Page 21 of Wounded King

"Excuse me," I stand up and hurry back to my patient's private room.

"I want to go home," Marcello greets me. "Who do I have to threaten to make that happen?"

"I don't think—" I start, but seeing the determination in his expression and remembering how someone had tried to kill him—again—just yesterday, I change directions. "Actually, I think they'll be happy to release you," I answer. And that's the truth. His presence has interrupted the ICU routine. Six dead bodies were carried out of here yesterday, and not because of the usual circumstances.

The nurses and doctors who are here are working overtime because everyone else is scared to death to come in.

"Assuming you'll have adequate medical supervision at home," I add. "You just had a titanium plate put into your skull."

"That's where you come in, Chir—er, Violet, is it?" Marcello looks straight at me; his crystal eyes are unsettling, but in a good way. At least to me, for whatever reason. I'm sure plenty of people have found them rather terrifying.

He doesn't wait for an answer before he continues. "If I pay you a thousand dollars a day, will you stay with me as my nurse until this is all healed?" He waves up and down his body.

I swallow. A thousand dollars a day? "That could be weeks," I caution.

"Two thousand dollars, then, to make up for you most likely losing your job." Marcello doesn't blink.

"I'm not a doctor," I protest meekly. "I can monitor your health, care for your wounds, but?—"

"That's all you need to do. I'll also have a doctor come by once a week if that eases your mind."

"Okay," I blink several times. Did I really just agree to be his full-time nurse? A nurse to the boss of the Cosa Nostra? Fuck!

"Just to be clear, I'll only require you to come in for two or three hours a day, but you'll have to be available at a moment's notice," Marcello adds to the bargain.

"No problem." I nod.

"Good. Now get me the fuck out of here." For the first time, I see him as the scary mafia boss he is. But I'm still not freaked out. Not even slightly. I have no idea what the hell is wrong with me, but I feel as if I made a bargain with the devil and enjoyed doing so. The wooden stair underneath my foot gives out a warning creak, but I ignore it as I take another step down.

"Uhm," I stop by the sliding doors.

"What?" He looks up from his phone.

"About Doctor Waspo?"

"What about him?"

"I might have threatened to kill him," Luciano injects.

"You did?"

"He tried to kill you." Luciano nods. It looks as if he hasn't told Marcello about that incident yet.

Marcello tilts his head at me, "Did he threaten you too?" He jerks his chin at Luciano.

I look at Luciano, unsure if my answer will get him in trouble and, if so, which one. Yes or no? I decide on the truth and nod.

"But you're not concerned about yourself?"

He is confusing me. "Should I be? I mean, I didn't… I haven't…" I look at Luciano for help, but his expression is closed off.

"I'll think on it," Marcello finally says. Instinctively, I know that is the best I can do for Waspo, so I leave to fill Stacy in about the latest development.

I watch Chirps leave the room, noticing how the tight nurse's scrubs hug her perfect ass. She's sexy as hell, just in plain pink pants and a shirt. I don't dare to try and imagine what she would look like in regular clothes or, God forbid, a cocktail dress.

Breathtaking.

"How did you allow that to happen?" I grunt at Luciano.