Page 34 of The Reaper's Bride

“I overheard Enzo telling Rocco about it once. Apparently, Alessio’s mother betrayed the Trio when Alessio was only two.”

“She was labeled a traitor?” Good God, there would’ve been no hope for her.

“Yes. And, worse than that, Uncle Silvio didn’t have her killed outright. He made Stefania pay a debt first though I’m not sure what Uncle Enzo meant by that. Whatever it was must’ve been bad though because I heard Aunt Bibi once mention that she died when Alessio was nine.”

“Nine? But his father had already married Bibi and had Gia by the time Alessio was three, I thought.”

“Yes but it’s not like the normal rules apply around here, is it? I feel bad for Aunt Bibi tonight even if she’s a bitch. The knife was just a warning. She’ll pay her own sort of debt to my uncle tonight for their daughter’s disobedience.”

"Is that common? Silvio mistreating his wife? Does he mistreat Valdo or the girls often?"

"Aunt Bibi, yes, but she acts like everything is perfect. Valdo and the girls, occasionally. Mostly because Alessio always stands between them if he can, and Silvio doesn't beat him anymore."

The 'but he did' goes unsaid. Alessio isn't affectionate with Gia or Sofia the way my brothers are, but just as my brothers tried to protect me from our father's discipline, it sounds as though Alessio does the same.

I hug Mr. Whiskers tighter, so Frankie turns the talk to other things, lifting my spirits. All the same, I can’t help wondering where Alessio is tonight and where he will sleep. I’m tired of this distance. Our marriage may be a match made in hell but it has zero chance of becoming anything better this way.

As if I’ve summoned him with my thoughts, the door crashes open a second later causing both Frankie and I to jump. “My darling wife,” Alessio drawls with Armando by his side.

“Go to your room, Francesca,” Armando clips, pushing Alessio toward the bed and taking a protesting Frankie by the hand. “He’s being stubborn as usual, Caterina. For better or worse, you’re his wife so you’d best take care of him,” my bodyguard says, tugging Frankie along in his wake.

What the hell has happened? I see what a moment later as Alessio gingerly removes his jacket. “You’re bleeding!”

“Bullets can do that to a body.” His voice is slurred.

“You’ve been shot?!” I cry in dismay.

“Give this girl an award. She almost sounds concerned.”

“Alessio!”

“It’s nothing, just a scratch,” he mumbles, poking at his side with a bloody finger.

“Don’t do that!”

He tilts his head and squints up at me. “Why not? What would you have me do?”

“I don’t know,” I say, throwing up my hands and struggling to recall anything I’ve ever learned about first aid. “We should clean it. And, your hands should be clean before you touch the area.”

He chuckles, grabbing my hand and tugging me down onto the bed beside him. “You’ll have to do it then. My hands willneverbe clean, kitten.”

Whoa.I felt those words in far too many unmentionable ways considering the circumstances. As I try to sit up, a familiar scent reaches my nostrils with our close proximity. “Are you drunk?”

“Me, drunk? Nah, just a little preliminary pain killer.Fuck…”

His stifled wince from his continued poking at the wound jolts me into action. “That’s it. You will listen to me and stop doing that. Take your shirt off.”

“Knew you liked seeing me naked.”

“Yes, I do. I mean, no, I don’t! Oh, you should shut up!” He laughs and then grasps his side with a grunt. “Do you have anything I can treat you with here?” He smirks at me, making a point of keeping his lips pressed together. “You can answer that, you fool!”

“In the bathroom, bottom drawer beside the sink.”

I hurry to retrieve the first aid kit, panicking a bit.You are stronger than you know, Caterina.I can take care of him. Iwilltake care of him.

When I find the drawer he told me of, I’m not surprised to find a small handgun inside. First aid kit stored with a weapon? Par for the course in this household.

Leaving the gun, I dump the kit on the bed and wait for Alessio to give me instructions. I help him remove his shirt. The wound looks bad to me but he seems unconcerned. Given the various scars that already cover his body, I’ll have to trust that he knows what he’s talking about.