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“Good, maybe they’ll take themselves out.”
“Vigo called for a meeting with the Consortium, but everyone refused the invite. War is no longer coming. It’s here.”
I sighed leaning my head back against the headboard. “Great. Who is on our side?”
“Honestly at this point? It's every Family for themselves. We're family, I have your back, and I know you have mine. I will go to bat for you taking over the Volante seat. Dad agrees, even though he's had me take over at this point. Me running the Cattaneo family, Arturo running Rossi, and you running Volante as a unified front. That could tip the scales man.”
“And I’m stuck in bed, shit.”
“Who the hell are you talking to getting all worked up?” Alora walked in.
“Gianni, he’s catching me up on what's going on.”
She rolled her eyes and grabbed the phone out of my hand. “What the hell Gianni?! He just got out of the Hospital.” She looked at me and shook her head. “I don't care, you deal with me or Arturo, or even Marco but Luka is off limits do you hear me? Fine, I’ll call you later.” She set a glass of water down on the bedside table and held my phone in the air. “I’m keeping this.” She put it in her pocket and sat down on the bed. I looked at her and smiled. "What?”
I laughed. “Nothing, just something my mom said.”
“Well fill me in. What did Gianni say?”
I told her what Arturo had told me as well as Gianni. “I guess we need to be prepared for what is coming, and I am completely useless.”
“What good would you be to anyone if you injure yourself worse, beyond repair? We are going to need you.”
I smiled. “We?”
She rolled her eyes. “Let's watch some TV.” We watched a few shows, her eyes were heavy as she tried to fight sleep. The ending credits came on and she shook her head, glancing at her watch, “Here it’s eight, time to take your pain meds.” She opened the bottle, took two out, and put them in my hands, then handed me the glass of water. I quickly swallowed. “Need anything else?”
“I could use a shower. I know they cleaned me up, some, at the hospital, but I feel gross.”
“How’s that going to work? You can’t stand in the shower that long, and you can’t take a bath for another twenty-four hours because of your stitches. Will you even be able to wash?”
“You could give me a sponge bath.” I gave her a smirk.
She crossed her arms and rolled her eyes.
I laughed. “There’s a bench seat in my shower, I can sit and wash off as best I can.”
“I’ll get it ready.” I watched as she walked into the bathroom, hearing the shower turn on. She came back a few minutes later. “Okay, let’s get you up.” She grabbed my arm, putting it over her shoulder, helping me out of bed and to the bathroom. I winced as I stood up, gripping my stomach with the other hand. We walked to the bathroom, I leaned against the vanity, trying to pull my shirt over my head. “Stop, let me help you.”
She slowly pulled my t-shirt up, slipping each arm out one by one, then pulled it over my head. She stopped and looked at my chest, I watched her swallow and shake her head. She grabbed the top of my sweatpants. “Use my shoulders for balance.” I held onto her shoulders as she slowly pulled them down, and I stepped each foot out. She helped me to the shower, sitting me down on the bench seat. She looked at my chest again and then turned away. “If you need anything I’ll be right in the bedroom.”
She turned to leave, and I grabbed her wrist. “Thank you.”
She nodded and walked out. I lathered up with the body wash she had set on the bench, getting everything, I could. The water turned red-brown as blood washed off my body and down the drain. My entire body hurt, everywhere I touched sent my nerves into a frenzy of agony. I took a deep breath and let the water rush over me. “Alora.,” I called.
“Yes.” She stood at the door.
“I can't reach the bottom of my legs or back, and I’d really like all of this dried blood off of me.”
She nodded and walked over to the edge of the shower. She squeezed body wash onto her hands and lathered up my legs, rinsing them in the water. She started cleaning off my back and I took a deep breath in. “You okay?”
I nodded, “Just sore.”
She finished washing me and helped me dry off, walking me to the bed where she had boxers, a new pair of sweats, and a shirt laid out. She helped me into them when we heard a knock on the door. “Come in.”
“Sir.” Dante gave me a nod, “I am back with groceries and went ahead and grabbed some soup and bread from the corner for tonight. Arturo just arrived with Marco and that woman as well.” “Thanks, Dante, we’ll be right out.”
“I think you should just get into bed and rest,” Alora said.
