Page 82 of Tragic Empire

“I’m better,” he confirms, breathing out. “You calmed me down. I didn’t mean to go doomsday and bring up Isobel like that.”

“You said it before, we’re bound to talk about them. I’m not upset.”

It isn’t like Cassio just started waxing poetry about her and how much he loved and missed her. No, he was consumed by guilt from his past coming back to haunt him.

“Iamhungry though,” I admit, nudging him playfully. “Think you can pick me up something to eat without throwing anything or hitting anyone? Where are we, anyway? Are we close to food?”

Cassio chuckles. “Yes, we’re close to food. The Kings own the basement floor of the hospital closest to the penthouse. Doc has a few rooms here for us and got you in quickly. I can go grab something. What are you in the mood for?”

“A fried chicken sandwich,” I decide, mouth watering. “With pickles, and I want a chocolate milkshake too.” My stomach growls loudly. “I think the morphine is really kicking in.”

Chuckling, my husband stands from the bed. “I’ll be quick.”

“Send in Armani and Colton?”

“I wouldn’t leave you alone,” Cassio agrees. “We were only in the hallway to try and calm me down.”

Dropping a kiss to the top of my head, he lets himself out and seconds later, two bodies emerge from the hall.

“I hear you’re all better now,” Colton chimes, being the first to speak.

“Much,muchbetter,” I agree. “Stress and hormones gave me my period, and after years of barely having it, there wasa lotof blood.”

Grimacing at the memory of the bloody couch, I shake off the thought in favor of waggling my eyebrows at my friends. “But it’s okay, Cassio’s giant dick didn’t injure me, so I can have it again.”

Colton sputters with a surprised laugh. “His giant dick, huh?”

“Huggggee,” I confirm, tilting my head at the tattooed man by his side. I lower my voice and lean closer to whisper, “Do you think that’s hereditary?”

Armani snorts. “Wouldn’t you like to know, you flirt.”

Colton doubles over bellowing with laughter. Between my crass question and Armani’s responding teasing, I’m about to start giggling to join him. But with the shift in his body, I find Dante and Apollo are near the doorway, only a few feet from us.

“Uh-oh,” I mumble, eyes flaring wide. I reach out and smack Armani’s forearm. “Why didn’t you say you weren’t alone? Do you think they heard me talking about Cassio’s… package?”

He cracks an amused smile. “No, no, you’re very discreet, sorellina.”

With the drugs coursing through my system, I can’t tell if he’s being sarcastic or not. I choose to believe him for my own sanity.

Apollo knocks on the open door as if he hasn’t heard a thing, and Dante steps inside as Armani waves him in.

“You guys came back?” I ask nervously. “You didn’t have to do that, youjustwent home.”

“As if,” Armani chuckles. “They got notified as soon as we called Doc, and hearing that you were bleeding? No way they’d stay home.”

“What’s the point of owning a jet if you don’t use it?” Colton jokes.

“Too bad they missed Cassio’s meltdown, Apollo could have slapped some sense into him.”

“I handled him just fine without violence, thank you,” I gripe, folding my arms. I don’t like the idea of anyone hitting my man, even his brother.

Dante chuckles good-naturedly. “Could I have a moment with my daughter, boys?”

Armani nods, grabbing Colton’s arm and heading for the hall again.

“No fair, Father Dante never wants a moment alone with me.”

“Ana’s prettier than you,” Armani deadpans.