REIGN (A REVERSE HAREM)

88. Arabella

My first day back at the house, everyone was walking on eggshells around me. Keilani and Ciro had to head back to Chicago but Rosa said she's staying for as long as possible, we even have Roma here to keep company too.

Every hour of every day somebody is asking if i'm okay.

It's annoying.

I walk down the stairs at three in the morning, Rosa and Roma are sleeping in the spare bedroom and i've sort of claimed Luca's as my own, plus he has a heated blanket and it makes me warm, helps the pain a little too.

I walk to the kitchen and spot a bottle of beer sitting on the side table, easily i pop the cap off and take a couple of swigs. I need to get drunk, forget about everything for a while.

I keep the bottle in my hand as i walk into the living room, not even noticing the lump laying across the couch until i flick the lights on.

Instincts makes me jump back.

Roman doesn't flinch.

He's staring at the ceiling, legs bent, eyes heavy, one arm bent and propped behind his head, the other resting on his chest.

"Why are you down here?" I look to his arms quickly. I couldn't see no new scars thankfully.

His eyes flick tk me, "Let Luca have my bed." He looks back at the ceiling. "Shouldn't mix alcohol and your meds, love."

I sit on the other couch, stil drinking it. "I'll be twenty-one soon."

"Still shouldn't mix alcohol and medication." He looks at me again. "Why are you up?"

"Ribs are hurting." I sit cross legged, letting the beer rest between them. I fractured two ribs and the only way to let them heal is to rest.

"Did you take your medication?"

I nod my head, "Roma has really good memory, set alarms on her watch for me to remember to take them."

"She's clever." He clears his throat, "You need to rest."

"I am resting-"

"Sleep Arabella." He cocks an eyebrow, "You haven't since you came back."

I look down, slightly embarrassed and envious too. He can always catch me in a lie. "I can't sleep."

"Did you take the sleeping pills?" He sits up a little.

I sip on the beer, "No."

I seen the reaction he had with them. They put me on the same ones. I'm scared to take them.

He takes a breath and walks over to me, pulling the beer from my lap and putting it on the coffee table, then lifting me up from my thighs and laying across the couch, laying me down on top of him.

"What are you doing?" I know full rightly what he's doing.

"You like being held when you can't sleep." He holds me protectively, "I'm not tired baby, i promise i won't hurt you."

I'm not scared of him hurting me.

"Have you thought about what i said?" I rest my head on his chest, hearing his heart beat.

I feel his warm breath in my hair, "I've collected enemies since i coukd walk. It's not just Italians that want me dead, i have to make amends with way too many people who would rather kill me then be my ally."

"And even if i do, i can't ever garuntee no one will hurt you again, Arabella. You're my wife, every gangster in this damn world knows of me. Some, i don't even know who they are. It's better for me to be alert and eliminate as many of them as possible."