“Yeah, okay.” He lifts the sandwich and takes a bite.
His jaw is swollen, he’s got a goose egg on the back of his head, and his torso and legs are bruised from the kicking, but all in all, his injuries aren’t too terrible, considering how badly it could’ve gone. Though of course, I’m still shook by how terrifying it all was.
I was there when he gave his statement to the police, stating he didn’t remember anything, before he was sent for some scans at the hospital, then discharged.
“Any idea who it was yet?” I ask, sitting on the edge of the bed.
He finishes chewing and swallows before answering. “It’s being looked into. Cops are checking camera surveillance in the area.”
“Was that the police on the phone?” I ask, passing him the ginger ale bottle with the straw in it. He leans over and sips it and then puts his head back on the pillow, shaking his head as I set the drink down on the table beside him.
“That was Tommy. My guys are looking into it, so are his. There’s a possibility it has nothing to do with me.” He winces and gets more comfortable.
I caress his arm. “Want some pain medication? You’re allowed to have some now.”
He shakes his head. “No. Hate that shit.”
I tilt my head curiously. “So, nothing to do with you? It didn’t seem random.”
It seemed highly personal to me the way they kicked him over and over.
“There’s a guy that’s being a thorn in the side of Dario’s family because of stuff that has nothing to do with me. Remember the asshole in Genesis that made a scene the night I first took you there?”
I nod.
“Think it’s the same guy. Sounds like he has old intel, thinks I’m still affiliated. Their family were my original investors, but I bought them out. This guy’s goin’ around to anybody affiliated with them and making their lives difficult. He’s making a point.”
“Oh?”
“Or, I wasn’t the target and they mistook me for Tommy Ferrano. We’re not sure which.”
Tommy Ferrano, Dario’s brother, is tall and dark haired like Killian. His wife is dark haired, though her hair isn’t as dark as mine and hers is straight where mine isn’t. Is it possible it was a case of mistaken identity?
“Not a hundred percent, but it’s a good chance it’s who they think it is and if that’s the case, it’s not mine to deal with, though that chaps my ass.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, if it’s their issue, they’ll deal. I don’t like letting other people deal with my problems, but if it was a case of bad intel or mistaken identity, they’ll want to deal with it themselves.”
“What about the police?”
He looks at me in a way that I instantly know comes from him thinking I’m naïve. And I guess I am, because to me, you let the cops deal with stuff. That’s what you’re supposed to do, anyway.
“The police aren’t likely to figure any of this out before the Ferrano family does. They’re well-connected and the cops tend to stay out of their way unless it’s something they really have to wade into. If this situation is what it’s looking like, it’s theirs to deal with and the Ferrano family will deal with it.”
I frown.
And there’s silence stretching between us. It’s like he’s looking me over for a reaction.
“What’s on your mind?” he finally asks.
Okay, out with it then.
“Are you into organized crime, Killian?”
He grabs my hand. “No.”
I search his face. I don’t think he’s telling me everything.
“Are you keeping me on a need-to-know basis?”
“Yes,” he immediately says.
I frown some more.
“Trust me,” he requests and the look in his eyes stops me cold.
I say nothing.
“You have become the most important person in my life quickly, Violet. Can I ask you to trust me?”
The most important person in his life? I’m shocked.
He cups my jaw and caresses the apple of my cheek with his thumb. I lean in and feel my eyes drift closed, emotion engulfing me as he adds, “I won’t let anything happen to you. I won’t put you in any dangerous situation. Can you trust me? Please? Even if that’s hard?”
“It’s not hard,” I reply instantly. “I trust you, Killian.”
Tension leaves his face.
“Do you want some soup?” I lean over and lift the spoon and put it in.
“Not too hungry.”
He sits up a little, so I lift the bowl closer and hold the spoon out. “Just a little? I made it for you from almost scratch.”
He gets a twinkle in his eye as I feed it to him.
“I like this,” he says after swallowing, his voice dropping to a lower octave.
“My soup?”
“Yeah, but not just that. This.”
“Me taking care of you?” I ask.
“Yeah. Waking up to you. Having you here. Having you look after me. Nobody has ever done that. Not since my grandmother. But she didn’t baby me. She knew the family I was born into, I’d have to learn self-sufficiency. So I did.”
“No? Not when you were sick?”
He shakes his head. “My mother wasn’t motherly.”
“That’s sad. Every child needs some babying, at least sometimes.”
I get a slightly sad smile and a shrug from him. Killian doesn’t feel sorry for himself; it’s clear he doesn’t blame his upbringing on his problems. Unlike Ray. Ray used any crutch he could as an excuse. What polar opposites they are.
“Another bite?” I offer.
He opens his mouth and I spoon some in and then he leans back.
“That’s awesome, baby.”
“Glad you like it. I used wild rice instead of noodles. Makes it more interesting, I think.”
“One more bite and that’s all I can manage.”
I give him that, then tuck him in a little bit and I kiss his forehead. His fingers tangle into my hair briefly before he kisses my mouth, holding me there an extra-long beat.
“I’m sorry, baby.”
“For what?”
“For what you went through last night,” he says softly, eyes fiery with emotion.
I can’t tell if it’s anger, pain, or what, but it makes my heart skip a beat.
“It’s not your fault. You gonna sleep for a bit?” I ask, rubbing my nose against the side of his.
“Gonna try,” he replies softly. “Climb in with me. Put something on television.”
“Halloween movie? Beetlejuice?” I suggest.
“Whatever you want. Just wanna feel you here.”
I climb in, snuggle up, and kiss his jaw on the non-bruised side, doing my best not to touch anything that might hurt.
“I called my boss,” I say, “Told her what happened. She says I can work remotely for a few days this week to take care of you.”
“Yeah? In that case, tomorrow we should drive to my other place.”
“What other place?”
“Got a place right on the water near Tillamook. We can relax there.”
“Is there Wi-Fi?”
“Yep.”