watching him cater to me is…it’s more difficult than dealing with my injury sometimes. The burden Iput on him cuts me deep, and every instinct I have tells me to protect him from the worst of it. He doesn’t need my bullshit on top of the normal stress that comes with being a health care worker.
I hate that Doc assigned him to me, not because I’m not grateful for him, but… letting him see me at my most vulnerable is difficult. Stupid, with how we’ve spent the past decade together, but I never said I was rational about things when it came to those I loved.
The housekeeper knocking on my door and stepping into the room pulls me from my tangle of thoughts. “You have a visitor, sir,” he tells me softly.
“Who?”
“Mr. Mason and the younger Mr. Amato.”
I sit up quickly, making my tired body protest. “They’re here?”
“Yes sir. The Boss gave permission, and Doc approved. Do you want me to ask them to wait?”
I sigh and lie back against the bed. “No, it’s fine. Send them in.”
“Very well.” He gives a small bow before leaving the room.
I hate being forced into a corner like this, and my heart starts to race at the thought of Roman seeing me so weak, but I also know I can’t put it off any longer lest I get another visit from the Boss.
Roman and Tennant step into my room, and the moment Roman realizes what he’s seeing, he stops in his tracks.
A wounded look crosses his face, his dark green eyes growing wide as he pulls his bottom lip between his teeth. Tennant—my technical boss and the person everyone in the Family fears because he can and will put those who disappoint or displease him into the ground—holds Roman’s hand, keeping his young lover close.
When neither of them move, I realize I’m going to have to be the one to initiate things. Biting back a sigh, I say, “Are you going to just stand there all day?”
Roman lets out a little gasp, and all that escapes from his mouth is my name in a choked voice. “Enzo…”
Seeing how torn up he is over me…it pulls at the affectionate spots of my heart that are just his.
“You can come closer, ya know. I don’t bite.”
He lets out a strained, barely-there laugh and drags Tennant across the room to my bedside.
Seeing tears on Roman’s face hurts. Shame fills me as I think about how stressed and worried he must have been all this time because I refused to let him see me. I didn’t want him to see me weak, not after relying on me for so long to keep him safe. But this? Watching as he silently falls apart at the sight of me? It cuts my heart in two.
“No tears, Roman. I don’t want to be blamed for breaking you.”
He lets out a soft laugh. “I’m sorry,” he says on a choked breath. “I’m so fucking sorry you got hurt because of me.”
“Hey. You don’t need to apologize for me doing my job.” I keep my voice firm, a little stern, the tone that always got his attention when I needed him to listen to me.
It doesn’t quite work this time, his emotions overflowing rapidly and his guilt spilling out as he says, “That’s the thing! I shouldn’tbea job. You wouldn’t have been hurt if it weren’t for me.”
Tennant tries to step in. “Roman…”
Holding up my hand, I stop him from continuing. “Let me handle this, please, sir?”
Tennant’s expression falls blank, but he releases Roman’s hand only to place his palm on his back and encourage him to step closer to the bed, allowing me to reach for Roman’s hand.
Normally, I wouldn’t touch my principle so casually, but these circumstances aren’t normal, and with Tennant right here, encouraging this conversation, I’m not in fear of losing my job. Not that I really have one anymore. Neither the Boss nor Tennant have said anything about my employment status, but…I’m not an idiot either. It’s only a matter of time before they have their lawyer send me a nice severance package.
So I don’t hesitate to take Roman’s hand in mine, feeling the delicate bones in his small one. Pride fills me at knowing how deadly his hands can be, while sorrow also rolls through me at the thought I won’t be able to help keep this fierce but delicate young man safe anymore.
“It’s not your fault, Roman,” I tell him gently as he cries. “It was those fuckers who thought they could take what doesn’t belong to them. It was my privilege and my honor to give a part of myself up in order to protect you.”
He shakes his head rapidly. “It’s not fair, though.”
