“Oh god,” Adriano groaned, slumping in his chair and hiding behind his hands. He had also seen a cock many, many times.
Matteo snorted. “You liked it then.”
I rolled my eyes. “I didnot.”
“Just say you like looking at my cock at your house…whatever that means.”
Sicily’s door clicked open, and a deeply frowning Francesco appeared. “What in the ever-loving fuck are you talking about?” He didn’t allow me to answer before he nodded toward Bella and Fiore and said, “She’s asking for you.”
I opened my mouth to protest as the girls filed into the hospital room, but Adriano shoved his giant, coffee-scented palm over my mouth. It was perhaps the vilest sensation I had ever experienced.
“Get over it,” he said in a sing-song tone, shaking his head. “They’re your family.”
“Cesare isnotmy family.” I scowled behind his hand.
Adriano’s lips tugged upward. “By biology, he is. The girls didn’t stab anyone, did they, asshole? They just existed and they make your wife feel better.”
As my tongue darted out to lick his hand and get it away from me, Sicily’s door burst open again, and an exasperated-looking Bella stumbled out with Fiorella on her arm, both followed by a wide-eyed Sicily.
I shot to my feet as Bella flung herself toward me and into my arms, desperate. “What is it?”
I may not have found her husband favorable, but I understood her recent bleedings and did not desire for their child to be harmed. Bella had also been a pleasant house guest, and I had enjoyed her emotional support; I could not forget that.
“I need help,” she whispered, clinging to my arms with nails digging into my shirt sleeves.
“Why?”
She swallowed roughly. “I just feel weird…Off.”
I felt my jaw tense. She could not be here, harmed in my presence again. I could not allow anyone to be hurt again over blood that I did not spill.
“You should call Cesare,” I warned, holding her tightly.
“He’s not picking up!” Fiorella exclaimed, her brows furrowing in worry.
Sicily was staring at me, her bright, scared eyes boring into mine, wanting me to do something, to fix this. Her faith in me was something I treasured dearly, but this time it was sorely too strong.
I looked away, thinking, still holding Bella close to my chest. “Then call Brenno.”
“I tried.” Fiorella sighed.
“She did.” Sicily nodded as though that was helpful.
Francesco placed his palm on Bella’s spine, rubbing gently. “We’re in a hospital. Have someone check her out here.”
“I cannot,” I gritted through my teeth though it pained me to say it. “If something happens to her by my doctor’s hand in my territory, it will cause war. If something occurred of natural consequences and that was proven, war would not break out.”
This was the truth of being a Capo. This was how troubled decisions could be when families were split and separated.
“Are you fucking with me?” Francesco snarled.
“No.” I frowned. I had not given any indication that I was joking.
The weight of his disagreement hung heavier in my heart than I had anticipated. He was family now, and that meant his anger held additional weight.
“Can we drive her home?” Sicily asked, peering up at me.
Driving Bella home would take two hours and involve entering a territory that held no protection for my family. I went to shake my head, but Sicily was waiting eagerly for an answer, holding onto hope.She had asked me to do something and was looking at me with a gaze that seemed to manipulate my newfound emotions.
