Chapter 242 (SASHA) We settle in and I even have what Darla calls a “restorative nap,” although my mind is too busy for much of it to let me sleep. When I finally do, I have dreams—nightmares, really. All the anxieties running around in my subconscious coming to the fore.
Chapter 241 (TYLER) As expected, Sasha immediately starts objecting to the single bed squeezed in alongside the usual four-poster king in our bedroom. Gloria, has even thoughtfully put a plastic stool with rubber feet into the shower, so Sasha can sit on it instead of stand, although I keep that
Chapter 240 (TYLER) It’s a strange thing to be coming to Chester, of all places, for protection while Sasha recovers. Sasha and I weren’t here when Marco’s house was raided, but I heard graphic tales about it from Aidan. “Gloria’s used to this kind of thing,” I point out. “And
Chapter 239 (SASHA) After they’ve all trooped by the bed, kissed my ring, muttered words for my long life, and given blessings, the master bedroom begins to feel a little cramped. Luigi, Giulio, and Miles are on one side of my bed. Marco is taking up more of the room
Chapter 238 (SASHA) Luigi looks as nervous as I suppose should be expected, given the way we left things just before I got filled with lead. He stands at the foot of my bed, his hands clasped behind his back, and bows his head. “Don Sasha,” he greets me, standing
Chapter 237 (SASHA) I have a hazy sensation of being half-carried, half-dragged back up the stairs by my uncle on one side and Tyler on the other, neither of them saying a word, just breathing heavily until they get me back into bed. Marco is the first one to speak
Chapter 236 (TYLER) “I can stretch the pancake batter if you need,” Fabio peeps. He’s a sweet kid, but he would really never going to make a gangster. I follow Marco back through to the door, where Giulio is blocking it, hands up on the frame, leaning out a little
Chapter 235 (TYLER) In the end, we don’t even make it to the next morning in the hospital. We sneak out in the middle of the night like criminals, or something. I don’t mind. I want to get out of the hospital as soon as we can, and Sasha wanted
Chapter 234 (SASHA) “Let’s leave the discussion for tonight,” I say at once. “Give Miles time to mull it over, eh? There’s no rush. I can stay in here another few nights p> Tyler turns his irritation onto me. “You’re the one who wanted to get this figured out. So
Chapter 233 (SASHA) “So you’re saying you know nothing, saw nothing, heard nothing—” Burgess asks. “Detective,” I say, with exaggerated politeness, “as you’re well aware yourself, I was unconscious for most of the proceedings p> Burgess is sitting very close to me. Each question she’s asked has been rapid-fire, demanding,
Chapter 232 (SASHA) I shift in the bed, expecting pain, but I find it bearable. I don’t like the heavy feeling in my head from the painkillers, though. “Any advice for the other thorns in my side? It’s been a long time since I’ve had someone I could trust to
Chapter 231 (SASHA) I’m beginning to come around to Tyler’s way of thinking: hospitals are to be avoided. Certainly the non-private wards, like this one I’ve been put into now. When Tyler rakes the curtain across dramatically, like an actor making an entrance on stage, I almost smile—but after what
Chapter 230 (TYLER) Upstairs, the hospital is operating with a skeleton staff as the threat level has still not been officially cleared. Three heavily-armed cops are waiting in the reception area, but Darla hides us away in a disused staffroom while Sasha is looked over by one of the doctors
Chapter 229 (TYLER) When it stops, I still have the gun to my head, and my hand is definitely shaking more now. Somehow, I’m still alive. “The boss told me you got over that death wish of yours,” says a familiar voice. “Still comes in handy from time to time,”
Chapter 228 (TYLER) We wait in the silence, just wait there to be found. I try to calm my breathing, try to match the slow pace of Sasha’s, try to think. If they need Sasha alive, Burgess and Marco might have a chance to take out the shooters before they
Chapter 227 (TYLER) I’m leaning over Sasha’s shoulder to check on him, wheezing in his ear like some decrepit—pushing the weight of a wheelchair plus Sasha up a slope is quite a fucking work out—when there’s an explosion up ahead, the blast waves strong enough to flatten even Marco against
Chapter 226 (SASHA) “You sure know a lot about it for someone who doesn’t have a clue who’s coming for him,” Darla snaps, but she’s already moving to check the hallway. “Fucking finally,” she sighs, as the alarm cuts down in volume. “Move it,” she shouts down the hall to
Chapter 225 (SASHA) Detective Burgess has been snapping at my heels for a moment and now, she seems to have persuaded her overlords to grant an arrest warrant against me. Now that I am grounded, I know that it will just be a matter of time before they find charges
Chapter 224 (SASHA) Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, we are not alone the next time I wake up. “Eyyy Sasha.” Something out of the shadows looms over me, and a hand taps against my cheek. I squint at the craggy face in front of me, and even though he is an
Chapter 223 (SASHA) The next time that I wake up, it feels like much less of an effort. Unlike the usual when someone could be shining a light into my eyes, I’m staring at Tyler’s pretty face. I smile, and wince when my lips crack. Tyler disappears for a while