Page 55 of Sold to the Syndicate

“We are good Doc,” I gesture at him to come towards me, “I know you did you all could.”

“What about his one,” he cautiously reaches towards Ava, not wanting to overstep.

“I am pretty sure it is just a concussion, but please take a look at her,” I stand from the couch while laying Ava down so that Doc can examine her.

He is thorough in his examination, and concurs with my assessment of the concussion. He places a couple of butterfly bandages on the gash running across her cheekbone.

“The cut doesn’t need stitches, and should heal up just fine,” he pauses, “That eye on the other hand is quite swollen. Definitely keep some ice on it for the next few hours. I wouldn’t want this to permanently affect her vision.”

Doc continues as I gently lift Ava from the couch, “She is going to need sleep, but make sure you wake her occasionally for the next twenty-four hours. After that, limited stress or activity for at least a few days. If she has any headaches or anything seems to be out of her norm, please call me immediately.”

“Thank you, Doc,” I extend my hand from under Ava’s knees to shake his.

“I have to get back to the hospital,” he breaks eye contact with me, “someone should stay out here with him. I’ll be back in the morning to look in on him.”

“Sounds good,” I nod giving him the acknowledgement he needs to know that he is free to leave.

“I’ll stay out here with Marco tonight,” Carlo says from behind me.

Turning I see that he has already changed out of his blood-soaked clothes and into comfortable sweats. He walks around me and flops onto the couch I had been using for Ava.

“Go,” he tips his head towards the door, “Get Ava inside and take care of her. I’ll call you if anything changes with Marco.”

“Call if you need anything too.”

Turning from Carlo, I carry Ava out of the garage and towards the house. The guard at the door, opens it for me as I make my way up the stairs. After making my way upstairs, I open the door to my room.

I am pleased to see that the cleaners have taken care of everything in here – down to the pool of blood that was covering the majority of the closet floor. Had this room still been in disarray, I would have preferred to take Ava across the hall.

Delicately stripping her of her clothes, I let out a heavy sigh. A sigh of relief that the large mark on her face is the only physical harm she endured while she was away from me. Being mindful of her face, I help her sluggish body into one of my shirts.

“Renzo,” her hand slides along my face and it feels as though every nerve in my jaw is connected to my heart.

“Shhhhh,” I pull back the blanket and help her lay down before tucking her into the bed, “Rest nowpiccola pesca, we can talk tomorrow.”

Once she settles and begins to drift off, I run down to the kitchen. After filling a bag with some ice and grabbing a dish towel, I begin to head back upstairs to Ava.

“Lorenzo,” I hear Sal’s deep voice billow out to me, “we have some important things we need to discuss.”

“Not now, Papa,” the words pass over my lips before I realize the disrespect in the them.

“Okay,” his reaction, or lack of reaction, surprises me, “I am glad you were able to do the thing I couldn’t and you brought her home.”

“Oh, Papa,” my words fall short as he shuts the office door to hide the sullen look on his face.

ChapterForty-Six

Avalie

The click of the door wakes me from my sleep. Each beat of my heart echoes through my throbbing head and the slightest movement shoots pain through my face, yet an indescribable calmness washes over me as I struggle against the bright lights to realize that I am in Renzo’s bed.

“You’re supposed to be sleeping,” Renzo’s voice a soft, warm whisper.

“Then maybe you should be more quiet.”

The mattress shifts a little as Renzo sits on the edge of the bed beside me, “I’m glad to see the Gregorians didn’t manage to tame the brat in you either.”

A small chuckle escapes me, immediately followed by a groan from the pain it causes.

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