Page 11 of Wounded King
My knees feel like they're about to buckle. His threat isn't idle. I can physically feel it, read the truth of his statement in his eyes. He probably wouldn't even think twice about it. Thrown off balance by his violent nature, I take a step back. Nobody has ever threatened me before—except Luciano, but compared to Orsi, his threat was almost civilized.
"Good morning, I'm Doctor Waspo. I'm in charge of your son." I've never been so happy to see Waspo in my life as I am when he opens the sliding door.
Orsi's ire turns on him. "Nobody besides me is inchargeof my son." He thunders.
"I'm sorry, sir, of course not. I meant I'm in ch— I'm responsible for your son's recovery." Waspo straightens his white coat and holds out his hand when he's done.
Orsi stares at it as if it were something contagious, before his lips curl in derision. "I want Doctor VanHolm."
Doctor VanHolm istheleading brain surgeon in the country.
"I'm sorry, sir. Doctor VanHolm is on medical leave, but I have trained under him, and I can assure you?—"
Orsi grabs him by the throat. A small cry escapes my lips, and I turn to the door to call security, but Luciano steps in my way, shaking his head at me. What the fuck? What have I gotten myself into? I'm basically running up those basement stairs toward the light now. Shit. Mom was right. This is dangerous. I'm a nurse for crying out loud. If I had wanted to live dangerously, I would have joined the military.
"Youwillassure me, you little prick. That is my only living son," Orsi snarls into Waspo's face. "You will call me every day with updates, do you understand?"
Waspo's face is turning a shade of purple, but he manages to nod.
I'm not sure what I think I might accomplish, but I move to interfere, worried Orsi will choke Waspo to death. Again, Luciano steps in my way, shaking his head. My hands ball into fists, and anger churns my belly. I can't stand by and watch a man being killed. Just as a tortured choking sound that raises goosebumps all over my body escapes him, Orsi lets Waspo go. "You better pray my son makes it."
With that and without getting the medical update he demanded, he leaves the room.
Waspo is on his knees, holding his throat. Rasping sounds escape his lips while his lungs try to pull in air through his damaged throat. Luciano finally steps out of my way, and I rush to the doctor's side.
"What's wrong with you people?" I snarl at Luciano, who barely looks at me. I like to think it's because part of him is ashamed.
The next day…
I usually work four twelve-hour shifts a week, but in some cases, like this, I only go home for eight hours to shower, eat, and sleep. I feel guilty leaving Felix, my cat, all alone for this long, but he's used to it by now. I'm still a bit mad over Mom not taking him, but she claims she's allergic, so it was probably asking too much.
Still, when I return to the hospital after my eight-hour break, Luciano looks at me as if I have somehow betrayed him and his boss.
"The night nurse was a nightmare, again," he complains.
So, we're just not going to talk about what happened yesterday? I'm about to say something to that effect when I realize he's not alone. I give the other man a cursory glance. With his slicked black hair, green eyes, body to kill for—or bodytokill—and his expensive-looking, tailored suit, he looks like another mob boss. Wonderful.
Wordlessly, I turn to check Marcello's vitals, adjust his medicine, and mumble to myself that Luciano is right—the night nurse dropped the IV antibiotics too quickly; sheisan idiot.
I was close to calling in my resignation this morning. Should probably have done so. If I were in my right mind, I would have. Mr. Orsi truly and honestly scared me yesterday. And this isn't just about me. Luciano, even if he is markedly less scary, threatened my family.
I never thought these kinds of people existed in real life. Wrote it off as something the movies made up. Now I know better, and I'm still here. I can make up all the excuses I want, like I don't want any other nurse to go through what I did yesterday, but… in all honesty… I can't seem to stay away from my patient.
Even in a coma, he draws me in like no man ever has. I want to see him when he opens his eyes. I want to talk to him, hoping that whatever romantic fantasies I have about him will pop the moment he opens his mouth. He's probably just like his father. That would be a blessing.
I like my job. I really do. I've never wanted to be anything but a nurse—until I got hooked on the home renovation shows. I always came to work with a light step, and I've always been happy to be here, but these past few days? I can barely stand being at home, not seeinghim, imagining what the night nurse might do wrong this time. I'm aware that I'm obsessing over a man I don't even know. No, that's not true; I know some, and everything I do know about him should send me running screaming for the woods.
Instead, I'm here. Again. Realizing the knot in my back that has been there all night is slowly loosening now that I'm here with him.
"So, we're not talking this morning?" Luciano holds out the coffee to me.
"You can't buy me with that." I snarl.
He lifts his hands, nearly spilling the liquid gold I am pining for despite my words.
"I'm not trying tobuyyou." He assures me. "I do want you high functioning, though." He grins, holding the coffee out again.
One of the machines beeps shrilly. The IV must be done. Ignoring Luciano and his coffee, I walk over to turn the IV off for now. On my way, I notice a little rash forming underneath Marcello's head wrap. I stop and adjust the bandage to rest over his hair instead of his skin. While I'm at it, I can't help but notice how warm his skin is. Not feverish, just a healthy temperature. Neither can I help but keep my gaze lingering at the arch of his dark brows. I'm sure they add another layer of menacing or arrogance to his expression when he's awake. Once again, the urge to look into his eyes, to see him animated, rises strong inside me. A tiny scar splits one of his eyebrows, and hell if that isn't the sexiest thing I've ever seen on a man. I wonder what his voice sounds like. Will it be deep?
