Page 98 of Mafia Darling

“Boy, you are feeling better,” I grumbled. “I almost miss the groggy-and-too-tired-to-boss-me-around Fausto.”

“You like when I boss you around.”

I kissed his temple and whispered, “True.” Then I dropped into the armchair. “How do you feel?”

“Like I’ve been shot. You look tired.”

“I’m fine. Just working long hours.”

“Are you eating and sleeping enough for a pregnant woman?”

I chewed on my bottom lip. “I think so? I mean, I don’t know. My last doctor’s appointment didn’t happen for obvious reasons, and I’ve been too distracted with everything to reschedule it.”

Fausto grabbed the controller on the bed and pressed the call button for the nurse.

“What are you doing?” I asked. “Do you need something? I can get it for you.”

Angela came in right away. “Yes, signore?”

Fausto didn’t give me a chance to speak. “Send up the best obstetrician on call. It’s an emergency.”

Oh, he was too much. I gave Angela an apologetic look. “No, it’s not. Just whenever the doctor is free. Grazie, Angela.”

Whatever the nurse saw in Fausto’s expression had her nodding. “I’ll send the doctor in immediately.”

“You’re a pain in the ass,” I told him when we were alone. “They will all be very glad to see you go when you leave in a few weeks.”

“Days, you mean.”

“What? You’re coming home in a few days? Is that safe?” I looked at the machines and thought about his injuries. He’d almost died ten days ago, for fuck’s sake. No way was he ready to leave this place.

“Do not worry. Marco is having a bedroom in our wing converted to a hospital room. It’ll be safer for me there.”

I supposed that was true. And it made my banishment from the hospital a non-issue. “He’s hiring a team of nurses, I hope.”

“Of course. I wouldn’t expect you to play nurse, dolcezza. Though I would very much like to see you in the outfit.”

Dirty man. God, I loved him. “I’ll buy one for when you’re feeling better.” Then I remembered we had things to discuss. I quietly told him about the sleuthing I’d done on Facebook and what I learned about Vic and Agent Rinaldo.

His eyes were soft and proud when I finished. “You are very clever. Good work.”

“Thank you. It felt really nice, I’m not going to lie.”

“Toni says you are very good with the businesses. That you have an easy way with the employees and a head for the work.”

I grinned and batted my lashes at him, preening. “I like it. I mean, some of the conference calls are boring, but for the most part I’m enjoying it.”

The side of his mouth curled. “It’s good that you took it on, so Giulio could focus on other things.”

I licked my lips. “Yeah, about that. We need to talk.”

“Oh?”

“Yes, it’s about Giulio.” Fausto’s face went blank, like a window had been shut, and I winced. “Look, I know you don’t want to hear it, but he’s miserable. Not only that, he looks terrible. He doesn’t want to do it, baby.”

“He will come to terms with it. Don’t worry.”

“You’re wrong. He’s seeing a glimpse of his future right now and he doesn’t like it. He’s deeply unhappy.”

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