Page 74 of His Playground

A few hours later, Charlotte, Evie, and Lailani are all in my living room. “Call me the moment she wakes up,” I tell Charlotte.

“I will,” she says.

The doc gave Antonia something to help her sleep. I don’t want to leave her, but I need to handle the bastards who tried to kill me. Her father is going to regret the day he walked into Louie’s office offering up his daughter for marriage.

A deal we’ve yet to see any fucking benefit from. Well, apart from the fact that I got my girl. I have a feeling his plan had always been to use Antonia to get shit out of me. To gather intel about our organization. He didn’t count on her choosing me over him, though.

“Whatever you’re doing, do it safely and come back in one piece,” Charlotte says to Louie.

“Always,” he tells her.

“Come on, I have some newfound frustration to get out of my system,” Emmanuel grunts.

I follow him into the foyer. “What’s the frustration?”

“Do you know what Jazzy’s nightmares are about?” he asks me.

“No, she’s never told me. I figured they had something to do with her mom being sick and leaving her with a complete stranger.”

“Yeah, well, she told me she has dreams aboutthemfinding her,” Emmanuel says.

“Who?” I ask him.

“No fucking idea, but we’re going to find out,” he replies through clenched teeth.

Who the fuck would be looking for her? Unless they’re trying to use her to get to me, which I will never fucking let happen.

Chapter Thirty

Iwake up feeling like I’ve been hit by a freight train. The room is dark, and I can tell I’m alone. There’s a small lamp in the corner, giving just enough light for me to look around once my eyes adjust. I remember the doctor being here. I was hooked up to an IV.

Correction.I amhooked up to an IV.

Carlo must have dressed me because I don’t remember putting on pajamas.Where is he, though?

He must be with Jazzy. She needs him more than I do. Throwing the blankets aside, I swing my legs around, hanging them off the bed. My head spins, so I sit for a minute, hoping it’ll stop.

“Whoa, what are you doing? You need to lie down.” Charlotte appears in my doorway, and then she’s rushing over.

“Where’s Carlo?” I ask her.

“He had to run an errand.” She gives me a slight smile. “But he said to call him as soon as you woke up so he can come back.”

“Don’t call him,” I tell her. It’s not like he’s some paper-pusher in an office. No, I know who I’m married to. I grew up in this world. He’s gone after whoever tried to poison him. And I want him to. Even if that person was my father.

“Are you sure? He was very insistent that if you woke up, I had to call him.” Charlotte looks torn between following Carlo’s instructions or mine.

“I’m sure he’ll be back soon anyway,” I assure her. “Where’s Jazzy?”

“She’s asleep. Hasn’t woken up.” Charlotte looks at me. “You really should lie down.”

“I need to get this out of me.” I hold up the arm with the needle stuck in it.

“The doc is out in the living room. I can go get him. But that’s not coming out, Antonia. You were poisoned.”

“Better me than him.” I shrug. “He has a daughter who needs him. I don’t have anyone.”

“You’re wrong. You have Carlo… and Jazzy. They both need you.” Charlotte sits on the bed. “I know we don’t know each other that well yet, but I happen to like having you around. And I’m keeping you.”