Page 122 of Precious Hazard

“You need to rest,” he whispers against my lips, still brushing them with his. “Ilaria will be back in a couple of hours to give you a checkup.”

“Okay.” I am tired, kind of groggy. A nap sounds heavenly right now. Whatever meds I’m on must be causing the drowsiness I’m feeling. “Where is Drago?” I ask before settling in.

“He’s in the waiting room. Security had to restrain him, but I’ll make sure he’s here when you wake up.”

“Mmm… thank you.” My eyelids feel so heavy.

“And then, I have some paperwork you’ll need to sign.”

Of course, even in death, one can’t escape bureaucracy. “Sure.”

I nuzzle my face into his palm and let sleep take me.

***

“I’m going to fucking kill that son of a bitch.”

I glare at my brother. “No, you won’t.”

“You almost died because of him!” he snarls.

The last thing I want to do is see Drago as distraught as he was when he barged into my hospital room ten minutes ago.Scared shitlesswould probably be a better way of describing the expression on his face. Still, I’d rather deal with that thanhis current murderous ire. I’m seriously worried that he might really kill Arturo. Reaching out, I take his hand in mine.

“No. I nearly died because I froze up. There was time for me to flee, and the path to the front door wasn’t yet blocked. I could’ve run out of the house as soon as the fire started, then none of this would have happened.” I squeeze his fingers. “I’m sorry I scared everyone.”

He shakes his head and kisses the top of my head. “I’m still beating the shit of that asshole.”

“You won’t lay a finger on my husband. I love him, Drago.”

“Don’t you think it’s about time to cut this crap?” he growls. “I know Ajello was behind this sham of a marriage. The bastard told me so himself. He came to see me a couple of weeks before your wedding, spitting out crazy ideas about setting up DeVille and you together so you’d fall in love. Christ! I’ll never forgive myself for going along with his nonsense instead of—”

“Instead of fixing my problem for me?” I interrupt him. “By probably ripping the heads off both Ajello and Arturo, right?”

“Gutting them is what I had in mind, but cutting their fucking heads off would’ve worked, too.”

A long and heavy sigh escapes me. I don’t need to ask if he’s being serious because I know he is.

“The reasons that brought Arturo and me together don’t matter. None of them change things. I love him. And he loves me.” A pang hits my chest as I say this. Arturo hasn’t actually said that he loves me. And I know actions speak louder than words, but still… “So I’d appreciate it if you’d leave my husband’s head where it is. Thanks.”

“You deserve a man who would cherish and protect you, Tara. Who will love you so much that he’d—”

“He’d charge into a burning building and risk his own life by carrying me out through a wall of flames?” I ask. “Just as you had done for me? Is that what you were about to say?”

“Yes! That’s exactly what—” He cuts off mid-sentence and looks away. “Fuck. I hate that motherfucker.”

I can’t help but laugh, even though it makes me ache from pulling on my stitches. “This isn’t a competition, Drago.”

“Right.”

“And if you two would set aside this stupid pissing contest between you, maybe you’d both realize how much alike you are.”

He gives me a look filled with incredulity and utter disgust. “God forbid. And for the record, I don’t buy it one bit that you’re truly in love with DeVille.”

“Hmm… Well, maybe I should ask Mirko to set up a camera in my and Arturo’s bedroom? One with a live feed to your laptop? You know, so you could see for yourself how much we love each other. Then maybe you’d be convinced?” I bite the inside of my cheek to keep the grin from breaking across my face. “Of course, one camera may not be enough. I’ll have to have him add another in the bathroom. And the entry hall. The kitchen, definitely. Oh, the stairwell, too! We also quite often—”

“For fuck’s sake, stop! Seeing that dickhead groping my sister in the middle of the driveway was enough. I really don’t need to know every location where the two of you do the nasty. Jesus!”

“Sex, Drago. S. E. X. The same thing you can’t get enough of with your wife. And if you don’t want to know more aboutmy sex life, I suggest you have Mirko kill the connection to our security systems. And for your record, that was a shitty move, big brother.”