“How in the fuck could you let her walk outside alone?” Kayden stood toe to toe with me. I didn’t blame him—he cared for Suzy.

“Kayden, I know, man. I was supposed to be right behind her. Everything got fucked up.” I kept eye contact with him. I wouldn’t show weakness, even though I knew the entire thing happened because of Kaylee and my past. My fucking cock always caused trouble.

“Yeah, I’d say. If anything happens to her, City, I’ll kick your ass. I may look small compared to you, but I’ll crush you. Hear that shit.”

I clenched my hands, stopping myself from beating his ass right here in the hospital. I knew he wouldn’t hit me. Throwing down with Kayden would only drive a wedge between Suzy and me. I’d let him say his piece. “Got it loud and clear, Kayden. I’ll protect her with my life.”

“I know you didn’t mean for any of it to happen, City, but I expect more.” He stepped back. “She’s like a sister to me. Just protect her and we won’t have an issue. I don’t want to be a dick, but I had to tell you that you fucked up.”

“I know, and I will, Kayden. I’m happy that you love her and you’ll look out for her if I’m not around. I know I fucked up and I’ll do everything in my power to make it up to her.”

“Are you planning on breaking her heart, man?” He crossed his arms over his chest and stared. “If this shit is just a game to you, then you need to end it now.”

“Fuck no, but I don’t know where her head is right now.” I rubbed my eyes, exhausted from the events of tonight.

“Don’t give her a choice, City. She’s quick to overthink everything. She needs a little push sometimes.”

“I’m happy to show her the way. Are we good, man?” I asked. “I need to get back to her.”

“Yeah, we’re good.” He held out his hand to me.

“Thanks, man.” I shook his hand.

I walked through the curtain to the girls whispering on the bed. “Hey, ladies,” Kayden said behind me. “Suzy, how are you, love?” He walked in front of me and stood next to her bed.

I stood at the foot of the bed and watched them as they interacted. They were a family, anyone could see that. There was a love and a shared past that brought them together. They chatted as I stood there, transfixed. Suzy looked battered, with bruises and a split lip. It would take forever for the effects to fade from her beautiful face.

“We have a room ready for you,” a nurse said as she entered the small space.

“Oh, great,” Sophia said. “We better head home, Suzy. Sleep well, and we’ll stop by tomorrow to see you.” She kissed Suzy on the cheek, and Kayden did the same.

“Night, Suzy.” Kayden turned to me. “City, make sure she’s okay tonight. Don’t leave her alone.” He wrapped his arm around Sophia.

“I wouldn’t be anywhere else, Kayden.”

“I love you guys. City will take good care of me. Go home—Jett will be up soon.”

“Bye, love,” Sophia said before they walked out.

I sat down next to her as the nurse started to unhook the machines. “Hey, sugar. How are you really feeling?”

“Sore.” She winced as she moved her limbs. “Can you find a mirror? I want to see my face.”

Oh God. Her face was swollen, with a small amount of dried blood in the corner of her mouth. I didn’t want her to see herself all bruised. “I’ll find one soon. Wait until you’re moved.”

“You can follow, sir. We’re taking her to the second floor for the night.” The nurse removed the brake on the bed as I stood and moved out of the way.

“I’m not leaving her side, ma’am,” I said as Suzy laid her head on the pillow and smiled at me. I wouldn’t leave her tonight.

The trip to her room was quick, and the nurse left us alone and didn’t ask any questions. I sat down in the chair next to her as she yawned. My eyes felt heavy and my mind cloudy.

“Will you sleep up here with me? I mean, there isn’t much room, but I want you to hold me tonight. I need you.”

How could I say no to anything she asked? I’d stand on my head all night if it made her fucking happy. “Anything you want, sugar.” I kicked off my shoes, climbing in the small twin bed before lying on my side, pulling her face to my chest. “Try to sleep. I’m not going anywhere.”

The tiny bed was perfect as I cradled her in my arms. She gripped my shirt, resting her face against my shoulder. I enveloped her in my arms, I wanted her to feel safe, and I needed to know that she was okay.

Listening to her breath as she slept, I smelled her hair, but it had the scent of the cigarette smoke from the bar, and dirt. Her body twitched as she whimpered in her sleep. I wanted to crawl inside her dream and rescue her.

I flexed my hands; the stiffness from the bruises and small cuts made me wince. It wasn’t anything I hadn’t felt before, but I couldn’t work for a couple of days until they healed. After pulling my phone from my pocket, I adjusted her body without waking her then sent Anthony a message. My other siblings would be in a panic and the entire crew would be here, but Anthony I could count on to keep the information low key—at least for tonight.

Me: Won’t be in tomorrow. Tell Mikey to reschedule my appointments. Thanks, bro.

Anthony had a gig in Clearwater, and he was a sure bet to get the information.

Anthony: I told him, he’s with me.

Fuck. Might as well have put it on the evening news or taken out a fucking billboard. Mikey would have a million questions and would want details.

Anthony: What the fuck happened? Not like you to not work.

I didn’t want to give them the details, but I had to give enough to get them off my back. I didn’t have a fucking choice in the matter. I’d have to cancel dinner with the family. My mother would want to know why—no one got out of dinner without a legitimate excuse. I wanted to stay with Suzy for the weekend and make sure she was okay before I let her be alone.

Me: Situation at the bar tonight. I need to stay with Suzy. Tell Mom I can’t make it and clear my schedule for a couple days at least.

Anthony: WTF happened? You okay?

Suzy didn’t move as I typed with one hand, trying not to break the embrace.

Me: Beat the shit out of some fucker that attacked her. She’s in the hospital for the night and I want to stay with her after she’s released. Don’t tell anyone. I don’t want them to flip out.

Anthony: Gotcha, but Mom is going to want details. Which hospital?

Me: County Hospital, but we’re okay. My hands are just swollen. I’ll be fine.

Anthony: Gotcha. Mum’s the word.

Nothing stayed a secret in my family. It was like the mafia party line. I knew Mikey had probably read over Anthony’s shoulder, and soon the entire brigade would be on high alert. I set the phone above my pillow and closed my eyes, wrapping Suzy in my arms.

I tried to think about happy things, Suzy’s laugh or how she kissed me, but all I could think of was her limp body and bloodied face in my arms. I kept opening my eyes to remind myself that she was okay. I waited for exhaustion to take me and wipe that vision from my mind.

The sound of plastic squeaking against the tile floor woke me early in the morning. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you,” a nurse said as she moved to the IV stand.

I grunted and waited for her to leave before closing my eyes again. Hospitals aren’t the place for rest. The movement outside the room is constant, alarms and announcements echo through the halls, and people talk loud enough to wake the dead. I felt like a Mack truck had hit me. My back was stiff, my eyes burned, and my hands throbbed. I wanted to get the fuck out of here and crawl in a real bed with her.

A quiet knock caused Suzy to stir, and my mother stood in the doorway. Fucking brothers—always mama’s boys.

“Hey,” she said, smiling.

I held put my finger to my lips, hoping not to wake Suzy as my ma entered the room. “It’s early, Ma. What are you doing here?” I whispered.

“Your brother told me something happened and that you were here with Suzy. You know I can’t sleep good when I worry about my children.” She stood next to the bed, looking at Suzy’s face against my chest.

“I’m fine, Ma. I couldn’t leave her and I want to stay with her when she gets out for a couple days. I didn’t think Mikey would put out an all-points bulletin.”

“Always so quick to blame Michael, aren’t you, Joseph? It was Anthony that texted me. I just wanted to stop and see if you two were okay.” She shook her head at me.

When did my mother learn how to text?

“We will be as soon as we get out of this shithole.”

“What happened, son?” My mom pulled up a chair and waited for my answer.

“Someone assaulted her. When I found her, I kicked his ass.” I didn’t want to meet my mother’s eyes. She was the only person in the world I never wanted to disappoint. I wasn’t a mama’s boy, but in an Italian family a mother is the queen bee, top dog, and wore the pants. Even my father bowed down to her and cherished the ground she walked on. He wasn’t a pussy, and could kick ass in his youth, but Mrs. Gallo wasn’t a person any of us wanted to piss off. “Trust me, Ma, he looks worse than me.”

She wrinkled her nose; she never liked to think of any of her children fighting, even Mikey. “Where were you?”

“Neon Cowboy, and we were on our way out after having a couple drinks.” I definitely didn’t want to share that I’d planned to kidnap my girlfriend. Sex wasn’t something I talked to my mother about, and usually not even my father.

“I told you I hate that damn bar. There’s nothing but trouble in those types of places. Haven’t you learned anything from Thomas?” She wasn’t mad, but I could see the fear in her eyes.

“Yes, Ma. I have friends there, clients even, and I like it there. I’m not going to stop hanging out there because of the what-ifs.”

“Is she okay, son?” She peeked over my shoulder, her eyes growing wide as she took in the sight of Suzy’s face.

“Yeah, she’ll heal. Just waiting for the doctor to come and release her. I won’t be there Sunday, but I promise to be there next week.”

“Sure, baby. Can I drop off food, at least? That way you can spend time taking care of her without having to cook.”

How could I say no to my mother? When she offered food it was the highest honor. She lived to cook and take care of her family. If I said no, it would be an enormous insult and there would be hell to pay.

“Sure, Ma. I’d love if you’d stop by with some food.” I didn’t entirely mean that statement, but I knew it would make her happy.

“I’m going to go and let you two rest. I don’t want to wake her. I’ll call you later, Joseph.” She stood up and kissed my forehead. She was the only person in the world that I’d let treat me like a child. No matter how many times I told her I wasn’t, she just made it all the more unbearable, smothering me with her love.

“Okay, Ma. Thanks.”

“I love you, Joseph. Take care of that one.”

“Love you too, Ma.”

She walked out of the room and I ran my fingers over the bruises on Suzy’s face. They were brighter in color and more visible than they had been the night before. She began to stir at my touch, and her eyes opened. The side crinkled from the smile on her face.

“You stayed?”

“Where else would I go, sugar?”

She closed her eyes and made a sound like “I don’t know” as she smashed her face in my chest and inhaled. “Can we get out of here?”

“I’ll go see if I can get the doctor to discharge you. Let me get up.”

She winced as I helped her move out of my arms and climbed off the bed. “You’re going to spend all day in bed when I get you out of here.”

“Oooh, that sounds so sexy.” She laughed and held her side.

“Bad girl, you’re injured—rest only.” I was happy to see that her spirit hadn’t vanished with the attack. “Be right back or I’ll break you out of this joint.”

I found a nurse sitting at a desk and pleaded with her to process the paperwork quicker than normal. “You can help her get dressed to speed up the process if you’d like, sir,” the nurse said as she typed.

“Sure, we’ll be waiting, ma’am.” I returned to the room to find Suzy trying to climb out of bed. “What the hell are you doing?” I said, rushing to her side.

“I needed to pee.” She looked up at me with a shy, embarrassed smile.

“I’ll help you, sugar. Then we got to get you dressed.”

“Fine. I hate having to need help to walk, City. This is a little ridiculous.”

“It’s what I’m here for. You’re mine and I’m going to take care of you this weekend. No arguments. Got it?” I waited for her reply before taking her hand.

“Yes, sir. I’m yours for the weekend. I thought it would be a bit different, but…” She shrugged.

“Makes two of us. Come on, sweetheart.” I helped her to the bathroom and then grabbed her clothes. I hit them a couple times to get the dirt off before she dressed.

“I need a shower,” she said as she hobbled out of the bathroom.

“I’ll help you as soon as we get you home.”

“You’re the boss.”

I liked the sound of those words coming out of her mouth. I wouldn’t take any lip from her this weekend. She was mine.