“Stella!” Sophia exclaims. “Please stop talking about my brother’s appendage!”
“Are you trying to kill me!” I wince.
“Not a chance. No one else appreciates my humor quite like you do, so I need to keep you around.”
“So do I,” rumbles a low voice from across the room.
I look up to see Raf leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed at his chest, an amused smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. He pushes off the frame and walks towards the bed.
“We were just leaving,” Sophia says, kissing me on the cheek, Evie and Stella doing the same before heading towards the door.
“Oh and by the way, Stella,” says Raf now at my side, picking up my hand and stroking my wrist. “I can confirm she definitely married the finest cock of them all.”
“Oh God!” Sophia groans. The other two erupt into laughter.
“Seb might have something to say about that,” Evie chirps, looking back over her shoulder as she walks out the door.
“Oh no, not you too, Evie! Stella and Chiara have corrupted you!” Sophia chuckles.
“Well, well, well, Evie Grace Chalmers, you dark horse, you!” Stella says, throwing her arm around her shoulder. “Tell our dear bestie, it’s not me who’s corrupted you—it was Seb Princi’s cock,” she says in a mock whisper.
Sophia puts her hands to her temples and shakes her head in defeat. “Your mouth needs to have an explosives symbol attached to it!”
I go to laugh but it comes out as a pained groan, a sharp pain flaring in my ribs.
“We’re going to get you some pain relief in a minute, sweetheart,” says Raf, leaning down to kiss my forehead. “The doctor just wants to speak with you first. He’ll be down in a moment.”
“Have you heard from AJ?” I ask.
“Yes, he’s checked in a few times. I assured him you’re resting and well cared for.”
“And what about him, is he injured?” I ask, worry creeping in.
“He was a bit banged up, but he’s going to be fine.”
I worry my lip, scared about what this is all going to mean for him when my uncle and the Mafia heads find out.
“He’s handled everything,” he emphasizes, brushing my hair off my shoulder and gently stroking my jaw before trailing his fingers down my neck. “Once he’s back in the city, he’ll be over to see you.”
“Will everything be okay?” I whisper. “He can’t go to prison, or worse, for me.”
“No such thing is going to happen. I promise.”
I swallow thickly, staring into his warm, chocolate-brown eyes.
“I can’t lose anyone else.”
“Not even an option, angel,” he says, getting on the bed and turning on his side to face me, head propped on his fist. “I’m not going anywhere. Ever.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Princi,” calls a voice from the door. “Is it okay if I come in?”
Raf waves the doctor in, and he comes to stand by my bedside.
“I’ve got some good news, and I’ve got some bad news.”
My breath hitches.
“Good news is your blood test came back negative for other drugs. Bad news is I still can’t give you any other prescription pain relief.”
