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“ I protest everything about this. I’m fine .”

“You’re limping,” Doc says calmly. “And you have been for days. Jayden will pull you from fieldwork if you don’t take care of yourself. I’m honestly surprised Tennant hasn’t noticed yet.”

I grimace and look away, unable to lie to the doctor’s face, because the asshole is good at sniffing out bullshit.

I thought I was doing a good job of hiding how fucked up my leg has been.

Tennant has noticed, but I’ve been able to brush off his looks and carefully structured words, knowing there’s too much going on for anyone to worry about me.

“That’s what I thought,” Doc says with a huff. He moves into my line of sight, unwilling to let me hide from my own fuck up. “I’ve already gone over the results of your scan,” he signs. “Good news, there’s not more damage.”

“And the bad news?”

Amber eyes stare into mine intently, and if I were anyone else, they’d probably make me flinch. Good thing I’m not normal . The only thing that even remotely scares me is being told I can’t help my family.

Useless . My mother’s voice tries to shove its way in, and while it’s become easier to ignore now with time—and the fact she’s dead—that doesn’t mean it doesn’t leave its mark.

I’d like to think I’m better than my birth family; at times, I actually believe myself when I have those thoughts. When I might let down the only people who have ever cared about me, though? It’s a hard pill to swallow.

“No bad news. Jayden is amending your care plan. He wants to run it by Benjamin when he returns, to see if he has any thoughts.”

That surprises me. “You sure you’re talking about our Jayden?”

Doc laughs. “He respects his colleagues, it’s how I haven’t killed him yet. Besides, you won’t listen to us, so maybe you’ll listen to an outsider.”

I smirk. “I highly doubt Benjamin can be called an outsider. Martelli, he may be, but he’s an Amato, too. Tennant made sure of that.”

Doc rolls his eyes in disgust. “You could lose the smug as fuck expression off your face. Do you know who’s going to have to clean up after that mess if shit goes pear-shaped—again?”

“You like messes.”

“There’s something wrong with you.”

I shrug. “I’ve known that for years.”

“I have another appointment soon, get out of my face.”

“But my leg hurts,” I say, channeling Roman’s pout. “Didn’t you just spend far too long giving me a lecture about taking better care of myself?”

“No,” he snaps. “I swear to fuck, I will drug you and drop you into a hole where I don’t have to see your face anymore. You don’t get to play the innocent card. You’re bad at it, for one, so take some more lessons from Leandro. And two, I know your tricks too well.”

He begins muttering something too low for me to hear, but I do catch the words “fucking psychopaths”. It makes me grin, because usually Doc doesn’t let anyone ruffle him. He much prefers to be the one getting under everyone’s skin.

Since meeting him, after Hollis stabbed me during our first kiss, fucking with Doc has been entertaining.

If he insists on being a pain in everyone’s ass, it’s only fair he gets the same treatment from time to time.

Besides, my comfort level has risen exceptionally, and it’s not a hardship to show my true nature around the Amatos.

Doc may not be main Family, technically, but his closeness to Cristian and Ten means he’s still family. Fair game in other words.

Doc looks to the door of his office, and I follow his gaze to see Soren pushing the door open, escorting in a brigade of personnel. There’s too much activity for me to follow, but when they wheel someone directly over to the other medical bed, I’m able to make my own conclusions.

“I was promised Nicolo would have better accommodations,” one man bitches. “At least at the hospital he had a private room.”

“Jude isn’t staying,” Doc replies from where he’s supervising the newcomer as he gets adjusted on the bed by the Martelli doctor and Soren. “And, I can assure you, we’ll take very good care of your lover. My staff are the best for a reason.”

The complaining man says something I don’t catch, but he seems to let it go otherwise. Either he realized he won’t get anywhere with Doc, or the look Dr. Ranlen gives him is enough to stay his opinions.

Not that I really care, I'm too focused on studying him to pay attention to his words.

Everything about him draws me in. From his slim build and small stature, to his coal black hair, and the way his eyes are a warm brown as he takes in his surroundings, while also sneaking glances at the other two strangers every so often.

With the situation being what it is, there’s only one person he can be: Antonio Martelli.

When his gaze meets mine, I feel the same type of stirring I did the first time Roman and I locked eyes.

Heat sears through me as I wonder what those molasses colored eyes would look like full of tears…

It’s been so long since I’ve been able to play the way I prefer…

Shaking those thoughts off, because I meant what I told Roman this morning; I’m not exactly biting at the bit for my own Martelli. If one just happens to fall into my lap, however…

Maybe not being able to go with Tennant, Benjamin, and Joel today was a good thing, if I have something so pretty to look at. Three pretty things, I correct myself, as I follow his gaze to the other medical bed and find two sets of eyes looking back.

My first thought is hell no . We already have the trips to deal with, like hell do we need the complication of another set of multiples…but I’ve always liked pretty things. And I can already imagine how pretty the three of them will look when they're high off a night of debauchery.

Doc gets my attention, and I pretend I’m thinking with my brain and not my—and Roman’s—dick.

“Nicolo was shot,” he signs. “I don’t trust hospitals, as you know, even ones headed by the lovely Dr. Ranlen.

So, Nicolo will be doing his recovery here.

He’s already on Jayden’s schedule—good for you, he’ll have a new victim to distract him for a while. ”

“Why am I just hearing about this now?” I voice.

He shrugs. “It all came together just a few hours ago. Roman signed off on it, so I’m sure telling you was next on his list. You’ve been with me all morning, so that could be why.”

I give him a sharp nod. Everyone knows not to fuck with Doc, so except for an actual emergency, any issues I need to be kept abreast of as Roman’s Second would have had to wait until he was finished with me.

I look over to the twins, and Antonio, who’s now moved to their side, and introduce myself.

“Jude Manassero, Roman Amato’s Second in Command.

Please, don’t hesitate to ask for me should you need anything.

I can assure you, you’re safe in Doc’s hands, and no one will bother you here.

This room is for main Family only, so bar an emergency, there shouldn’t be any reason for someone to crowd you while you’re here. ”

“Thank you,” Antonio says. “We’re grateful for the hospitality.” Everything about his demeanor says the opposite, but I can work with that.

Him being a Martelli is enough for me to give him some grace. They prefer being in control as much as we Amatos do; I don’t blame him for being cautious. I know I wouldn’t be okay if I had to recover in a strange place, with people who I was cordial with at best on a good day.

Sliding off the bed, I accept my cane from Doc, even though I want to shove it up his ass.

As I stand, I have to admit, whatever was in the shot he gave me, it’s already doing wonders for the discomfort and pain.

Not that I’ll ever say that aloud. The smug look on his face says he doesn’t need the words, anyway.

“Doc has my number, as do the rest of the medical staff,” I tell Antonio, unable to look away from his stare. “Please, don’t hesitate to use it. For anything you might need.”

The smirk he gives me has my blood heating and my cock taking notice. I want nothing more than to wipe the smartass look off his face…by shoving my dick far down his throat. “Oh, don’t worry, I will.”

My willpower is stronger than my urges—thankfully.

With a quick thanks to Doc, who reminds me that Jayden will be waylaying me some time in the next few days, I make my way out of the medical wing and head over to Roman’s office.

Even if there’s nothing for me to do there, the toy wouldn't protest being placed on his knees…

Because whatever Antonio started, he’s unable to finish it—for now. But that doesn’t mean someone else can’t.