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“Shit.” I muttered and shook my head. “Okay, I’m going to give you something for the pain,” I laid a hand on the writhing man’s shoulder, trying to offer the smallest comfort while mouthing the word ‘morphine’ to the nurse. She nodded and hurried to the medicine cabinet behind her.
“How long ago did this happen?”
“An hour, maybe two before they dumped me.” His groans interrupted him, but he pushed through to speak. “I passed out at one point. I think they thought I was dead.”
“We’ll say three to be safe. How long ago was he dropped off?”
“Maybe an hour?” One of the men spoke up. “They dumped him at the gate of the Venturi compound. We spotted it on the surveillance cameras, so we got to him fairly quickly.”
“Okay, we’re going to work as fast as possible. I need everyone who is not in scrubs to get out.”
Once everyone cleared the suite, I was left with two nurses to assist me, and I quickly began barking out orders. With a situation like we were dealing with, time wasn’t on our side.
Chapter 17
Sienna
Over the next week, Alessandro and I struggled to act civil toward one another after our argument in Tuscany. We’d put aside our differences while I was working to save one of his men, who would most likely regain use of his fingers and arm with some intensive physical therapy.
Once we were alone again, it was tense and there was an undertone of anger and distrust in every encounter. That was, when he wasn’t busy with work, but I was pretty sure that he was avoiding me.
I kept thinking back to the night in my apartment. The one where we laughed and joked with one another, where I’d forgotten all about the kidnapping and the mafia. I’d just enjoyed his company.
Being kept under lock and key at the Venturi compound or at the clinic, left me restless and eager to go somewhere—anywhere. I found myself pacing like a caged tiger which made Alessandro’s nickname for me even more ironic.
I sat by the large picture window, reading in my room. The afternoon sun streamed in, warming my skin and making my eyelids heavy. But a sudden knock on the door made me jump.
“Come in,” I called out and the door slowly crept open. Bianca peaked inside and smiled sweetly. “Signora, SignoreLuca is here to see you.”
“Oh, please tell him that I'll be right down.” I slipped the bookmark into my book and closed it before hurrying downstairs.
As Luca recuperated from his injury, he had started coming to visit at the compound so I could check his wounds, then we would go for a stroll around the property. I looked forward to those times.
While my feelings for Alessandro were complicated, Luca was the calm that I needed. He’d been a good friend to me since I had been there, and it wasn't just because he was grateful that I had saved his life though I'm sure that's what started it.
Luca was different. He was lighter, somehow. He joked and seemed almost innocent at times, though I know that he couldn't be completely innocent if he was part of Alessandro's world. Things with Luca were purely platonic, but it was refreshing to have someone to talk to.
I made it downstairs and saw him standing in the foyer waiting for me. He looked up as I neared the bottom of the stairs, and cast me a playful, charming grin.
“Hey Doc. Thought we might go for a walk today.”
“Sure. That sounds great.” I made it to the bottom of the stairs and kissed both of his cheeks. “How are you feeling?”
“Almost as good as new. Got a little ache here and there but nothing I can't handle, being the tough, masculine guy that I am.” He flexed his biceps.
I chuckled and shook my head as we started through the house toward the back door. The property was expansive with walking trails and foliage, but you could always catch a glimpse of the tall walls that protected the compound. Being outside made it at least a little bit easier to pretend like we weren't trapped in a fortress.
“So, have you picked out your costume for tomorrow night?”
“My costume? What are you talking about?”
Luca looked shocked. “The All-Saints Day party. Don't tell me that Alex didn't tell you about it?”
“I completely forgot that All Saints Day was coming up. But I didn't hear anything about a party.”
“It's a tradition. Every year, Enzo closes the card games for the night at his club and turns it into a big party with costumes, drinking, and dancing. it's always a lot of fun.”
“It sounds like it. Are you sure Alex is going?”
