He jabbed a finger in the air in her direction. “I warned you. Don’t talk to her like that.”
“She was going to the Lanzas.” She clenched her teeth. “That’s the least I could do. And have no delusions, asshole, if she does as much as set one foot out of this cottage, I’ll shoot her dead. I don’t care what you say or do.” She glanced at his bleeding calf. “I’ll go get the shit from the car myself.”
After I took care of his wound, Nicole guarding me like a hawk, we ate the food the owner of the cottage had kindly left us in the kitchen. We all needed our strength. But with food in my system, the need to use the bathroom emerged. The angry mother wouldn’t take my cuffs off for any reason, though.
“I’ll help you.” Leo smirked.
My cheeks warmed. “Uh…no thanks.”
“Easy, tiger. I’m going with her,” Nicole said. As much as I loathed her company, I didn’t mind. I’d die of embarrassment if he had to help me in the bathroom.
She lowered my pants quickly without attempting at anything insulting, humiliating or aggressive. Then she took the toilet paper, cut some and dapped it in water from the sink. “In Taormina, there was a water spray attached to the toilet. It makes the job much easier and cleaner. It’s not exactly the same, but the water will help you wipe better with your tied hands because I’m not gonna do that for you.”
“Thank you…I guess.” I cleared my throat, hesitant to sit on the toilet while she was still there.
“I’ll wait outside. Holler when you’re done.”
I appreciated the privacy as well, but it came with a cost. The eternal guilt that wouldn’t leave me be. What was I thinking letting jealousy blind me to the point of putting a woman and her child in danger? Even if I wasn’t going to the Lanzas—that was never my intention. I only lied to her so she’d kill me—even if I no longer cared if I died and was only going to take Leo’s advice and tell Tino the truth so he could save his son and end this madness, it’d still put her in danger. No matter how much I didn’t like her, my choice was selfish and unjustifiable. Nicole Lanza didn’t do anything wrong. Leo’s issues weren’t her fault. I threatened her family’s life. She had every right to want to kill me.
I cleaned myself up to the best of my abilities back and front—the bleeding seemed to have stopped—washed my hands acrobatically and called for her. She fixed my pants back up and led me outside.
“I’m sorry, Nicky,” I had to say.
She didn’t answer.
“Do you ever miss him?” She must have. I saw the mist in her gaze when she mentioned her house.
“Who?”
“Your husband. Taormina must be where you lived. You’re obviously still attached to your dwelling there…with him.”
She gave me a look that beat any book about loss, betrayal and tormented love. The conflict she must have been struggling with was eating her up. She’d been in love with him. She was in love with him still. “Go to your boyfriend, Doctor. Enjoy your night together. It’ll be the last.”
CHAPTER 22
Ravenna
“Get some sleep,” Nicole said. “I’ll call your guy to tell him we’re moving as soon as he can get the boat ready.”
Leo propped himself on his elbows and sat up. “You sure you can handle it?”
“Yes. No more delays. I’ll go grab some meds for the nausea quick, and I’ll be fine. Didn’t you say I’m the strongest woman you’ve ever known?”
His face didn’t seem to agree now. “You should get some rest, too.”
She nodded, glancing between us. “Try to do the same.”
He snorted while I blushed like a teenage girl. When she closed the door and left, I let out a troubled sigh.
“Did she do something to you?” he asked.
“Just reminding me that even when dreams come true they only last for one day.”
His warrior hand took mine, rough and calloused and fractured, his touch a forceful contrast with its tenderness, and then he pulled me down to him on the little bed on the floor he’d made for himself. For us? His eyes held mine, and his lips feathered over my skin. “Let’s make it count.”
Trembling, losing my line of thought, I closed my eyes. “You should rest.”
“I will.” His teeth grazed my earlobe. “With you on top of me.”