Page 37 of Soulmate of the Mafia King
Killian shook his head. “Not until Tommaso can travel. He’s out of the woods, but I’m not going to abandon him here. Even if he sleeps more than anything else.”
“You wouldn’t be abandoning him.” I crossed my arms. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“And what do you know about semi-illegitimate international travel?” He quirked a brow.
I frowned.
“Exactly. So get ready to fly home with me on his other side.” Killian smirked.
I rolled my eyes. I appreciated him for arriving when he did, but all of his cockiness had slotted neatly back into place as soon as we arrived at the hospital.
“It’s your funeral.” I stood. “I’m gonna go sit with him, asleep or not.”
Killian stepped out of the mouth of the hallway to let me pass. Leaving Tom so he could talk to his friend alone had been silly. Lauren and Sera thought I was brave, badass. I didn’t need to hide the truth from Tom. I returned to his room to see him passed out once more. His mouth hung slightly slack, and his dark curls clustered stickily on his forehead. All movement still seemed to exhaust him. I brushed the curls off and kissed his sweaty skin. He was so pale, too. Blood loss, the doctors said. It would get better with time.
I sat next to Tom and took his hand. His pulse beat steadily in his wrist in time with one of the many machines hooked up to him. He was out of the woods, but I wanted him strong. I wanted my Tom back. And until then, I’d never leave his side again.
CHAPTER 30
TOMMASO
The doctor I vaguely remembered from the haze on Zahur’s lawn, Dr. Awad, checked the bandages on my shoulder, then my ribs.
“Your healing is progressing nicely,” she said.
I offered her a half-smile. “Nicely enough you’ll spring me from this joint?”
She chuckled. “I suppose.”
“Ha!” I started to punch the air in celebration, but Paige’s hold on my hand kept me anchored. A good thing, too. I’d probably have torn something and gotten another week inside. As nice as the hospital was—and it really was, rivaling some of the more prestigious places I’d seen in Philly—I was more than ready to get out of here. Hospital food could only sustain a man for so long.
Dr. Awad smiled indulgently. “That is, with a few conditions.”
I groaned and slumped back against my pillow. “What?”
She pulled out a sheet of paper covered in, thankfully, English. Paige took it before I could and studied the contents.
Dr. Awad addressed her instructions to Paige. “We’re sending you home with two medications, an as-needed painpill and a twice-daily antibiotic. He’s already been taking the antibiotic….”
I drifted away from their conversation. God, I still couldn’t get over the rush of looking at Paige. Killian told me a little about what happened in the hotel, and I understood why she didn’t want to talk about it. Of course, I felt like shit. I should’ve set her up with more guards, a different hotel, something. But we’d talk about that when she was ready. Right now, I just wanted to enjoy her beautiful face, the fact that she barely left my side for anything but bathroom breaks and changes of clothes. We were going home together.
“…and avoid driving until you have fully recovered,” Dr. Awad finished.
“What?” I twisted to look at her with a small spike of pain.
“The wheel, the arms up, it is dangerous.” She crossed her arms. “If you’re not careful, you’ll reinjure yourself. Pneumothoraxes have been known to recur.”
I scowled, but Paige squeezed my hand.
“I get to drive you around now,” she said.
That did make me chuckle. “What will the shelter do without you?”
Dr. Awad stared sternly at Paige. “Make sure he follows these. I know he doesn’t listen well.”
When Paige agreed, the doctor strode out of the room.
“Gonna take good care of me, nurse?” I smiled at her.
