Page 35 of Enzo
“You know him,” Benji says softly. “He loves you too much to let you treat him as anything but what he deserves. If he doesn’t think you’ve learned your lesson, he’ll kick your ass.”
I huff a laugh. “Yeah, he will. We’ll be okay. I just…I need to apologize. So many apologies. And then we’ll go from there. I don’t know…it’s something we have to work out ourselves, but he told me how he felt, made me aware that I was hurting him, and reminded me I’m not the only one going through this. It’s something I needed to hear, as much as it fucking hurt.”
Benji nods. “You got in your stupid, protective head and let things spiral, and Kail allowed it until he couldn’t anymore.”
There’s a reason Benji’s my best friend. He knows me almost as well as Kail does. He’s always been a big supporter of our relationship, and he’s always had Kail’s back. So nothing he says is a surprise.
That doesn’t mean I won’t give him shit about it, though. “Are you my friend or Kail’s?”
“Definitely not yours,” he quips. “Come on, my ass is numb.” He hops up from the floor.
Snorting, I reach for my crutches and stand. My leg wobbles a moment after the exercise and then sitting on the bench for so long, but I get my foot under me and we leave the gym.
“James made cookies yesterday,” I say. “We can grab one and hang out in the sitting room if you want.”
“Ooh, cookies! You lucky fucker. You don’t only have Kail to spoil you, but James too.”
“Yes, only he comes with a side of Doc,” I reply.
Benji’s smile dims a little and he shudders dramatically. “Yeah…uhh…you poor bastard.”
Snorting, I lead him into the kitchen, glad for a bit of before in amongst the new normal that is my life.
My guilt over how I’ve treated Kail and his feelings intensifies, but until we’re ready to talk, really talk, there’snothing I can do about it. Pushing him now will only hurt more, and I’m trying to avoid that.
Fuck, what a mess.And there’s no one to blame but myself.
Iwould never wish harm on another person. I know what it’s like to come close to losing the person you love, and wouldn’t want that for anyone—except maybe the bastards who tried to take Enzo from me—but having the distraction of work to keep me busy? I am grateful for that.
I’ve spent the last few days working at the clinic before being recalled to the Amato main house due to a potential emergency situation.
Soren, Rose, and I prepped the room while Doc waited for news of whether anyone would need our expertise.
Considering the Amatos have just discovered who’s been behind everything—the raids on their warehouses, Roman and Enzo’s accident, and the attempted murder of Carter Amato’s father—I don’t have high hopes that anyone is getting out of the situation unscathed.
Doc bursts into his office, orders pouring from him the moment the door opens. “What’s the blood situation?”
Since I’m the one who did the inventory, I answer. “We’re still low on O neg. The emergency kit from the hospital helped, but De Luca still used up a good amount. The next drive should even that out, though.”
“Okay. Where’s Jude on the chart? He’s our priority, unless?—”
Rose cuts in. “Unless Roman comes in more critically injured. We know, sir.”
“Yeah, except if you let his lover die, he’ll kill you,” I tell Doc, half teasing, half not, heart in my throat because I know exactly how Roman, Tennant, and Hollis are probably feeling right now. “Jude’s AB pos, by the way. Lucky fucker. We’ve got him covered either way.”
“Good. From what Ten says, he has multiple GSWs and a host of other injuries, so it’s going to be a long night for us all.”
“How far out were they?” Soren asks, as Doc scrubs in.
“They were leaving the Manasseros’ when I left, so I expect we’re about to be hit at any moment. Have any of you been in contact with the clinic?”
“I have,” Rose says. “They’re prepared. You know how many need medical services?”
“Not a clue. They’ll call it in when they’re on their way. We were prepared, though, and I don’t think any of our people are the ones who need help. It really depends on whether they left anyone aside from Jude’s family alive for the Boss.”
Considering they were supposed to be on the Amato’s side and turned out to be traitors…yeah, I have doubts about anyone living through the night.
Doc’s phone breaks the strained tension in the room, and he listens for a moment before rushing out the door. I follow closely behind him before the other two can.
