Page 29 of Lines Drawn
“What are you doing here?” I ask, or try to.
Leandro doesn’t look away from my face as he reaches off to the side for my water. He holds it for me while I take a few sips. “Okay?” he asks. “Do I need to get Doc…or Dr. Ranlen? I think they’re almost done, or should be, at least.”
“I’m fine. I have a handy dandy med dispenser in case I need it.” I gesture to the button connected to the IV in my arm. “Whathappened? Where is everyone? My dads, Hollis, Jude, and Ten? Is…is Ignacio okay?”
Leandro stares blankly at me as he says, in a voice devoid of emotion, “It’s not just Ignacio you need to worry about.”
“What?” My heart jumps to my throat as fear rushes through me. “What happened, Leandro?”
Leandro’s expression doesn’t change, nor does he try to soften the tone of his voice. “Doc and Dr. Ranlen worked for hours, but they managed to save his life. But Cristian also stabbed Tennant, so he’s being looked after, too. Oh, and just a few minutes ago, Cristian came in after being stabbed in the shoulder by Benjamin. So, while you were having your pain and drug-induced nap, you missed all the excitement.
“Carter also left Cristian. I think… That part's a bit muddled, but when Tennant was first brought in, there was a lot of yelling and cursing from both him and Cristian. I’ve never heard Tennant yell before, didn’t know he could.”
“He…he doesn’t,” I whisper. “Even when I piss him off and taunt him…Ten doesn’t raise his voice.”
“Yeah, well…apparently, Cristian brings out the worst in people.”
“You… That doesn’t make sense. What the fuck is going on?”
Leandro sighs, as if he’s tired of explaining, even though he hasn’t really told me anything except…except impossible things. I shake my head and try to sit up further on the bed, ignoring the pain coursing through me from my ribs as I do so.
Leandro tries to help, reaching across me and grabbing under my arms to help pull me up, but the angle is shit, and he doesn’t have much leverage. “Just hold fucking still,” he bitches.
I’m breathing hard as he takes an extra pillow and shoves it between my lower back and the bed, helping to prop me up more, so I can relax without holding myself up. Boston whines and jumps onto the bed, draping herself over my good leg.
Reaching down, I pet her, tangling my fingers in her soft fur. “Tell me what happened?” I ask again.
“I already told you. I was building new computers—thanks to H and his lists of contacts, we managed to get mostly everything we need for a whole new setup. Because while the Martellis have given us access to all of the equipment they have, it’s not the same. So I was working while Hollis and Jude sat with you.”
“Yeah, I remember that. I was there.”
“Hey, you asked. Anyway, Jude had to step out to take care of some Family issues, and I’m going to assume he’ll be working on both yours and Cristian’s behalf for the next little bit. Dmitri is with him. Hollis is with Ten, and I’m here.”
“Dad…he really stabbed Ten?”
“Yep. I don’t know the specifics of that, but it’s not too unusual for them.”
My heart breaks, and that overrides the pain in my body. Boston tries to crawl up the bed to lay over me, like I’ve trained her to do, but Leandro stops her so she doesn’t hurt me more. She lets out a mournful woof and I reach for her again, letting her lick my hand and wrist, even as Leandro makes a face.
“Can you get Carter? And…and Benjamin? Please?”
“Roman… Benjamin is kind of anti-Amato right now.”
I smile, but it’s not a nice feeling. “He stabbed Dad. Sure, maybe he did it for Ignacio, but if Dad hurt Ten…well, he wouldn’t understand that Tennant probably took that knife for him, as much as he did it for Dad. So…I want to talk to him. To thank him for doing what I can't, since ya know…” I raise my casted arm. “Hard to stab someone when your dominant hand is out of commission.”
“I thought you'd be pissed.” There's curiosity in Leandro’s voice, telling me he doesn't understand the turn of events.
“I'm upset with Dad. I knew he would stab Ignacio. We both overstepped there. But gutting him? No. That's too far.And fucking Tennant? I know they have their own weird way of dealing with each other, but Ten would have been upset on Benjamin's behalf.”
Leandro tilts his head. “Not yours?”
I shake my head. “I understood where Dad was coming from with the first stabbing. Tennant would have known that. His interest would have been in protecting Benjamin, and making sure Dad knew he was off limits. I…”
Tears fall down my cheeks and my throat closes up as I think of what happened to Ignacio. “It… Dad is protective, yeah, but he's not cruel. I don't understand…”
“Hey.” Leandro sets his hand on my shoulder. “Working yourself up is how you ended up getting drugged in the first place.”
I sniff and nod. When I heard the news… I didn't react very well. My ribs didnotlike the sobbing, or the…insistence that I get up so I could be there with Ignacio after surgery.
