LUXURE

20. THE CALM BEFORE

The next morning I woke up in an insane amount of pain around 10am. I groaned as I attempted to get out of bed without aggravating my ribs. I grabbed the container of pills on my bedside table and popped a few in my mouth before downing them in water. Hopefully those would kick in soon. I slowly got out of bed, still wearing Giovanni's clothes, and made my way to the bathroom.

"Sweetie? What are you doing home this late?" I heard my moms voice, she sounded concerned. She was somewhere in the kitchen and must have heard my door open because she couldn't see me yet.

"Um, it's a long story..." I said as I slowly continued my way to the bathroom. She peeked her head around the corner and I saw her eyes go wide and her jaw drop.

"Oh my god! What happened?!" She rushed over to me, moving faster than I've ever seen her move ever since she got sick. "Sit!" She commanded. I nodded and sat on the couch behind me. She leaned over and inspected my face as she turned my head to the side so she could get a better look. "Explain yourself, now." She sounded angry, but also upset.

"Well, I went out last night. Um..." I picked at the skin on my fingers to avoid her gaze. "It took a turn for the worse and some men tried assaulting me." I could feel my heart rate speeding up with anxiety. "Um, Giovanni actually rescued me, he took me to the hospital, I've got some broken ribs, a bruised hip, and my beautiful cheek." I laughed sarcastically, she didn't appreciate my laugh though. I let out a small sigh.

"My goodness, sweetie! They could have really hurt you!" I saw her tears threatening to overflow.

"I'm okay! Really, I'll be fine. Giovanni just happened to find me and he took me to his doctor!" I tried to give her my most reassuring voice. A few tears slipped down her cheek, I gave her a smile and reassured her that I was fine before I waddled into the bathroom.

I looked at myself in the mirror and literally flinched at my reflection. My cheek was swollen and bruised surrounding the cut, and the gash was at least an inch long but had butterfly stitches holding it together. I lifted my shirt up slowly to reveal a frightening purple bruise covering half my side. I groaned and slid the sweatpants down my hip to reveal a dark purple bruise starting to form on my hip.

When I was finished in the bathroom I slowly walked back to the bedroom.

"Sweetie, go lay down, I'll bring you some food." I heard my mom call from the kitchen.

I obeyed her commands and walked into my bedroom, as soon as I sat down on the bed my phone started ringing on the night table next to me. I jumped a little, startled at the ringing. I winced in pain and cursed under my breath before I grabbed the phone. Giovanni's name spread across the screen.

"Hey." I said into the phone after answering the call, a small smile spreading across my face instinctively.

"How do you feel today?" His voice was extra husky, I think he must have just woken up.

"Like a beaten piece of shit." I sarcastically laughed in the phone.

"Do you need anything? I can bring you food."

"I'm okay, don't worry about me." I smiled into the phone. His kindness was really pulling on my heartstrings.

"Well, I was calling to let you know that I talked to McConnor, he agreed to give you as much time as needed to heal, paid."

"How did you do that? What the fuck?" I was shocked, how did he have Mr. McConnor wrapped around his finger?

"I have my ways, now remember our deal, quit the coffee shop." He sounded stern. "Oh yeah" I said, remembering I still had that second job. I guess I needed to call them...