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Sorry my ass. The fucker’s not happy that he’s been called out. But he needs to remember his place. Rocco is the boss, and that means whatever he says, goes.
“Now,” Rocco snaps, gaining everyone’s attention again. “Mattia, Bruno, Leo, and Diego are to stay close to the men, watch them, and report back to us.”
Mattia rises to his feet. “You got it, boss. I won’t let them out of my sight.” He gives me a chin lift as he moves toward the exit.
Bruno and Leo are right behind him, both with grim but determined looks on their faces.
“I’m sorry,” Diego says as he rises to his feet. “If this is my father, I assure you that he’ll pay for what he’s done.”
He’s taking it hard that it could be his father who’s betraying us. As long as he’s not involved, he’ll be fine.
We’re not our fathers, and we shouldn’t pay for their sins.
If only I had thought about that before I fucked Teagan up more than she already was.
* * *
I pullinto the drive of mine and Teagan’s rental home. We’re still in Chicago. I’m hoping that in a few days we’ll be able to return home. She’s grown stronger than before, and I can see the change in her. The darkness isn’t as bleak. She realizes she’s no longer alone, and that she has people to lean on when things get bad.
I open the door and come face to face with Lena, Teagan’s doctor. “Ah, Mr. Gallo,” she says.
The woman watches me with caution. I don’t know, nor do I care what Teagan has told her. The woman is under the Hippocratic Oath, so she can’t repeat anything she’s been told. If she does, she’ll end up dead.
“Lena,” I say cooly.
“Do you have a moment?”
I raise a brow. This is different. Usually, she’ll just say hello and that will be it. She closes the door behind her and looks up at me. Fear flickers through her eyes as she stares at me. “Teagan has PTSD. The abuses she suffered at the hands of the men in her father’s club have deeply affected her. I need you to understand, Mr. Gallo, that Teagan has deep abandonment issues. She believes everyone will eventually leave her, whether it be physically or emotionally.”
I grit my teeth. Those fucking bastards. Christ, I hate every single member of that fucking club. The Dirty Demons are lucky they’re dead, otherwise, I’d be stripping their skin from them.
“She knows that you’re trying to make amends for what’s happened, but you’re going too fast. You need to slow down. You continue to push, and you’re going to send her spiraling. She doesn’t know how to deal with her feelings, and you’re confusing her,” she says pointedly.
“I appreciate you telling me this, Doc,” I say through clenched teeth. I fucking hate being told what to do, but I know the doctor is doing everything she can to help Teagan.
“Your wife had been starved of affection and attention. Until you. Don’t think it’s a bad thing. Teagan and I are working through her feelings and she’s getting better at acknowledging that she’s not alone and that affection is a good thing. Just take it slow, but don’t stop altogether. You’re helping her more than you realize.”
I nod.
She walks down the steps and stops as she reaches the bottom. “I’ve spoken to her about medication. She’s not inclined to take any. She won’t tell me her reasoning, but I believe it could help clear the darkness enough for her to live day to day.”
“That’s Teagan’s decision,” I tell her. If my wife wants to take it, she can. If she doesn’t, she won’t. I’m not forcing her to do anything she doesn’t want to do.
She smiles softly at me. “It is,” she agrees. “I’ll see you soon, Mr. Gallo.”
As I reach for the door, I feel the gaze of someone watching me. Turning, I glance out past the gate, but there’s no one there. The knot in my gut tightens.
This is coming to an end. I can feel it.
I just hope Teagan doesn’t get caught in the crossfire when it does.
TWENTY-FIVE
TEAGAN
The silence around the house is deafening. It’s been weeks since I’ve been alone. Hell, I’m surprised Elio allowed this to happen, but so very grateful that he did. I know he just wants to make sure I’m okay, but it feels as though I’m being watched. That everyone just waiting for me to fall once again.
It’s a different type of suffocation. It’s breathable, but it grates on me. I understand the need for them to surround me, to wrap me up and not let anything touch me, but it’s too much too soon.
