Page 141 of Never Say Never

I didn't wait. Jogging down the hallway, I opened the door and let myself in. Navy and Nyra were already there, Benito sitting in the corner as he watched them question a spacey Paolo.

I smiled and laid a hand on both their heads. "Girls, let me check on him, okay?"

"Okay. Get better, Paolo," Nyra said.

"Yeah. We wanna play again," Navy added.

They each hugged him. I watched the grimace plague his face, but he grunted and smiled when they sat back up. Both of them hugged me, and I gave them a kiss before sending them off to play. Once upon a time, I wouldn't have let them out of my sight in a house full of gangsters, but I knew right now they were in the safest place they could ever be in.

"You're still alive," I said after staring at Paolo for what felt like forever.

"Are you happy about that or not?" he asked.

I crossed the space to the bed and popped him square in the forehead. "Don't wake up saying stupid shit," I growled.

Paolo smiled up at me. "Sorry. Had to be sure." He reached out and took my hand. "God, it's good to feel you again."

"I missed you," I blurted out.

"Not me. I've been seeing you since my eyes closed."

Our lips found each other's and I didn't want to let him go. I pressed my forehead against his, my heart squeezing tightly as he looked back at me. Words failed me. I had never felt so much sitting so close to anyone but him.

Someone cleared their throat. Both Paolo and I looked to the right at the same time, and Benito stared back at us with a raised brow. Sheepishly, I tried to pull away, but Paolo grabbed my hand harder and yanked me into bed with him. I carefully navigated his IV line and sat close to him. There was no way he would let me go anyway.

"I'm going to go, just wanted to make sure you were okay first," Benito said as he stood up and adjusted his jacket.

"How are things?" Paolo asked, his voice scratchy.

I reached over and grabbed a water bottle. Opening it, I held it to his lips and he drank a bit down before he groaned. He smiled at me before Benito stole his attention again.

"The city is still in shambles, but we're getting things under control. I have a meeting with the new head of the Triads and the Aceto’s."

I stiffened. "Really?"

He shrugged. "This is how things are done. However, it's one of Qiang's younger sons and a cousin from the Aceto family who will be taking his place. Each of them just wants to put this whole thing behind us and come up with a peaceful cease fire. Everyone is sick of the blood."

"I'm surprised any of them are sick of murder."

Benito shrugged once more. "Blood isn't good for business, Agent Washington. All that fighting has wreaked havoc on our finances. We all just want to get back to work."

Work is a funny way of putting it. More like committing felonies, but whatever.

"I know that judgemental look," Paolo mumbled. "York does not approve."

Benito grunted. "That can't be helped. You're the one that wants to date a fed."

"Yeah." Paolo grinned up at me. "I do."

"I'm getting out of here before I vomit," Benito muttered. "I swear all of you give me indigestion."

"See you soon!" Paolo called. As soon as Benito was gone, he pulled me down to him. "It's so good to see the real you. And to see you being all badass. As soon as my dick works again, and I'm not full of drugs, I'm fucking you. Or getting fucked. Whichever sounds more fun. Both, definitely both."

I grabbed his cheeks as he rambled on. "Stop. Talking."

Paolo chuckled. "There's the man I know and love."

My heart flip-flopped. "I love you too."