Page 113 of Bad Medicine
“Sure, kid.”
“Awesome.” Sway pumped his fist like he’d just won something. Then, thoughtful, he turned back to me. “Also, when can I get a gun?”
Fuck. Francesca was gonna be pissed at me for sure.
Chapter fifty-two
Mia
“Goon.Openit.”
I stared down at the wrapped box in my hand, the delicate navy paper accented with curling silver ribbon feeling more like a grenade than a gift. My heart pounding in my ears, I struggled to make my fingers work as I turned the box over and over, looking for some clue as to what it contained. No bigger than a deck of cards, the tiny thing had my whole body locking up, frozen with both shock and disbelief.
Rocco had gotten me a Christmas present.
I mean, I probably shouldn’t have been surprised; after all, he’d gotten really thoughtful gifts for everyone today.
For Enzo, Rocco had gifted him a custom black leather jacket for riding his motorcycle, the silver on black embroidery showing the logo forGreed, one of his many clubs.
Francesca had received a really nice pampering package for a spa, one that would let her get a massage and facial every month from now until the baby was due. Apparently, this place specialized in maternity care. Having lived through the backaches that came during the third trimester, I knew she’d appreciate every second of it.
Even Sway, whose presence had been unexpected but welcome, had gotten a gift from Rocco: driving lessons.
“Can’t jack a car until you know how to really drive it,” Rocco had joked.
At least, I’d hoped he was joking.
As the group of people I’d come to know these past few months celebrated Christmas morning, I’d sat with Jasper, curled up in a corner of Enzo’s large couch, content to watch them enjoy their time together.
After all, the only reason Jasper and I were even at Enzo’s place was because of Greg; if not for his interference, we would be spending our morning like we had for the last several years, making pancakes and opening our little piles of gifts with Linny, who was still staying away in Salt Lake City.
Jasper had been quiet today, his shock over the events with Greg still evident, but as the day wore on, he’d opened up more and more. I’d expected him to be needy, clinging to me like a limpet after our time apart, but he seemed surprisingly mellow, wanting to spend some time with Sway and Rocco as well as me.
Part of me was glad, knowing that things could have been so much worse, but another part of me was just a little bit jealous. I had spent all of Jasper’s life being the only one he looked to, the only one he’d needed. Sharing him with anyone other than Linny was new to me, and while it was difficult, seeing him interacting with the guys was enough to warm my heart.
Of course, it helped that Rocco and Sway had both spoiled him. I had been able to go by our place with Benny yesterday and gather up some clothes and things that we would need for an extended stay, as well as all the Christmas gifts I’d had put away for Jasper. With Greg still in the wind, Rocco and Enzo both felt safer if Jasper and I stayed with them at the big house, knowing that having their crew around would offer an extra layer of protection until their issues with the Bratva leader could be...resolved.
But for all that—for all the joy and happiness andlovethat we had been surrounded by this morning—I was still surprised to see a gift there for me.
“Go on, Doc,” Rocco pressed when it appeared I was about to stay frozen in place for the rest of the day, simply staring at the small box in my hand. “It’s not gonna bite ya.”
“But, Rock,” I whispered, feeling my face heating in embarrassment. “I didn’t get you anything.”
“Not worried about that, Doc. I know it’s been a crazy few days. Shopping hasn’t exactly been at the top of anyone’s to-do list.”
I raised an eyebrow at him, remembering how he’d shown up back at the house yesterday with his arms full of packages, but he just smiled at me like the cat that got the cream.
Looking around the room, I could see the others all engaged in other things, none of them really paying us any attention as they spent their post-present down-time in various locations around Enzo’s living room.
Sway was in one corner, checking out some of the new clothes Frankie had gotten him and snapping selfies as he held items up with a cocky grin.
The woman herself was snuggled up on Enzo’s lap, her legs thrown over his and their foreheads pressed together as they whispered to each other, Enzo’s hands seeming like they just couldn’t stop touching her.
Even Jasper had moved away, sprawled out on his stomach under the massive Christmas tree Frankie had somehow managed to both arrange and decorate in the few short days since she’d been back from New York, playing with a brand-new set of toy planes Rocco had given him, as well as a promise to take him flying as soon as possible.
So no one was really watching as I hefted the box again, giving it a shake for good measure, before looking back at Rocco, trying in vain to disguise the worry that was coursing through me.
“Baby, stop freaking out and just open the box, alright?” Rock laughed, moving in closer and slinging one arm around my shoulders. “If anything, I should be the one who’s nervous.”
