Page 123 of Tragic Empire
“Colton is probably going to be in surgery for a while,” Cassio continues. “We can go home, if you want to clean up and take a moment to yourself.”
A shower sounds great, especially after having to touch Bron, but there’s no way I’m leaving here until I know my friend is okay.
My face screws up at the suggestion, and he laughs softly. “I thought not. Agnes will bring some clothes to change into and grab our phones. She heard about you being taken and has been at the apartment ever since.”
At the mention of changing, I flush, looking down at my silky pajama set. Being kidnapped in the middle of the night was not ideal. I’d started to sleep with my hair tie knife, but not with a bra, go figure.
“Good idea,” I tell him, biting my lip. “Some shoes would be nice, too.”
The hospital socks Cassio found for me are better than being barefoot, but they still feel weird to walk in.
“I couldn’t agree more,” he says, nodding to his matching bright blue grippy socks. “These aren’t exactly to my taste.”
Hiding a smile, I lift a shoulder. “I think they look very dashing.”
“I am not going to get used to that any time soon,” Killian sighs, looking between the two of us. “Do you two always flirt with each other?”
“Yes,” Armani answers from his nearby seat. “Yes, they do. Wait until you walk in on them mauling each other in the kitchen.”
“Mate,” Killian groans, rubbing a hand down his face.
Cassio just smirks. “She’s my wife, I won’t apologize.”
“We were just kissing,” I grumble, folding my arms. Noticing Armani’s tired eyes, sympathy grows stronger in my chest. “Come here, you. You need to lie down.”
Armani shakes his head. “I won’t put my face anywhere near a hospital seat, disinfected or not.”
Rolling my eyes, I sit on the end of the long padded bench-like chair, motioning over my lap. “Rest here, and I’ll play with your hair.”
His eyes light up like I’ve just offered him a big fat check. Within seconds, he’s maneuvering his big body, head landing on my thigh. He barely fits on his side with his knees tucked up, but he heaves out an exhausted sigh that lets me know it’s not as uncomfortable as it may look.
My fingers sink into his long brown hair. It’s somehow disheveled and still silky smooth. When I look up, I find Cassio watching us with a soft smile, not a trace of jealousy in sight. He knows he has nothing to worry about—especially when it comes to his own brother.
Though, this is the closest Armani and I have ever been. Most of our friendship is far less physical than the one he shares with Colton, or the one Jade shares with Ivan. Armani and I have hugged a handful of times, and given each other playful nudges here and there. But for the most part, our friendship is a mental connection. We make each other laugh, and we spend time together. It’s effortless.
And right now, he doesn’t know if his best friend in the whole world is going to make it out of surgery—after getting shot protecting me. The least I can do is offer him the small comfort of running my fingers through his hair while he rests his head in my lap. I’ve seen Colton do the same thing to calm him on more than one stressful day.
It feels almost motherly, but I suppose sisterly would be the more accurate term. The Morettis really do feel like family, and I feel protective of them, even the ones I don’t know very well. I mean, most of them dropped everything in the middle of the night to come find us.
Leon and Emilio are with their families, and Matteo stayed behind to be with Jade, Dmitri, Ivan and the twins. But Dante, Apollo, Elio, Remo, and Nico all came running, backed by a whole crew of Moretti soldiers. Corresponding with Remo about Cassio’s trackers was the smartest thing I’ve ever done. He’s usually up late at night coding for fun as it is, and as soon as he got wind that the penthouse had been broken into, he acted.
He may be the quietest Moretti, but he’s one of them all the same.
A couple hours later, the drop in adrenaline and lack of a full night’s sleep is starting to get to me. Agnes has come and gone, so my feet are cozy in my slippers, and my leggings and jumper are a much welcomed upgrade from the previous skimpy pajama situation. She also came bearing phones and pastries, which livened some spirits around the waiting room.
We’re on a different floor of the same facility Killian was in, separate from the general public but not as hidden as before. Doc is helping with Colton’s case from what I know, but like Killian, he needs professional surgeons too. It’s a bit of a confusing collaborative effort, but Dante is handling everything, so I’m confident what needs to be done is being done.
I’m considering asking Armani for a turn lying on him, or just using Cassio’s shoulder to rest my head, when yelling jolts me wide awake.
“What do you mean he’s still in surgery? It’s been hours!”
All around me, Moretti men sit up straighter.
“I want to see him,right now.”
“Sir, you can’t see him while he’s being operated on?—”
“He’s my fucking son?—”
