Page 139 of Toxic

"Then stay out of it," she hurls, trying to sit up.

I don't release her. "Fighting me will get you nowhere. If I have to tie you to a chair, I will."

"I'm not your child," she spouts.

"No. You're my heart. My future wife. And I'm not sitting back and letting you deal with this all on your own anymore."

She turns her head and closes her eyes. Her voice lowers. "We aren't engaged. I'm not marrying you."

I ignore the pain shooting through my heart. I grab my phone off the nightstand then call her brother Aidan.

"Dante," he answers.

"Bridget and I are coming down for breakfast. Alert the doctor we might need him."

"Dante," Bridget snaps.

"Done." Aidan hangs up.

I rise and scoop Bridget up off the bed.

"Let me down!" she screams.

I don't respond, move her into the bathroom, then turn on the shower.

"Dante!" she cries out, pushing me with barely any strength.

I test the water then set her in the shower, even though she's wearing my T-shirt. She shrieks, and I step next to her. The warm water soaks my boxers. I slide my hands on her cheeks, forcing her to look at me. "You are mine, dolcezza. I'm sorry I don't have all the answers, but you will do what I say. Do you understand me?"

She loses it again, and I pull her into my chest. She wails, "I can't do this."

"You can. You're the strongest woman I know."

She keeps crying. Eventually, she stops. I dry her off, comb her hair, and help her put on yoga pants and a sweatshirt.

I give her a chaste kiss on the lips. "Time to eat." I lead her through the house and into the dining room.

Her brothers Aidan and Brody are sitting at the table. They glance at us. The same helplessness I feel is reflected in their expressions. They try to cover it, but it's obvious.

I pull a chair out and motion for Bridget to sit. I ask her, "What sounds good?"

She stays silent, pleading with her eyes for me to drop it.

I'm not going to. She's eating, or I'm calling the doctor, and she knows it. I pick up a plate and put some eggs, toast, and fruit on it. "Here, dolcezza. Try some."

Silence fills the air. I stroke her back, softly pleading, "Take a bite."

She caves, picks up her fork, and eats a bite of scrambled egg.

"Good girl." I kiss her on the side of her head. Aidan slides a plate at me, full of bacon, eggs, and toast.

"The O'Malleys and Ivanovs will be here soon," Brody states.

I hold Bridget's toast to her lips. She takes a bite. Satisfied she's eating, I shove a forkful of eggs in my mouth. I exchange a tense gaze with Aidan and Brody. Liam called the night before. He stated they found something, and they were flying in this morning.

"Why are they coming here? Did they find something out?" Bridget asks, and all the anxiety she always exhibits when she worries about the kids' safety reignites on her face.

I slide my arm around her shoulder. "I'm not sure what they discovered. As soon as I find out, I'll let you know."

---