Page 52 of The Woman on the Jury

It was me.

He’d been trying to protect me.

Had he been off doing… whatever else he did, he would likely be completely fine.

I couldn’t help but wonder if he was in shock to have so little reaction to being stabbed, beaten, and likely dealing with a broken leg. Without proper pain management, just a bottle of vodka he was taking swigs of.

The new, older guy, Salvatore, seemed to know what he was doing, though. Even if I didn’t think he was actually a medical professional, he clearly had some sort of experience as he looked me over, then started to take care of Venezio.

Up on that counter with Cosimo’s intense gaze on me, though, it was like everything and everyone else fell away.

Then, God, he was touching me.

Not even with his bare fingertips or anything. With gauze and Q-tips. But, still, the desire singed across my skin, creating this heat inside that made me sure I was about to combust.

It didn’t help that when I’d been recounting my attack, I could have sworn he looked as furious as if it had happened to his wife or something like that.

Or maybe that was just wishful thinking.

I was still trying to wrap my head around that, though, when he said something that made me feel like he’d pulled the rug out from under me.

“She’s staying here from now on.”

“Got it, Boss,” Miko said as he and Salvatore lead Venezio out of the penthouse.

“Ah, no,” I said, shaking my head as I watched the door slide closed.

“No, what?” Cosimo asked, turning back to me.

“No, I’m not staying here.”

“Yes, you are.”

“Ah, no, I’m not,” I said, voice firmer.

I couldn’t stay here.

That was ridiculous.

“We’re not debating this,” Cosimo said in a tone I assume he thought brooked no argument.

But seeing as we were talking aboutme, I was going to argue.

“Yes, we are,” I countered.

He surprised me then.

Not by raising his voice.

Or saying anything at all.

Instead, his hands moved out, fingertips tracing over the bruises forming on my thighs.

It was meant to remind me of what had almost happened back in my apartment.

But all it seemed to manage to do was make me ache with need once again.

Without even meaning to do it, I pressed my thighs tightly together, hoping to ease the ache between.

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