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He swings me up and into his arms, and I turn my head away from him. How embarrassing. He saw me being sick. Can things get any worse from here? He carries me over to the sink, then lowers me to the floor. "Rinse your mouth," he orders, and I lean over and do as he commands. This once, I have no strength to disobey him, and not only because I need to get rid of the funny taste in my mouth.
Also, what’s wrong with me? In pretending to be sick, I seem to be honestly coming down with something. That’s all I need right now, some stupid virus to get a hold of me. I shut off the faucet, and he hands me a towel. As soon as I pat my mouth dry, he, once more, scoops me up in his arms. He carries me out into the bedroom, then out of the door.
"I can walk," I mumble. My voice trembles, and shit, I wasn’t even pretending that time.
"I don’t know what’s wrong with me," I say truthfully. "One minute I was fine, the next…" I swallow down the rest of the words. Can’t really tell him that I started out pretending to be sick, only to find out that I am really sick, can I?
"Don’t worry, Beauty." He tucks my head under his chin, "You’ll be fine, I promise. Once you are at the hospital—"
"No," I turn to him, only half-faking the alarm. I really do hate hospitals. So, it’s not a complete lie when I say, "Why don’t you simply fly the doctor here, instead?"
"I’ll call ahead when we are on the way and have her meet us there."
"But Michael, please, I don’t wanna go to the hospital," I whine.
"When it comes to your health, I will not take any risks," he says as he stalks down the stairs. When he reaches the bottom of the steps, Seb joins him.
"How is she?" he murmurs.
"Not good," Michael replies without glancing down at me once.
"Christian’s readying the chopper for us." Xander joins us as Michael continues without pausing. He reaches the main door and Cassandra pushes it open. We walk down and Massimo turns to us. "Christan’s already called for the doctor to meet us at the hospital."
"Of course, he did." Seb smirks, and Michael glares at him. "Sorry, Boss," he mimes zipping his lips, "won’t mention it again."
"You better not," Michael growls. "Things are complicated enough without you and Christian coming to blows over something that, clearly, hits a nerve with him."
I glance between them.What the hell are they talking about?
"It hits something," Seb agrees, then quietens when Michael shoots him a glance.
"I won’t warn you again, Sebastian," he says in a soft voice. It’s his 'killer' voice, the one that says that he means business, that he won’t hesitate to take action if anyone dares go against him or his orders. The one he’d probably use with me if he found out just how I am double-crossing him…again.
I shudder and he pulls me closer to his chest. "You okay,Bellezza?" His voice is soft again…but in a different way. It’s more tender, more caring. More…everything. Everything I’ve wanted from him, he’s now willing to give to me. If I asked him now, I have no doubt, he’d hand over his very business to me. Not that I’d want that. In fact, the opposite. Given a choice, I’d put enough distance between me and his Mafia state of affairs… Only, I can’t separate the made-man that he is from the man who is my husband.
I curl my fingers into a fist. He hasn’t returned my ring yet. I had returned it to him, but he hadn’t trusted me enough to put his ring back on my finger. That’s my fault though. I had felt the need to rub it in when I had left him the last time. If only I hadn’t, I’d have the ring still with me, when I walk out on him again. A part of him would, at least, stay with me. Not that I need that to remind me of him. His scent, his heat, his sheer dominance…and his unexpected tenderness... All of it has spoiled me for anyone else.
Once I leave him… I’ll probably spend the rest of the days trying to fill the void that his lack of presence in my life will create. My heart begins to race and the band around my chest tightens. I cough again, and this time, he hurries his pace until he’s almost running. The guys follow us. As we reach the helicopter, Antonio reaches for him, but he declines, holds onto me as he navigates the steps. Once inside the chopper, he sinks into a seat with me in his lap. Seb reaches over to buckle both of us in. Xander and Massimo slip into the seats behind us as Christian readies for take-off.
"You sure you don’t want me there, Boss?" Antonio hesitates and his features wear a worried look. "I’d feel much more comfortable knowing I'm there with you."
Michael chuckles, "I have my brothers with me; I will be more than fine."
Antonio frowns.
"Stay with Adrian, hold down the fort here."
Antonio looks like he’s about to refuse when Michael jerks his chin, "You’re delaying us from taking off.”
Antonio nods, then steps off the helicopter. Seb shuts the door behind him and straps in, and the chopper instantly lifts into the air.
