Tommasso

*Joseph*

I talked to Santino with everyone surrounding me, including Sandra. I didnt want her to worry anymore, I had put her through enough. I held back my reactions and temper the best I could. He called to tell me that most of his men are good with a sit down, except, his brother Tommasso. He was close to Luca. The way Santino explained him was old school, angry, and just as crazy as the man who shot me. "We fight for a long time Smoke. He's testardo or eh, You call it willfull. He is an older sibling, and he wont listen to me." I could hear the fear and worry in his poor grammer. He had a slight shakiness to his voice. It wasnt angst. He sounded completely unstable. Yelling for a time before trying to talk calmly to me again. I could tell he wasnt sure which side he wanted to be on. We decided to meet a few days later. "I am fine with that Santino. I need some time to heal, atleast a few days. I will not be in the city for a while. Please respect the time. I dont want to have war." I said as calmly as possible while stroking Sandra's hand with my thumb. She looked over at me like she was looking right through me. I wasnt trying to lie to her; I was trying to protect her. After we hung up I gave the others a stare that told them I didnt want to talk about it right now. No one spoke. I looked down smiling at her and asked if she was ready to go home. She was searching for something in my eyes, "What did he say?" She wasnt going to let it go. "Nothing bad darling, he was just telling me that he had a meeting with his men. Everything will calm down. I promise. Usually this is flat out boring. Just business as usual." I felt myself running out of air so I took a slow breath in. I didnt want her to be afraid I should stay in the hospital. I had to get back to my office. "Unfortunately, it seems we might have to stay in the city for a few days." I said looking around at the disappointed on everyones faces as I spoke. Everyone liked the country house better.

I had to have help climbing in to the SUV, which frustrated me. I am not a person who likes to need help with anything. Sandra was determined to have Jay and Zeus help me though. She is such a natural nurturer. I started to think about what a great mother she will be one day. It made my face get hot, and my heart start to beat faster. I had never thought about kids before. I found myself picturing it now. I thought about how many times I had been inside of her and not thought about the chances of pregnancy. Even the first time, I was so focused on her, on wanting her, that I didnt think about the consequences. She hadnt gotten pregnant and now I found myself wondering why. I cant believe we have never even had that conversation. I have been so irresponsible when it comes to that. I wanted her to be mine so bad that I didnt even think about any of the big things. It was tunnel vision and she was the beautiful light at the end. I took a deep breath in, which hurt, bringing me back to reality. Making a mental note to talk to her about this later, I wrapped my arm around her tightly. "God I missed you my Sunshine." I said in her ear. The little hairs on her neck standing to attention at the sound of my voice. She didnt speak, just made a small sound, a soft moan making me want her more. I smiled at her and kissed her on her forehead. The doc had sent me some pain meds, but I didnt really want to take them unless I had to. I started to wonder if I could take her if I did. The lengths I would go to just to feel her wrapped around me were endless. It was one of my favorite things. Other than when she told me she loved me of course. I still feel like it was a dream. How could something so soft, and pure, love something as dark and broken as me? She looked at me smiling big, "What you thinking about in there handsome?" she asked pointing to my head. "Thinking about being inside of you" I said softly so no one else would hear me smiling micheiviously. She slowly shook her head no, but I watched her chest start to rise and fall in that rythmn that always tells me she was wanting. "No boss, none of that. You have to heal," she smiled at me before leaning her head into my chest. I sat there thanking God that she was sitting beside me, that I was able to be there at all.

When we arrived at the city house there was a lot of brothers hanging around. I told Zeus while I was getting out that I wanted it cleared out some for a few days. Until I know whats going to happen with the peak atleast. He nodded and headed off to talk to one of our higher members in our city house. I walked into the building standing tall, with my face set in my usual cold position. This time I held on to my queen the whole time. I demand respect always, but now I demand respect for her as well. Period. One of the guards asked for Jay as we walked by and he stopped. We all had placed comms back in before exciting the vehicle per protocal, and Im glad. I could listen to the guard with Jay without having to stand there. I was hurting after moving so much since being in bed. I walked to my office and sat down in my computer chair. The guard was telling Jay we had a few Peak guys in the city today, but they seemed to all leave abruptly. I hope they stay gone. After catching my breath, I asked Henry to make everyone a nice dinner. He nodded and walked back out of the office. I noticed something was off about him since we got back, so I thought I would keep him busy. "I think he wanted to go to the country house boss. That is where he left Takara." Sandra said walking around the desk and looking down at me like she knew exactly what I was thinking. I smiled and grabbed her hand tightly pulling her down to me. I kissed her hard, gabbing her face between my hands, ignoring the growing pain in my side. She broke away panting in to my mouth. "Ill have a guard bring her here if he wants me to baby." I was panting as well. "Thank you Joseph." she said softly, still trying to catch her breath. I pulled her back to me, kissing her again. She pushed away from me and walked to the other side of the desk. "I wont hurt you boss. You will have to wait until Doc gives appoval." She said but I could see how disappointed she was I couldnt please her. "I want you to take my pain away." I said with a half smile. She shook her head no fast. "Nope." I tried to stand up but couldnt, I had let the pain get too intense. She walked over to me and grabbed my pills from my bag. "C'mon old man, you need your pill." she said with a giggle. She thought she was funny. when she bent over to put the bottle back I got a good smack on her ass. She yelped. "I am not an old man." I said in my most dominate voice. She bit her bottom lip and nodded. "I wont always be hurting darling, and then I will show you how old I am." I said with a growl. She walked over to my small fridge to grab a water bottle. "I am counting on it boss." She said im a sultry voice that spoke straight to my shaft. Damn, I need to heal quick.

After dinner we all sat in my office talking. Henry told me he wanted to let Takara have a break for a day or so before bringing her back to the city. He gave Sandra her new cell number so she could text or call her if she wanted to. "I cant wait to talk to her." She said gleaming before looking at Henry's distaught look. "What's wrong chef?" She asked walking up and grabbing his hand. "I had to call my psych for her. She is severely traumatized. She kneeled in front of me and begged me to take her life. Those peak fucks really messed her up a lot. She is being monitored at the country house, but Helen thinks she may have to be put inside the ward for a while. I dont know her that well and I dont know why i feel so attached to her?" She hugged him immediately. He had tears coming from his eyes and for one of the first times I realized how hard these past months have been on all my men. Not just me and my queen. When all of this is over I am taking them to a beach somewhere. We are leaving New York for a while. I stood up slowly and walked over to my brother. I dont usually show affection to them, not like this. I grabbed him around the shoulders and told him to go. "I cant leave now bro, I know shit isnt right." He was cautious of what he said in front of Sandra. "Go. You may barely know her, " I said grabbing my girl around the waist, "but if my queen was hurting nothing would matter more to me. I want you to go. Its an order." I said a little more stern. He nodded at me, hugged Sandra, and walked out taking the keys to the new car. Sandra spun around and smiled up at me with tears in her eyes. "You are amazing Smoke." She said leaning up to kiss me. "You are amazing, my queen." I said as she helped me walk back to my office chair. It was dark out now so I text Henry to tell me when he made it safely to the country house. Jay was patrolling with the other guards, and Zeus was with Tanya. I turned to look at Sandra and decided since we were alone, now was the time to talk. "I want to talk to you about a few things, darlin."