fight with.
Unless you were his wife or his daughter. His biological one. I got to tease Arturo Amatucci, but I never argued with him. Not in public.
While I knew how they made their money and status, I preferred their dealings to the ones my biological parents traded in. The Amatuccis were upfront and quite honest in their dishonesty. I never knew where I stood with my own parents. I couldn’t imagine how their business partners felt.
Rafe knocked on Tali’s door as I accessed my own. “She’s back.”
Tali’s door whipped open, showcasing my sister in all but blood. Her cotton robe hung loosely from her frame. She must have gone home alone tonight. Otherwise the slut gear would be in evidence. Her cotton shorts and tank top looked like heaven.
I was already jealous. “Well come on in. Just bring the lasagna.” I hurried through my front door and through the open space of my loft. Everything was out in plain view except the bedroom and bathroom. Those were sectioned off behind frosted glass walls. I had curtains on the inside I could pull for more privacy if I wanted them, but I usually just left them open. I needed the sun, the openness.
I passed through the sliding glass door of my bedroom and headed straight for the closet near the back left corner. Stripped my borrowed clothes off as I went. The shirt I was wearing wasn’t nearly as large as the pants. And it certainly smelled better as well.
Bubble gum and mint.
I bunched the cloth up to my face, took a deep inhale. Dreams floated through my mind. “I’m a chew ‘em up and spit ‘em out kind of guy.” I didn’t quite recognize the voice, but it brought a burgeoning heat to my core.
“Chase, you good?” Tali asked from my bedroom door.
I dropped the shirt, pushed the dreams away. I don’t recall ever having that kind of discussion. Let alone with a man who smelled like a minty gumball. “Yeah. Just getting changed.” I untied the knot in the sweatpants and let them drop to the floor.
I turned, hit the light. A tall mirror stood opposite me, leaning against the wall. I sucked in a breath at the sight of the bruises that bisected my thighs. At least a foot wide, they covered both of my thighs from edge to edge.
The middle of the bruises was a nasty blackish purple color that would have made a great evening dress shade. But punched into my skin, it kind of made me want to curl up in a ball and scream.
The colors eased into a lavender color near the outer edges. I ran my fingers over the discolored skin. Heat pumped from it. Without thinking about it, I pressed my fingertips into the abused tissue.
Pain, sharp and heady, bloomed. My eyes fluttered shut as my body swayed. I raised my hand from my leg. Tali was going to burst in here in moments. I couldn’t be seen causing myself pain.
They didn’t understand. To them, all pain was bad. All bad, all the time. Not so for me.
I also knew it made them uncomfortable that I had a more complicated relationship with it. So, for their sakes, I kept a lid on it. Or tried to.
I turned and grabbed a pair of yoga shorts and a sports bra. Slipped them on over my nakedness. The shorts were the most comfortable things I owned and wouldn’t put any undue stress or restriction on my healing legs.
I made my way back out to the living space. Rafe and Tali were watching my door as I came out. Rafe looked me up and down. Winced when he saw my legs.
Tali burst into tears.
I hurried, as much as possible, and pulled her into my arms. I petted a hand down her hair as she wept against my chest. “This isn’t your fault, Tali. It’s just a stupid accident. I’m sorry.”
I’d known she was going to blame herself. She usually did. But this had been my own fault. Plain and simple. I was as protective of Tali as her brothers, even if I didn’t express it the same way. I had yet to add to a body count. Unless one counted the damaged sperm on countless men. Those possible murders numbered in the millions, I’d be willing to bet.
After a moment, she quieted. Pulled back in my arms, searched my gaze. “Rafe said you don’t remember everything after you escaped the room.”
I shook my head and wiped