Page 10 of Bad Medicine

We were hustling down the stairs now, Enzo still clinging to the limp form of his wife as he followed Vinnie’s broad back through the crowd.

“We both fucked up tonight, kid,” Enzo said, surprising Vinnie and me both. “Rock, call Doc Jones. See if he’s still sober enough to meet us at the condo.”

“No,” Vinnie tossed over his shoulder. “I’m calling Dr. Carmichael.”

“Who the fuck is Dr. Carmichael?” Enzo growled, but before Vinnie could answer him, he kept talking. “We’re calling my guy. Rock, call him.”

Vinnie spun, his hulking frame practically vibrating with contained anger and fear. The sight seemed to cause anyone in our vicinity to back the fuck up, so that was helpful.

“I’m telling you, she wouldn’t want that. Mrs. Argenti already has a doctor on call, and that’s who we’re calling.”

Lexi appeared at his elbow, already talking on her phone, and I heard her give the address for the condo.

“It’s already done,” she said, ending the call and standing with Vinnie.

Against Enzo.

He was just as shocked as I was.

“What the fuck have you three been up to this week?” he snarled, but Lexi only crossed her arms over that ridiculous old lady sweater and raised her chin.

She was very clearly on Team Francesca, too.

I watched as Enzo ground his jaw, his arms still full of his unconscious wife, before he finally nodded, and Lexi smiled.

Looked like we hadanothernew player in the game.

I just hoped this Dr. Carmichael knew how to play.

Chapter three

Rocco

Leaningagainstthestill-warmconcrete beside theVeer Towersmain entrance, I closed my eyes and took another drag of my smoke before glancing at my phone to check the time.

“What the fuck is taking this guy so long?”

Beside me, Vinnie only grunted, but didn’t respond, keeping his eyes glued to the late-night traffic going by.

“If this dude’s a hack, you know Enzo will kill you, right?” I watched as his shoulders stiffened, but again he didn’t say a word, so I pressed on. “Like, not just rough you up or some shit. I mean, legitimately kill you.” I took another drag, holding the smoke in until my lungs burned before releasing in a blue-gray cloud that quickly drifted away on the wind. “That man will tie you to a chair, beat the ever lovin’ shit out of you, and then he’ll start removing body parts.” Vinnie swallowed thickly, still not taking his eyes off the road. “Personally, I like to start with the teeth.” Taking one last hit, I tossed the butt to the sidewalk, grinding it out with the heel of my boot before I continued. “It’s bloody, for sure, but the screams are like nothin’ else.”

I’d pulled one tooth in my life, so that story was really not as true as I made it seem, but the way Vinnie clenched his shaking hands into fists made it worth it.

Giving him a minute to consider that, I chuckled and slapped him on the back. “I’m just fuckin’ with ya, kid.” When he’d visibly relaxed, I tossed out. “Enzo’d just shoot you in the fuckin’ head.”

Vinnie whipped his head my way, eyes as big as baseballs, but before he could say anything—or run for the hills—a taxi pulled up next to the curb, and I breathed out a sigh of relief.

“Well, it’s about fuckin’ time.”

Pushing off the wall, I made my way over to the car, grabbing the handle of the rear door and yanking it open.

“Talk about taking your sweet—”

My words died in my throat as a pair of the bluest eyes I’d ever seen stared up at me in shock. A soft gasp escaped from a pair of lips so lush and sweet, I immediately knew exactly what I wanted to put between em’.

Goddamn.

Had I ever seen such a beautiful face?