Dangerous In Black (two)

Three

Arturo

Arturo felt sore, everywhere and he groaned in response, trying to find his bearings he opened his eyes and took in the contents of the unfamiliar room. Fuck, he muttered as he immediately sat up quickly causing a trembling pain to flow down his back straight to his toes. He was bareback and the stab wound on his side was taken care of and he narrowed his eyes at the professional stitches.
What the hell? He hadn't been to a hospital?

Arturo winced as he attempted to stand up and find his things.
"Looking for these?"
He whipped his head to the sound of the voice and his eyes raked over the the beautiful woman he thought he'd seen in a dream. She was tall and slender of African American decent with the most beautiful tan skin that resembled a sandy brown and dark hair that fell in spring curls onto her shoulders. Her almond shaped brown eyes were staring bullets into him. Her lips in a frown, "You really shouldn't be going anywhere,"

Arturo narrowed his eyes at her, "I need to leave."
"Why?" The beautiful woman asked crossing her arms over her chest giving Arturo a look.
"It's complicated but I do need my clothes now."
"What if I refuse?"
Arturo scoffed, "Thank you, really, for helping me but I do need to go now."
He saw her nod and purse her lips, "Alright come and get it."

Arturo took that as a challenge and attempted to take a step towards her but he only winced and became unsteady failing miserably by falling right back onto the couch.
The woman gave him a knowing look before speaking, "You need to rest. What your body went through last night was traumatic."
"I've had worse." Arturo muttered under his breath and if she'd heard him she didn't mention it.
"What I'm getting at is you need rest."

"What time is it?" He asked worriedly.
"Around ten in the morning."
Shit, "Can I borrow your phone?" He asked quickly.
He watched as she nodded and went somewhere to come back and handed him her iPhone.
"Thank you." He said as he typed in Allegro's number.
It only took two rings before he answered and Arturo breathed into the phone, "Hello?"
"Allegro."

"Fuck it's Arturo! Where are you, you asshole!" His brother screamed into the phone.
Arturo gave the woman staring at him a wary look before replying in Italian.
"I was injured really badly, but someone took me in and treated my injuries. I'm okay now. I'm sorry, I wasn't able to get the package."
" You shit head!" Allegro announced, "You should have left! Alessando told me what you did! Never do it again, you know your safety is the most important thing."
"fine." Arturo rolled his eyes.

"Were you followed? When can you leave? Do you want someone to come and pick you up?" Arturo smirked at his worried older brother.
"I wasn't followed," at least he didn't think he was, "No don't send anyone, I'll let you know when."
"Alright." Allegro replied before hanging up the phone, Arturo could tell he wanted to ask why but refrained.
"Thank you." He handed the phone back to the woman giving her a curt nod before he saw her dig in her back pocket.
He watched in curiosity as she suddenly pulled out his knife.

"Arturo." She muttered cautiously and Arturo narrowed his eyes at her, getting defensive.
"Who are you?"
"Did they send you to get me?" His overactive imagination had made him paranoid.
Arturo's mind was reeling at the possibilities that the men who'd hurt him had sent this woman to return him to them. He gulped, regretting not telling Allegro to come and get him.
Arturo looked at the woman's bewildered expression, "What are you talking about?"

"Who do you work for?" His voice was steel.
Arturo watched as confusing lit up her face, "I'm a doctor at the Martin King Hospital."
Arturo narrowed his eyes at her, that would explain how she was able to take care of him so well.
"I should be asking you all the questions! No ID on you and you're left on the side of the road for dead?"
Arturo suddenly realized he was being ridiculous but he could never be too careful.

"What exactly happened to you?" She asked.
Arturo shook his head, "It doesn't matter now,"
"-but....." she was about to rebut but he cut her off.
"What's your name?" His attempt to change the topic as had worked as she answered his question.
"Dallas."
Arturo extended his hand, "Nice to meet you Dallas."
He saw a small smile fill her lips, "Nice to meet you too."
She took a curious look at his outstretched hand before shaking it and Arturo almost gasped in shock at the way her tender hand felt in his, like it was meant to be there.

Arturo shook his head, he knew the rules.

He saw her surprise when he let go and she bit her lip nervously, Arturo grinned.
"How long have you been a doctor?"
Dallas suddenly lit up, "For the past six years but only three of them I've spent working at Martin King hospital."
Her eyes narrowed to the knife she'd given back to him that he was now flipping around his finger skillfully.
"What do you do?" She asked.
"I run a family business with my brothers."

Dallas nodded her head, "What do you sell?"
"It's more of an entrepreneurship. We own multiple casinos here and in Italy."
What he told her wasn't a lie, they did own at least six casinos in the United States and seven in Italy but the mafia was part of the underground operation; the dangerous side of things that they dealt with.
Arturo suddenly looked at the woman before him and pursed his lips, she was beautiful for sure and Arturo knew then and there, he was going to take care of her; maybe watch over her from afar because bringing her back to the compound was not an option unless he was sure, unless she was sure, of him.

But he didn't have time to think of that, he just needed to get well and return home. He wondered what Allegro was planning, by now, the guys they'd raided had realized they had a Martini in their possession, whom they let get away and Arturo was sure they'd be scouting the perimeter for him. Arturo couldn't let them find him or Dallas and as the beautiful woman sat beside him to change his bandages, he suddenly wished she hadn't helped him in the first place.

"Hello! Open up right now!"
"Open up or I'm coming in!"
Arturo had gone cold and the grip Dallas held on his arm suddenly tightened.