The Body #4: Nico and Cosi

Chapter 26 (Nico): Headed Straight For Hell

***TW for vivid descriptions of torture and violence***

Copyright © 2024 by GroveltoHEA

"Nico, you must need to work. You've been sitting beside me for almost two weeks."

"There's nothing pressing that can't wait, Costanza."

Your step-father can wait a long fucking time and ponder his slow and excruciating death.

I studied my wife's face as she sat up in her hospital bed. Her color was better, but she still was in pain and the circles under her eyes were purple. Recovery was slower because Costanza was refusing pain meds. I'd argued with her about it but she flatly refused. She would agree to some Tylenol, but that was it, and it wasn't doing much.

Fed up with me trying to cajole her to take something that was stronger, she finally snapped at me. Maybe it was the pain speaking or maybe it was the betrayal she felt at what I'd done...or maybe it was both. 

"What are you going to do about it, Nico? Shove some pills in chocolates and force-feed them to me without my knowledge and consent?"

I knew I deserved that, but it still stung.

"I will never do that to you again, Costanza," I said calmly. "I promise you that."

"What if you decided it was better I not know? What if you thought it was to protect me?"

"I still wouldn't. I'll talk over everything with you now."

"So you say, but haven't you wondered why the girls are bringing me food? It's because I trust them not to put anything in there for my own good."

I knew Costanza had good aim, but her pointed barbs were hitting her target. Me.

"You do what you need to do so you feel safe. Until you feel safe with me again."

Her face changed to reflect her sadness. "That's the thing, Nico. I always thought I was safe with you. And then I found out you were feeding me birth control for five years for my own good. You were letting me think I couldn't have this, would never experience this." 

She rubbed her bump, looking down at it sadly.

"I thought we were working through that, Costanza," I said gently.

"I thought we were, too, I was really trying to...to make it OK, but this brought it all back up."

I pressed a quick kiss to her lips.

"You be as mad at me for as long as you want. I'll be right here, trying to show you that you can trust me. I'm not going anywhere, and I'll take whatever you want to throw at me."

Her beautiful eyes looked up at me. "I don't want to throw anything at you, Nico."

"That's disappointing," I said. "I've seen you throw your knives at me, Costanza, and I'd kind of love for you to throw them at me again."

"You don't mind what I can do, Nico?"

"Costanza, the only thing I ever mind is not being able to protect you. I think you're a motherfucking warrior, and male or female, what you can do with knives is fucking impressive and unmatched for skill. After you have the baby, I know you're going to be busy with setting up your networking crew, but I'm hoping you can find some time to teach my men how to do what you do."

For the first time in almost two weeks, my wife smiled a bit. 

It was a start. I planned to bring her ready smile back, and I had some ideas on how to bring back her trust in me as well.