Page 21 of Fight Me Daddy

"Hello, you must be the patient."

"Calix," he said a hell of a lot more politely than the way he talked to me.

"Vanessa," she said as she shook his good hand. "Let's see what we're looking at and I'll fix you right up."

"Thanks," Calix said as he blew out a breath and held out his injured hand. "I need to be able to fight so hopefully it's not too bad."

She looked at his hand and frowned. "It's not horrible, but you'll need to give it a rest for a little while I'm afraid. At least a week." She took out a few supplies before she filled a syringe with clear liquid. "I'll give you a local anesthetic and stitch you up. Shouldn't take too long at all, but you have to promise me you'll rest it or we're going to be here doing this again."

Calix nodded. "Yes, ma’m, I understand. A week is okay. I can take that off." He gazed at me. "I think."

I nodded shortly, but my bad mood had already settled in. He was cooperative with Vanessa and respectful. But when it came to me, he was like an untrained mutt. I never thought I'd be jealous of the good doctor but I briefly fantasized about snapping her neck. The only thing that stopped me was the reality that Amadeo would be pissed.

"That's it," Vanessa said, her voice cutting into my lurid thoughts. "He's all done." She turned to me and paused before raising a brow. "Don't give me that look. I did what you asked."

I frowned. "Yeah."

Vanessa patted me on the arm. "Call me if you need anything. Make sure he takes the antibiotics I gave him and the pain meds."

"Yeah."

She peered at me cautiously. "Are you alright, Mr. Bianchi?"

I nodded, but the truth was that I was far from okay. Whatever was happening to me was bad and it was affecting me in ways I never expected. I sucked in a breath and turned to Calix who was staring at me.

"What?" I snapped.

"Nothing," he said throwing his hands up.

"Let's go."

"Wait, what?" he asked, his brows knitted in confusion. "What do you mean let's go?"

"You heard Doc. Rest, medicine, and more rest. Let's go."

Calix scoffed. "Are you high? I have a business to run!"

I gripped a handful of his hair as my temper snapped. "You have employees, don't you? They'll take over for you. Get your ass to the car.”

Calix shoved me away. "Fine! You're such a-" He grunted and censored himself. "Shit!"

He stormed out of the office and slammed the door after him. I stared at it, shocked at how little fucks he gave about the way he talked to me. I was used to grown men pissing their pants when confronted with me, but even after all he'd seen, Calix didn't seem to give a fuck.

I ripped the door open and followed after him. Calix talked to Tallia and she gazed at me before her eyes cut back to him. Once Calix was done, he joined me and we walked out of the gym together. He let out a short hiss as he slipped into the car before he stared out of the window refusing to look at me.

"I'll do collections alone tonight," I said as I started up the car.

Calix turned and stared at me. "What? No, I can go."

I shook my head and pulled out of my spot. "No."

"I can go," he said again. "I don't want to miss a night and owe you or your family anything more than I already do."

My eye twitched and I resisted the urge to push down my lid and stop the involuntary spasm. Calix was going to be the death of me. Everything the man did drove me insane. And I had no idea why. He was correct that he owed the family, but for some reason, I couldn't stop envisioning his debt as mine and mine alone.

"You're a fuckin' liability," I snapped at Calix as he tried speaking again. "The only thing you're gonna do is go home and stay out of my goddamn way. You got me? Do you?"

"Yes, sir," Calix spoke through tight lips.

We went back to the awkward, charged silence that stayed between us as I drove to his house. As I gazed down at his hand, I sighed.

I don't want you to get hurt because of stupid collections. Once you heal up, we can go right back to business. But not now.

Everything in me screamed to say the words out loud, but my silver tongue became lead whenever I was around Calix Gonzalez.

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