Page 71 of The Kingpin's Call Girl

Chapter Twenty-Six

LUKA

I doze off for what could be just a moment, or maybe it’s an hour, before I hear her voice. “Oh my God, you’re barely even conscious right now! I’m calling nine-one-one.”

I open my eyes and clap my hand around her wrist. “I got my own doctor. Don’t need him.”

He’s busy. With Storm.

“You literally have a traumatic brain injury and who knows what else.”

“I’m fine.”

“At least let me get Orton.”

“I’m gonna sleep. That’s all I need.” I turn over.

“You need medical attention.”

“How do you know Arianiti’s eagle?” I ask.

“That’s your question? Luka! No! You need medical attention.”

“How?”

“You’re hurt.” A gentle hand on my shoulder. “Don’t be a big bad gangster.”

“Is that an upgrade from a dirty heathen criminal?”

“No, you’re still a dirty heathen criminal, but don’t you wanna live to be a dirty heathen criminal another day?”

The worry in her voice sends a ripple through my chest.

“I’m gonna sleep. You’re relieved of your duties.”

“I feel like I should call a doctor. You need one.”

“Did you not hear me? You’re dismissed.”

“I’m un-dismissing myself.”

“Can’t... un-dismiss yourself.” I pull myself onto my elbow and point to my pants. “Bring me my phone.”

She gives it to me, and I hit the button for Orton and hand it over.

I hear her talking to Orton, stressing how dangerous a concussion can be if it goes untreated.

I let my eyes drift closed while she argues with Orton.

At some point, the call ends, and she announces that Orton is not a good friend to me. “You have a concussion. You need somebody to wake you up periodically.”

I groan. “That’s not a thing.”

“It’s completely a thing! A hundred percent a thing. You’re supposed to be woken up every three hours. I saw it on TV.”

“TV, huh.” I’m lying on my back next to her as she recites information from websites on her phone. She’s going on about hydration. Limited exposure to bright lights. No loud sounds. Something about ice.

There’s a silence, and then I’m conscious of a gentle hand on my forehead, like a hallucination from some other life.