Reputation's Play (Book 1)

Ch.41 Punishments

Chapter 41

Gia groaned in pain as she pushed her arms into the cardigan Carla had brought for her. Her whole body ached and her head throbbed with pain with every move she made. She still couldn't stand because of how dizzy she would get. Every time Daniel saw her lean against the bed or the door to support herself, his insides twisted in rage. He wanted to strangle Dante with his own two hands for ever touching Gia.

"I can do it on my own," Gia said as Daniel reached out to help her put on the cardigan.

"Not really," Daniel took her arm and guided it to the sleeve. "Ready?"

Gia nodded. She gripped the handles on the hospital bed and slowly rose to her feet, not trusting her legs to hold her up. Daniel hovered with his arms ready to catch her.

"I need some space," Gia sighed. "Just step back a bit."

"You're going to fall," Daniel said, watching her feet.

"No, I'm not going to fall!" Gia sucked her teeth.

Stubbornly, she pushed away from the bed and turned towards the wheelchair. She hated the sight of the nasty thing. It brought back memories of having to spend months on it, just sitting at home while her leg healed after her accident. It was unbearable torture.

"I hate this thing," Gia said quietly.

"I could carry you," Daniel offered.

The icy cold glare Gia shot towards him wiped the small smile off his lips.

"Why are you here?" Gia asked, sitting down on the wheelchair. "My family is here now. You can leave."

"I'm not leaving you," Daniel placed his hands on the wheelchair handles and unlocked the wheels. He turned the chair towards the door and began to push.

"You're not needed here," Gia said. "Or wanted."

"Really?" Daniel laughed. "I had no idea I wasn't wanted here."

Gia didn't bother replying. Every word she spoke to him just made her angrier. He refused to leave the hospital. Even after Maria, Carla, and Mario came to stay with Gia, Daniel would not leave the room. He was constantly by her side, his dark brown eyes muddy with guilt and heartache.

After two days of strict orders from the doctor to not get out of bed, Gia was finally allowed to go visit her brother two floors down. From what she was told, Luca faded in and out of consciousness since his surgery. Daisy was with him and Gia was dying to see them both. She didn't even care that Daniel was going along with her. When they arrived at the 3rd floor of the hospital, Gia held her breath as the wheelchair turned towards Luca's room.

"Can you please wait outside?" Gia asked Daniel as they paused outside the closed door.

Daniel hesitated but he understood he could't push her too much. He nodded his head with a grim look on his face.

"I'll wait outside," he said.

Gia grabbed the handles on the wheelchair and began to stand up. She could see Daniel stepping forward to stop her from the corner of her eyes. His feet turned towards her and his hands reached out.

"No," Gia pulled back as if she was scared he would shock her. "I got this."

Daniel lowered his hand and stepped back. He knocked twice before turning the knob and opening the door. Daisy, who had been drifting in and out of sleep beside Luca's bed, looked up and scowled. Her blonde hair stuck up from the static on the pillow like a furious kitten. Her hazel eyes were murderous as she pressed her lips into a thin line.