Page 101 of Doll's Eye

We’re both quiet as she begins sticking ice packs around me. One to my side with noticeably broken ribs, a couple of others in my torso where I’m black and blue, and one to my knee even though I haven’t said a word about it—she must’ve noticed me slightly limping.

“I’m going to hold this icepack on your eye for a little while.” I’m hardly able to nod my head as my eyelids finally succumb to fatigue and droop shut.

The ice pack is placed gently over my eye, and I’m out.

Chapter fifty-one

Alessia

“What are you doing?” I mumble as I’m jostled awake inside of Massimo’s arms.

“I didn’t want to wake you,” he murmurs, carrying me off the plane.

“I can walk, Massimo.”

“Why walk when you can be carried?” He smirks.

“You’re the one that’s been through the wringer. Put me down.”

“No.”

“Stubborn ass,” I mutter and wrap my arms around his neck to help hold some of my weight.

We slip into the waiting SUV and I look around. “They’ll be landing in less than an hour.” As always, he’s able to read my thoughts. He takes my hand in his and sighs. Then he rolls his head around his shoulders.

“Did you get some sleep on the plane?” I yawn and the vehicle starts moving.

“A couple hours.”

“That’s it?”

“Yes.”

“The bleeding stop?” He nods his head.

The rest of the ride home is completely silent, and although his hand firmly grasped with mine is reassuring, it still gives me flashbacks of when he suddenly went quiet on me before. He could be too tired to talk or maybe it hurts to, but it gives me anxiety, nonetheless.

A feast is prepared for when we get home. Most of us haven’t eaten in well over twenty-four hours, but I notice Massimo has barely touched his food.

“Does it hurt to eat?” I ask from beside him.

“I’m alright, baby.” He gives me a tight smile.

“We can go up anytime you want. I’m pretty full now.” I place my fork down.

“I have some things to take care of first.”

I mask the sting caused by his minor rejection. I thought he would be equally eager as me to be alone. “You should really relax and get some good sleep.” Despite everyone’s strong urging, he stubbornly declined any medical attention tonight. “Massimo—"

“Later, Alessia.” He kisses my forehead then stands up. Paralyzed by disbelief, I find myself unable to argue or protest.

I watch as he says something to Vinny and Ezzo and they leave the room together.He is not already trying to leave me out. I went to Russia guns blazing in a bullet proof vest that killed my ribs, I’m pretty sure rebreaking them, to save his ass when I was supposed to hate him.Not happening.

Getting up, I leave the room and head right to his office. The door is left cracked open and I don’t even try to eavesdrop or knock. I make my presence known and barge right in.

They all stop talking and Massimo sighs when he sees me. “I’m too tired, baby.”

I plant my hands on my hips, my temper quickly baited. “Tired for what?” He rubs at his temples then winces when he rubs too close to the swollen side of his face. “Massimo. If this has anything to do with the fucking Russians we just took on, I think I deserve to be in on it. I am the one who brought in the cavalry, and without me and my intel, no one would have come for you because they wouldn’t know where the fuck you were. I’m pretty sure after the last forty-eight hours I have more than earned my place.”