Page 40 of The Mafia’s Second Shot (Burning For You Again #3)

ZOEY

T he hospital room feels brighter this morning, sunlight streaming through the windows and warming the sterile space.

Cooper is propped up in bed, his color returning, though he still looks tired.

The beeping of the heart monitor is quieter now, less urgent, and for the first time in days, the tension in my chest has eased.

I sit beside him, a magazine open in my lap, though I’m not really reading. Cooper glances at me, his lips quirking into a faint smile. “You know you can leave for a bit, right? I’m not going anywhere.”

“You’re funny,” I reply, flipping a page dramatically. “You think I trust you not to try something stupid while I’m gone?”

He chuckles softly, though it turns into a wince. “Fair point.”

Before I can retort, the door swings open, and Marco strides in, followed by Angelo and a few others from Cooper’s crew. They’re loud and unapologetic, filling the small room with their energy. Marco carries a plastic bag that looks suspiciously like takeout.

“Look at you,” Marco says, smirking as he pulls up a chair. “All tucked in like a kid at summer camp.”

Cooper groans. “Don’t you have something better to do?”

“Nope,” Marco says cheerfully. “Figured I’d check in on the boss. Make sure you’re not terrorizing the nurses.”

“He hasn’t,” I chime in, smiling sweetly. “Yet.”

Angelo laughs, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. “You must be the only one who can keep him in line, Zoey.”

“She’s got a talent,” Cooper mutters, shooting me a look that’s equal parts annoyance and affection.

The teasing begins almost immediately.

“You know,” Marco says, leaning forward with a mischievous grin, “I think you just wanted a vacation, boss. Could’ve picked something less dramatic than getting stabbed.”

Cooper rolls his eyes. “If this is your idea of a vacation, remind me to fire you.”

Angelo laughs. “You know he’d be lost without us. Who else is going to bring him contraband burgers?”

He holds up the bag, and Cooper’s eyes light up slightly. “You actually brought me a burger?”

“Don’t let the nurses catch you,” Marco says, handing it over. “They’ll ban us from visiting.”

Cooper takes the bag with a faint smirk. “This might be the only good thing you’ve done all week.”

“Careful,” Angelo says. “We might take offense to that.”

The banter continues, light and easy, filling the room with a warmth I didn’t realize I needed. For the first time in weeks, it feels like the weight of the world has lifted, even if only temporarily.

“So,” Marco says, turning to me, “what’s it like babysitting him full-time?”

“It’s exhausting,” I reply, pretending to be serious. “I’ve had to hide his phone twice, and he tried to convince a nurse to let him out yesterday.”

“I didn’t try to convince her,” Cooper protests, though his faint grin gives him away. “I was just... asking questions.”

“Right,” I say, arching an eyebrow. “Totally innocent.”

The crew’s laughter echoes in the small room, and for a moment, it feels like we’re all part of something bigger than just survival. This isn’t just about Cooper or me—it’s about the family we’ve built, the people who’ve stood by us through everything.

As the conversation continues, I catch Cooper watching me out of the corner of his eye, his expression softer than usual. It’s a look that says more than words ever could.

And in that moment, surrounded by laughter and teasing, I realize that maybe, just maybe, we’ve found a new kind of peace. One we’ll fight to hold onto, no matter what.