Page 3 of Cavaliere

My head flies back as if he slapped me. “He didn't want me to,” I say, pointing to the bloody man. “He specifically told me to call you. And I don’t know about you, but I do not mess with a dying man’s wishes, dude. You’re just asking for bad karma.” How does he not know this?

“How bad is he, Alessio?” one of the paramedics asks as they wheel over the stretcher. Does he really have a connection with an ambulance? That’s a weird thing to have a connection with.

“Not sure. He’s unconscious but still breathing. I need to take her home, but I’ll meet you at the hospital.”

“Sure thing.”

“Let’s go,” Alessio orders as he’s already walking toward his car, expecting me to follow, I’m assuming.

I blindly follow him in what I’m going to chalk up to as shock because what other explanation is there for getting into a car with a man I just met? I’m shocked that he’s just leaving his brother like that. Shocked that he isn’t freaking out and seems content with the minor fact that his brother is still breathing. None of these are normal responses. But then again, who am I to judge on what’s normal?

I barely have my door closed before he throws the car in reverse and zooms off back to the city. “Where to?”

The expensive coolness of the leather against my skin has me fidgeting in the seat. I’m not used to being in something so nice. It’s going to sound stupid, but I don’t feel worthy of touching something this nice. Feeling a little self-conscious about his question, I answer, “Forest Glen. It’s a few blocks over from DD’s. You can just drop me off there, and I can walk.”

“I know where that is,” he replies, tone almost sounding bored.

Alright then.

It isn’t until we’re speeding through the city that I realize he’s, in fact, not dropping me off where I said but in front of my rundown apartment building. Sighing, I reach for the door handle but pause as I turn back to look at Alessio. “Thanks for the ride. And I hope your brother is okay, all things considered.”

And what do I get in return? A grunt before he speeds off, barely giving me a chance to close yet another door.

Chapter

Three

MATTEO

Asteady beeping noise pulls me out of a sleep I don’t remember falling into. I blink my eyes rapidly as they adjust to the overly bright, white light. The feeling of something scratchy on my legs has me focusing my gaze downward. A thin, white blanket covers them, the material offering very little comfort. I raise my arm to see an IV coming out of it, confirming where I am.

Fuck.

I fucking hate hospitals.

“It’s about time your ass woke up.” Alessio’s voice comes from my right. He’s relaxed back on the chair, one polished dress shoe resting on his knee, shirt uncuffed, and the sleeves rolled up, arms crossed.

I let out a long sigh as I turn my gaze to the T.V. that’s playing a rerun of a stupid sitcom. “What happened?” My voice sounds hoarse from not using it for god knows how long.

Alessio is silent for a moment, making me side-eye him. “You don’t remember anything?”

“No. I don’t remember anything.” I remember driving out to a meeting with the Dirty Devils, and that’s it.

“I guess that doesn’t surprise me, considering how I found you.” I raise my eyebrow at him. “You crashed into a tree and were knocked unconscious.” That explains the piercing headache. “They wanted to keep you overnight for observation since you were unconscious when you were brought in. Fifteen stitches in your forehead and a concussion. You’re lucky you didn’t break anything. Doctor said you’ll be feeling it for a while.”

“Great,” I say as I sit up, wincing as my body screams at me in protest. I swing my legs around so my feet touch the ground. I close my eyes in hopes of getting the room to stop spinning. It’s been at least a fucking decade since I’ve had a concussion. I forgot about the no sudden movements. “Let’s get out of here.”

“Can we at least wait until they actually discharge you this time? It starts to look funny when you do this every single time you’re in here. I know we pay the doctor under the table, but I’m sick of listening to him bitch about it.” Alessio tries to reason with me before taking his tone down an octave. “Plus, we have some things to discuss.”

“Don’t worry. I’m personally going to find the piece of shit that did this to me.”

Alessio snorts. “Believe me, I know you will. Gio is already looking. But that’s not what I’m talking about.”

Of course he is. Gio is…unhinged. I flick my wrist out, motioning for Alessio to get on with it. “Explain.”

“You aren’t curious about how I found you?” I had assumed he tracked me. All of our cars have a tracker installed on them. Alessio shakes his head at the confused expression on my face, reading my thoughts. “I didn’t track you. You weren’t gone long enough for any of us to think something might have happened.”

“Will you just spit it out?” I snap. This isn’t the fucking time to be beating around the bush.