Chapter 26

"The fact that you have to say ‘again' is a problem we need to discuss, Old Man."

I watch as Nessa drifts to sleep in our arms, that pinch of discomfort on her face since the moment I walked in the room finally begins to fade and with it the ache in my chest eases. The way she worked herself up so fast, and the agony she must have been in when I heard her scream had really taken its toll on her.

But when she wakes up this next time, it will be in my arms. I have no idea how Doc convinced me to shower and Boris to get coffee, but I will be very adamant that the next time one of us needs to leave, the other will be staying. Without a word, I know Boris agrees with me on that.

Look at us, becoming mates so quickly. You should be proud.

We move slightly so that Doc can assess her ribs to make sure the altercation didn't cause any more damage. Once he's satisfied, I help drape her arm over my side so he can start a new IV for her.

He gets the fluids and the next round of antibiotics started while I try to keep her comfortable and situated between us. Thankfully, her bed is large enough that we all fit well on it together. Sleeping might be a little rough, but I will deal with anything if it means my girl doesn't wake up scared.

"She should sleep for an hour or so. If the pain becomes too much again or she starts to panic, just press the button and I'll be here. I forget sometimes that she's a natural redhead and she might need more medication than I would usually prescribe."

Boris nods at Doc and shakes his hand.

"The men that touched her, they will be punished?" Boris asks.

Doc nods. "I will see to it myself. They're good men, but they will learn not to touch my VIP patients like that. Especially ones who are clearly confused."

I can tell Boris wants to argue. He wants to be the one to deal with their punishment, but he lets it go and Doc excuses himself.

There is one thing we need to ensure before anything goes further. I know that my earlier words bothered Boris, but we never had the chance to discuss things before shit went down. And Nessa doesn't deserve to deal with this. We need to settle whatever this is and find a way to move forward right now, for all of our sakes.

"You messed up trying to walk away like that."

He sneers at me. "And you messed up by rushing into that building without a plan."

I knew this was going to come up at some point. Rightfully so too. I fecked up and deserve to answer for that.

"I'm aware. And I will spend the rest of my life begging for her forgiveness. I will apologize every damn day if that's what it takes."

My voice is strong, determined. Boris shakes his head though, looking down at the woman between us like she is so fragile he might break her if he moves the wrong way.

"Don't do that to each other," he says quietly. With a sigh, he looks back up at me. "Apologize and move on. She has already forgiven you, it is clear as day. She does not need you to be sorry. She just needs you ."

I tilt my head slightly. "Is this one of those ‘with age comes wisdom' things?"

He chuckles a little, lightening the tension of the moment.

"Something like that. You will understand when you are older."

A few minutes of silence pass before he breaks it. I'm honestly surprised, I thought I would have to draw this one out of him.

"Would you have let me stay?"

It takes me a second to realize what he's asking. "After I went down on her in front of you and you all but watched with your dick in your hand?"

He nods, looking down at Nessa as his fingers continuously glide through her hair in a way I happen to know she loves.

"I would have let you fight." I think about him shoving me out of the way to claim her right where I made her soak my face. Then imagine me pulling her hair back so she has no choice but to look at the both of us while he takes what he needs, and she gives it to him so beautifully.

Feck, I'm getting hard with my girl in a hospital bed. Not cool, big guy. Calm it down.

"I do not wish to fight with you, Kid. Fighting causes stress. Bickering distracts us. If we are focused on each other, who is caring for her?" He glances up at me, a real question in his gaze.

"It's a good thing our girl is capable of taking care of herself then," I reply with confidence. Nessa may be soft with us, but she is capable. I never want her to believe we think otherwise.

"And she loves our banter, it turns her on." I half grin and he shakes his head like I couldn't possibly know that. But I do. I see it in her eyes. He just needs to look a little harder.

"A woman like Nessa should never have to care for herself. She should be loved and adored every moment of every day."

Well duh, I mutter in my head. But I know I need to have more finesse here so he will believe me when I say I am all in.

"Agreed. But we can adore her while also having our own kind of relationship."

Boris scoffs. "I do not wish to be in a relationship with you. Only her." The way he spits the words while pulling away from me and taking our girl from my warmth makes me want to smack him.

Some men really are nitwits.

Nessa whimpers in her sleep and I pull her back to me gently. Boris helps as soon as he realizes what he did. Nessa feels like she is falling apart and needs us to hold her together. And although we know she is capable all on her own, we are her partners. She doesn't need us fighting like two jealous boyfriends. And as much as I want to hit the old fella, that isn't right for this moment.

Mostly because it would jostle her, not that he doesn't deserve a good smack to the head. I know you agree with me here.

I laugh quietly and hold up a hand. "That is not what I meant. Friendship, or rather a sense of understanding of the other's presence in her life."

He finally looks at me then, as if searching for my sincerity. When he nods slightly, I know I've got him. "I can live with that."

I rest a hand on Nessa's side, allowing my fingers to trail back and forth. She's okay. We made it.

The thought still feels like too much, so all I can utter is a simple, "Okay."

"Okay?" Boris asks like it is a question. I sigh, shaking my head as I lean in to press a kiss to the top of my girl's head and take a second to compose myself.

"Yes. Okay, Old Man. When we were alone, she told me she needed you too. I agreed that if we got out of that place, I would find a way to make her happy, to keep her happy. If that's with you, then I won't fight it."

"You won't?"

Damn, this man is so suspicious . I know he is an ex-mafia leader of some kind ; but holy hell, padre, calm it down a tad. Not everyone is out to get you.

"Nope. But that doesn't mean I won't fight to bring her smiles, I won't fight to be the man who makes her come first. I will fight for her, I just won't be fighting you for her."

"Well, alright then." He places a kiss on her head just by where I left mine as we get settled with her between us. My feet are hanging off the bed and Boris looks squished on the side rail, but our girl looks happy. For that, I will endure anything.

"I want to be clear on one thing though." The old fella starts to whisper as if this is a secret, so I lean in. "I have no interest in you. If she wants to have sex with us together, sleep with us together, that is fine, but keep your body parts to yourself."

I can't help the barking laugh that comes out of me. Boris' forehead wrinkles but I lean over and clap him on the shoulder. "Don't you worry, Old Man. I have a distinct taste for redheads only."