Page 11 of Enzo
“Any pain? Did Murry give you meds? He said he was going to.”
“I’m fine, Doc.” I shift as much as I can on the narrow stretcher. “Well, not fine, but the pain doesn’t make me want to cry, so I’ll be fine for a while.”
“Let me know if that changes.”
Rather than replying, I hold Kail’s hand and close my eyes, trying to shut out the world for the drive to Doc’s house. Every bump we hit reignites the pain shooting through me and I squeeze Kail’s hand, though I try to temper my strength.
Kail tightens his grip on me, as if lending me strength, which most people would probably find laughable. But as the meds fight with the pain raging through my body and I’m transported to whatever fuckery Doc has set up, there’s no one else I would rather have by my side. Because heismy strength, and I’m not ashamed to admit it.
When Doc said he’d turned his spare sitting room into a medical recovery room for me, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But as I sit propped up in the hospital bed they stuck me in a few days ago, I can’t help but be impressed.
Aside from the medical bed, there are various cabinets and drawers full of medical equipment, including a portable X-ray machine and an ultrasound machine. There are also monitors and other things I have zero clue about.
At the other end of the room is a nightstand, small dresser, and cot where Kail has been sleeping. I feel bad that he thinks he needs to stay with me, but I’m also grateful he’s close at hand should I need something, even if what I need is simply knowing his presence is with me.
Though that could also be because I’m still recovering from my surgery and hopped up on so many painkillers my head swims if I move too quickly, so it’s making my thoughts a bit sappy.
Still, better than the pain every time my heart beats, I guess. Or maybe I prefer the throbbing ache in what’s left of my leg. At least I know I’m alive…
Fuck. My leg.I can’t believe it’s gone.Looking down at my blanket-covered legs, I stare at where my right one just…stops. Everything below the knee is now missing and I just…I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel aside from numb.
Kail comes back into the room after he’d left to put our breakfast dishes in the kitchen. Not that I was able to eat much. Hard to have an appetite when your entire world exploded in crushing metal and shattered glass a few short days ago.
“Need anything?”
I shake my head, unwilling to open my mouth should I say something I can’t take back. Especially when I know Kail is asking as both my boyfriend and my nurse.Fuck… The entire disarray my life has fallen into is doing my head in.
Before my thoughts can spiral, Doc enters the room. He’s dressed for the day in a pair of navy scrubs, a lightweight, long-sleeved white shirt underneath with the sleeves pulled down. Aside from the cocky as shit look on his face, you’d think, simply based on his appearance, he was…not innocent, but at least not highly trained by a mafia Boss’s right hand and Head of Security.
I know better, though. Under one of those sleeves is a scalpel, ready to cut the first person who dares to step over the line with him. Not only that, he has the backing of the Amato Family, and for those in our world, that’s a place and position they both envy and fear. As the Amatos are the most notorious organization around, having their favor makes you someone to be wary of.
I was on Doc’s guard when he first joined the Family. We didn’t mesh well, but we became familiar enough with one another, so I know just how talented he is. The past week has shown me intimately how hard he works for everyone in his care,though it’s hard to be appreciative when I barely have it in me to breathe after everything that’s happened.
“Good morning, how are you feeling today?”
I shrug. “I’m not a fan of the meds. They make me too slow.”
Doc studies me for a long moment before nodding. “I know, but without them the pain will be…a lot more than it is. We can start tapering you off them if you feel up to it, but you have to promise to use them when you need to. We don’t need you hindering your healing because you want to be the tough guy and then end up in too much pain to function.”
I sigh but ultimately agree. I despise the way the medication makes me feel, but if the pain I’m experiencing is with the meds, I am realistic enough to know I’ll need them for the initial healing. Even as a bodyguard for the fucking mafia, I know my limits. I’m not arrogant enough to believe I can get through this without help.
“Now, Jayden is going to stop by later today to assess you and start putting a plan together for PT. He’s bringing a wheelchair as well as some crutches, and he’ll show you how to use both. Our goal is to get you mobile.
“The ortho will be here later in the week to check you out and make sure you’re healing well. We also have you on the schedule for a prosthetist who comes highly recommended, but it’ll be a while yet before they can start fitting you for a prosthetic. This’ll just give us a baseline of what we’ll be looking at when you’re healed up, so hopefully you won’t have too many issues with it down the line.
“I’ve also been looking for a therapist for you. There are a few I know from back in college, or have gotten to know at one point or another. I want someone who’s familiar with your type of situation, though, as I believe it’ll help. And before you argue, yes, you’re seeing a therapist. Something traumatic just occurred, and it’s flipped your entire life upside down. I’ve madeit a requirement before you can be fully medically cleared by me.”
My head begins to spin and I close my eyes, swallowing as I take all the information in.This is real. It’s happening. I’m going to need to learn to walk all over again on a limb that isn’t mine…
A hand finds mine and I hold on tightly, not ashamed to take the lifeline Kail so selflessly gives.
“Am I moving too fast?”
Turning my attention back to Doc, I shake my head a little. “No. Keep going.”
“Okay. Since you’ll be recovering here, I’ve arranged for both Kail and one of the clinic nurses, Jane, to be here as well. They’ll make a schedule between themselves, though I already have a room upstairs prepared for Kail as I know he’ll want to stay close by even when he’s not on the clock. Rose or one of the other clinic nurses will sub in whenever Jane and Kail need a break, but those two will be your primaries. You already have the emergency number programmed into your phone, right? Just in case, for some reason, I’m not available?”
“Yeah, all the guards are required to have it, since only those of us in the main Family have your direct number. But what is this about full-time nurses?”
