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“So now you have two holes in your ass?” Leo continues. “So you are a double asshole now.”
“Keep it up, little brother,” Marco growls.
“Listen,” I interject, addressing Leo. “This is my mess. I'll make it right. I promise.” The weight of responsibility settles even more heavily on my shoulders. I glance over at Hannah, who studies me like she can feel it. I’m sure she can. The girl feels everything.
I can’t read her thoughts.
Leo stops joking with Marco and turns toward me. “Count me in, on finding the fuckers who scarred my brother’s lily-white ass.” Leo’s face is serious. “We'll make sure they regret ever crossing our family.”
As we discuss plans for retribution, Marco interjects, wincing as he adjusts his position on the bed.
“Before you guys go all vigilante on their asses, there's something we need to consider.” He tips his head in Hannah’s direction. “Maybe it's best if she gets out of town for a while, too. Like your mom.”
“Absolutely not,” Hannah responds immediately, her voice unwavering.
Fuck. Marco’s right. If anyone connects me to Hannah, she’ll be a target. The stronzos who want me dead were in the alleyway behind her shop today. They may have already tied me to her.
Then again, it could be they thought I’d be there because of Rocco’s. Because it’s where they found me last time.
Hannah puts her hands on her hips. “No. I have a business to run. I’m not going anywhere.”
I’m a double-asshole because the truth is, I don’t want her to leave. I don’t want to stop hiding out at her place. I don’t want to let her go. She’s the only color in my black and white life.
“I don’t think she’s a target. Just me.”
“True. I heard them yelling ‘that’s not him’ after they shot me,” Marco says.
A small sliver of relief worms its way through my chest. “That’s good. Hannah stays, then.”
She steps in close to me, and I wrap my arms around her, pulling her close, inhaling the scent of her hair—a mixture of fresh flowers and warm vanilla.
“You stay, but we'll need to take extra precautions.”
“Okay,” she murmurs, her arms tightening around me.
“All right, then,” Leo chimes in, his expression still serious. “We'll make sure to keep her safe while you deal with this. And I’ll help you handle the retribution, Armando.”
“Hey, don't forget about me,” Marco calls out, attempting a grin despite the pain etched on his face. “I might be down, but I'm not out. I'll be back on my feet soon. The retribution should be mine.” He yawns. “But right now, I need to close my eyes and enjoy the high from all these pain meds.”
Leo leans against the wall as he crosses his arms over his chest. “Yeah, man, and now you're gonna have all the nurses here fighting over who gets to change your bandages.”
“Maybe I should get shot more often, huh?” Marco chuckles, wincing slightly from the effort.
“Maybe not in the butt next time, though. Takes the cool factor out of the equation,” I quip, earning a laugh from everyone in the room.
“All right, All right, enough with the jokes,” Marco says, catching his breath. “But seriously, Mando, promise me you won't go off on your own for this one. We're a team, remember?”
“Yeah.” The room falls silent as I nod, holding Marco's gaze. “I promise.” I take Hannah’s hand and lead her out of the hospital room. “Let's go home.”
Chapter Three
Armando
“We need to get you in the shower.” I nudge Hannah to the bathroom in her apartment.
When my hand reaches the small of her back, I feel a tremble. Fuck. She’s probably still in shock.
I hate seeing the blood on her. Though it isn't hers, it still makes me sick to my stomach imagining what could have been if Marco wasn't there to take the bullet.
I guide her into the shower, turning on the water and adjusting the temperature until it's warm but not too hot. She stands there, eyes closed, steam rising around her as the water cascades down her body. I can see the tension in her shoulders start to ease as she relaxes, and for a moment, I allow myself to let go of the dread that's been gripping me since I found her and Marco in the alley.
She closes her eyes and tilts her head back, letting the water soak into her hair. I reach for the body wash and lather it up in my hands before gently massaging it along her bare flesh.
“Are you okay?” I croak. “Really okay?”
She nods, the tension leaving her body. She's safe, at least for now. I know I can't stay in her life much longer. Not when I'm putting her through this kind of shit.
“It's okay,” I murmur, “I won’t let you be involved in anything else. I promise.”
Twenty-four hours ago, there would be no way possible I could simply bathe this woman and not want to thrust my cock up inside of her. Soapy water streaming down her dark skin has my dick hardening, but I focus on my goal. Right now, all I want to do is soothe her. Wrap her in a fluffy blanket and chase away all her monsters.
