Sleeping With the Enemy

Sequel: Chapter Three

Brandon

"I'm fine, Sadie. Really." I insisted, plopping myself down in my office chair. "In fact, you fussing over everything is the only thing stressing me out right now."

She wasn't going to stop, but it was worth a shot.

"The doctor said you needed to take it easy." She narrowed her eyes at me, arms crossed over her chest. "This is not resting. Can't you just take it easy for one single day?"

"Babe, as soon as I have things sorted out, I will. I promise." I reached for her hand as she sat on the edge of my desk, facing me. There was a distant and defeated look in her eyes.

This weekend was hard and brought back a wave of painful memories for both of us. Sadie didn't outright say it, but she didn't need to. I could see it in her eyes, in her mannerisms, in the way she was constantly hovering over me and making sure I was okay. She was grasping for any sort of control she could, and while it hindered the job I had to do, I understood where she was coming from.

Sadie lost her parents to the Mafia, she came close to losing her brother, and I almost lost her and Gemma. It could be a cruel world, and things like this happened without prejudice. But when you took precautions, it was very rare. What was that saying about lightning striking the same spot twice? I wasn't all that concerned about a second attempt, but that didn't mean I was going to take the threat lightly, either.

"I feel great." I assured her. "The doctor said I am as healthy as a racehorse. I know that what happened was scary, but we're all okay. We survived and everything is going to be fine."

Sadie tired out the window, not responding to me. She was almost in a trance.

"Babe..." I squeezed her hand, swirling my fingertips on the back of it and drawing her back to me.

"What time is he coming?" She cut me off, wiping an errant tear off of her cheek.

"Anthony will be here in about fifteen minutes." I said. "Would you feel better if you met him?"

She nodded. "Are you introducing him to Gemma today, too?"

"Yes." I said. "He'll be with her 24/7 from now on."

"And we can trust him?"

"Absolutely. You know I wouldn't put just anyone on protecting our children."

Anthony was solid. At twenty-five, he was still a little young and inexperienced, but he grew up in the Mafia. His father, Angelo, was a good friend of mine, and Underboss to one of the most powerful Dons in the entire Mafia, Luca Catalano. Anthony worked under them for a few years as a teenager, but he got into some trouble at home, and Angelo thought it would be good for him to spend some time working in another organization. I gladly took him up on it, and in the year and half that Anthony was with us, I didn't once regret it.

The kid was tough as nails. There wasn't a thing I couldn't ask of him, and he never walked away from a job unfinished. His drive was impressive, and his work ethic even more so. In fact, he was so thorough that I expected he and Gemma would clash. She already resisted my security a bit, and someone as intense as Anthony certainly would force the issue even more. But it wasn't about keeping her comfortable or the two of them getting along; it was about keeping her safe, and that would be the only thing on Anthony's mind no matter what that entailed. That was the kind of person I wanted protecting my daughter.

Sadie stood up and kissed my cheek. "How about some ice for your shoulder?"

"You know, if you're going to insist on playing nurse, I may have to order you one of those naughty nurse outfits. You know, with the cute little hat and fish nets?" I smiled, hoping to lighten her mood a little.