(
)
CHAPTER 15 - MARCUS
I woke up next to my father. He stared at me, and I forgot what was happening for a moment. I tried to sit up and blinding pain hit me in my stomach.
“Hurts doesn't it? Maybe you should lay still.” He said.
“Anna?”
“She was here, by your side until the nurse said you'd be fine and would wake up soon. Kid's taking it pretty hard.”
“She should be, she stabbed me.”
“Yes, she did. But you were pissing her off while she had a knife in her hand. That's the sort of mistake you make only one time, son. She may not be Sicilian, but she could become an honorary member if she keeps doing stuff like that. Anyway, she cares enough to sit by your bed for 20 hours straight and not sleep.”
“She doesn't care, she fears me.”
“Maybe. Call it what you want, just don't anger her when she has a knife in her hands.”
I remember the knife in her hand and how angry she looked when she turned around. And I remember how her face changed when she realized what she had done. Tears welled up immediately, but she didn’t shrink or cry, she battled to save me, drove the boat and held me.
After that the world went black on me. There’s no profit in thinking how I almost died, could have died, but I guess I owed her my life. It’s a terrible thing to be in debt to someone, especially that big of a debt. Did she care for me? I guess it would have been a good opportunity for her to let me bleed to death in the boat and go wherever she wanted to, to escape. But she didn't. She saved my life maybe, but also almost ended it.
“And anyways, you lost a lot of blood, had to give you some of mine as a matter of fact, and I expect you to get better and return it.”
“I'll try.”
“You'll be back to normal in a few days or a week I guess, all stitched up. That nurse almost made us bring you to the hospital, but she took good care of it, and Anna did the rest. Sal offered to take you to a Veterinarian, do you believe that? I guess Gianni's wife was a vet or something like that and she did a good job with you too.”
“Yeah, I heard that story.” I answered.
“Well, I'll tell you another one. Me and your mom. I loved her dearly, but took far too long to let her know that. And that was one of the reasons we separated. Don't make my mistakes. Leave here, take her with you. You don't need any of this life and the headaches. You have options. Use them. I never had options.”
“And what? Sal takes your place?”
“Maybe, maybe not. I'd rather my brother, Carmine, but it's not up to me.”
Carmine would be a good choice, steady, honest loyal. But not me.
I wasn’t sure if I had the energy to argue with him, thankfully, the Nurse and Priest walked in.
“Ah good. Perfect timing. The patient is ready to be moved I think.”
“Where are you going?” I asked. He was in no condition to be moved anywhere.
“Not me. You. I’m evicting you. You’re too old to be living with your father, especially when you have a place of your own and someone prettier than me to look after you. I love you, but I love you better when you visit.”
The move was painful, Gianni pushed me up the path in a wheelchair after I gave up on trying to walk. Every jangle stirred up the pain in my stomach. Gianni took the chair up to the cabin, and I was excited to see he again.
Tess opened the door, “Welcome home,” she said, Anna was in back of her, looking sheepish, if she was a child she would be hiding in the folds of Tess’s dress.
Gianni lifted me out and helped settle me on the bed, every jangle hurt. There is no way to protect you stomach from jostling, not like a hurt arm or leg you can hold close, or overcompensate for with the other arm or leg, when your gut aches, every movement except your eyes hurts.
“Anything you need from us, or are you two alright?” Gianni asked.
“I think I can handle him,” Anna said, standing next to Tess now.
Taking care of me and doting on me like I was a child or invalid annoyed me. “Gianni, can you sweep the place for knives? I don’t want another accident to happen.”
“Then you had better be nice to me,” Anna said, with a devious smile.
“You’ll be fine, just rest, and don’t play with your stitches, or else we’ll have to fit you with one of those lampshades we put on dogs.” Tess added, and they left together, “We’re close if you need anything.”
And there she was, standing over me, smiling slightly still. “It seems I’m you captor now. What will I do to you?”
“How about apologize for stabbing me?”
“I am sorry about that. But you could thank me for saving your life.”
“You only had to save it because you almost took it,”
“Yes, and I just apologized for that. That’s the last time you’ll hear me apologize for that.” She sat down next to me on the bed. “I know you hate this, being powerless, being at my mercy, but you’ll have to get used to it for now.”
She traced her hand over my crotch. “But it can go easy for you, and very, very comfortably.” Her hand stilled at my cock, but even the thought made me wince in pain as my stomach clenched.
She smiled at that, and added, “Or it can go rough,” and she let her body fall on me as she kissed me.