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When Nico returned to the living room, it was to see Maddie crouched beside Dante, her hands stroking his thick fur, her face pale, her body so slight, so small that he ached for her and what she’d been through.
His chest felt as though a tonne of cement had been dropped on it, and not from the effects of Michael’s punches. No, it was the sight of Dante and Maddie crouched together, both wounded, both stronger than he could ever put into words. The way Dante - who’d suffered enough abuse in his lifetime - had defended Maddie, then the way she’d done the same for him.
He stared at them and felt a little as though the bottom was falling out of his world. For weeks he’d thought how right Maddie was in his home, but for the first time, he realised that she belonged here, and that soon she’d be gone. And it wasn’t just his life that would be forever altered by her absence, it was Dante’s too.
“Come here, Nico,” Alessia instructed, so he dragged his gaze away from the sight they made, and he did so gratefully, because emotions were bearing down on him that he had no idea how to process.
“Make it quick.” He softened the warning tone to his voice with a tight smile. It made his eye feel like it was going to explode out of its socket.
“Careful,” she murmured, lifting her fingers to run over the cheekbone. He felt the shift of movement in the room, felt the moment Maddie came to stand at his side, but a little apart from him, as though she was awkward in some way, afraid to be too close. Damn it, he didn’t want that. Did she think he blamed her?
He wanted everyone to go.
He wanted to wrap her in his arms once more and whisper words until she was calm, he wanted to make this better for her.
Alessia’s examination was brusque but thorough. She checked the reflexes of his eyes, examined his bone structure, lifted his shirt and felt his ribs, then nodded.
“Rest. Take it easy. No strenuous physical activity for either of you. If you feel groggy, disorientated, or in any way worse than you do now, you’re to call me immediately. If you cannot reach me, you go to hospital. Understood?”
“Will I be okay to fly in a couple of days?”
His heart thumped into his ribs. He didn’t need that kind of assault from the inside.
Alessia considered that. “You don’t have any broken bones. So long as you don’t develop any additional symptoms tomorrow, then yes. Do you have someone who can care for you in England?”
Nico turned to look at Maddie. “I’m…not really. I can call my dad if I need to, but I’d prefer –,”
His heart thumped harder. The idea of her being completely alone after this –
“See how you go. Just take it easy. Don’t push yourself. Rest lots.” Alessia turned back to Nico. “He bore the brunt of it, as you said.”
It was the last thing Nico wanted Maddie to hear, all things considered. Her guilt was already palpable. “I’ll be fine,” he assured smoothly. “I’ve seen worse.”
At that, her lips twisted into a small smile. “How is Gabe?”
Their eyes met and he felt again the loss of Alessia from their lives. She’d been like a sister to them, at one point, her father like the son Gianfelice had wished he’d had – where his own children were frivolous and hell bent on blowing their way through their trust funds, Alessia’s father had been the opposite: steadfast, hardworking and respectful. Alessia had spent a lot of time with the Montebellos, growing up, so she knew all the intricacies of their relationships and histories, including the time Gabe and Nico had got into a physical brawl that wouldn’t have ended had it not been for Yaya and a big pot of water she tipped over their heads.
“He’s…Gabe,” Nico lifted his shoulders.
He felt as though Alessia was going to say something else but then she blinked, her eyes wide, her smile carefree.
“Thank you for coming so promptly, Alessia.”
“Of course.” She turned to Maddie, a kind smile on her face. “I hope your sprained ankle and now this won’t stop you from coming back to us one day, Maddie.”
A polite smile, then Alessia reached out, putting a hand over Maddie’s. “And if you do, please call me. I can show you all the sights he’s forgotten about.” She grinned, and Nico had another pang of something.
He didn’t want Maddie to go. The realisation came to him as if struck by lightning. He wasn’t ready to end this. Not yet. He turned to face her and smiled past the blinding pain. “Thank you, dottore.”
Chapter 12
“I DIDN’T KNOW. NOT at first.” She’d stopped shaking, but she was still pale, so the bruise on her cheek was all the more obvious. He couldn’t look at her without wishing he’d succumbed to his first instincts and laid into Michael with all the might of his fists.
But he hadn’t.
For two reasons. It would be so much easier for prosecutors to make their case if the violence had been unprovoked, and unanswered. And secondly, he never wanted Maddie to think him capable of the kind of violence Michael had exhibited. He was a different kind of man. Even when his temper was pushed to breaking point, he remained in control.
He was safe. Reliable.
