◆ Bruised and Pained ◆

◇ KEL ◇

5:59AM

"Miles just told me. He said Leo beat you up but you won't go to the hospital."

"Sto bene."

[I'm fine.]

I stared at the guy standing near the couch and avoiding my face.  I frowned at his lie.  When he didn't say anything else, I glanced around the dim guest room.

Berto, his bodyguard, just stepped outside to give us privacy, which meant I could say whatever was on my mind.  I had patched up Nicco hours ago, but when I'd heard about what happened to Enzo, my adrenaline just shot back up.

The likelihood of seeing Leandro again didn't terrify me—what scared me way more was the possibility of Lorenzio sustaining some bone fractures, a concussion, or internal hemorrhage due to multiple physical injuries.  His abrasions, grunts, reddish swollen nose and lips, slumped posture and frequent limping were enough signs.

"Don't lie to my face." I dismissed the pang in my chest after Enzo groaned in pain as he slowly settled in the couch.  We were in one of the Falcos' guest rooms, alone.

Some dried blood stayed on his knuckle, below his nose, and on the side of his lip.  He couldn't speak well, too.  His voice turned nasal and his intakes of breath sounded strained whenever he would move his upper body.

It instantly reminded me of that day we first met.  Here in the same estate.  It was like déjà vu—and the worst kind.

"No. Grazie. Sono a posto." Enzo glanced at me but mostly focused on his phone.  His hair looked tousled and he now wore a clean gray shirt.

[No. Thanks. I'm fine.]

I imagined his bodyguard had to help him change into clean clothes to get rid of the bloodstained shirt he'd been wearing before I tracked him down.  "Stop lying." I stood closer to Enzo and scowled again.  Minding his pretense, I had to show him I was darned serious about getting him proper medical attention. "Are you dizzy?"

"Already took painkillers." Enzo winced another time while he slowly reclined on the couch.   "I'll sleep it off," he murmured with a scrunched face.  The pinkish bruising around his eye, knuckles, and arms indicated just how bad his psychotic brother hurt him.  But it was obvious Enzo was trying his best to play it down.

My sigh got loud as my attention solely focused on his face.  The brownish spot on his cheek and above his jaw must be what Miles noticed earlier.  Miles had asked me if I'd noticed Enzo's bruises.  I just realized now under better lighting that they were indeed brownish-purplish.  Days-old bruises.

Were they Leandro's doing as well?  If so, then the bastard had been hurting Lorenzio for a while now.  Part of me badly wanted to know why, but I also knew that Enzo wouldn't want to elaborate on why his own brother was assaulting him every chance he could get.

That evil prick.  Always hurting people.  It made my blood simmer, but it wasn't that surprising anymore.

"Go to bed," Enzo muttered with a dismissive hand gesture.  He looked and sounded like he just wanted to shoo me out of the guest room.

"What kind of painkillers?"

"It's nothing. I'll live." The guy put his phone on his lap and closed his eyes.  Even yawning seemed to hurt him.  Enzo slowly placed his bloodstained forearm on his thigh, then curbed the urge to swear, perhaps to convince me his injuries weren't as serious as I feared.

Defensive wounds, most likely.  Thin bandages now covered most of his right hand.  They seemed fresh with small red stains around his knuckle.  His bodyguards or the Falcos' maids must have cleaned up the mess. "Enzo, let me see."

"I'm fine. Go home."

Go home? Barely five minutes since I found him alone again and he already wanted me to go away?  "Let me see."

"He just had too much to drink."

Too much to drink?  "Seriously?" I scoffed.  Not for a second did I believe Leandro did this to him just because he forgot his alcohol limit.  "Lift your shirt." Maintaining my stiff posture, I stood before him and waited.

Enzo was hiding the proof beneath his clothes.  His limping, slouching and muttered swearing told me much.  For a moment, he stayed completely still on the couch, his bruised eyes now closed.  Was he pretending he only needed a nap to make the pain go away?

Fine.  I'd do the inspection without his permission.  I knelt before him, eager to help and make sure of some things, my hands now starting to sweat.  My eyes centered on his fully covered midsection.

The painful memories Leandro left in my noggin'...still quite fresh.  But definitely, Enzo got much worse—he might even have a few fractured ribs.  Leandro liked punching and kicking people in the gut.  First hit and I'd just doubled over, if memory served me well.

With caution, I leaned forward till my thighs touched Enzo's shin, imagining some bruises and abrasions on his knees.  I lifted the hem of his shirt.

Dear God...  More bruises.  Just as I'd suspected.  Pinkish streaks trailed across his upper abdomen.  The other contusions were already turning red, suggesting his brother was definitely out of control.  Unfortunately Enzo just had to put up with it.

My heart sank.  I knew the feeling all too well.  His brother just loved flaunting his rank in the clan, apparently. Even to his own flesh and blood. That soulless creep. He should be imprisoned. For all of eternity.

"Just go home."

"What?"  I narrowed my eyes at him.

"I'll get better." Enzo gently pushed my hands away and cleared his throat.

"You need medical attention."  How would he get better if he didn't want to get help?

"Thanks for checking up on me."

"I'll drag you to the car if I have to. Get up."  I shook my head, got up, and sighed to show my disappointment and genuine concern.  Fine if he didn't want my help, but he'd never hear the end of it till he quit procrastinating going to the emergency room.

"They're just bruises."

"You could have broken bones." My voice got louder as I tried to get a grip on my growing anger. "You think I'll just leave you here like that?"

"I'll sleep it off."

"Enzo! You could be having a concussion." I glared at him.  "Don't make this difficult. We're going to the ER."

"I don't care. Just go home."

I stood in front of him, biting back a curse while I covered my mouth with my hand.  Jeez...  Why wouldn't he just go to the hospital with me?  I couldn't care less if he wanted to suffer alone in here and die.  "Are you pushing me away 'cause Leo might know I'm here or  you're just pushing me away?"

"Just leave."  Lorenzio glanced at me with a droopy gaze. His long lashes hid half of his bloodshot eye.  His tone sounded void of life now.  "Stay away. From me. All this."

"Just go to the hospital. Please."

"Sorry for everything. Just go home and stay away," he murmured in a hoarse voice, his brows furrowed.  The whole room fell unbearably silent for a moment as I waited for him to say more and explain why he wanted me gone.  "You deserve better. A normal life."

"That ship's sailed, Lorenzio. Been stuck in this mess months ago." I stared at his scruffy face while he tried to avoid my eyes again.  What he said made me scowl again—he wouldn't even listen to me.

Did he want to die?  He might pass out right here, right now from complications caused by his injuries.  But he insisted to be left alone.

"You want to die tonight?" I glared at his nonchalant expression, my fists clenching, my nails digging into my palms.  "Don't be cocky. Stop pretending."

"Just go home," the guy muttered. "Worry about you.  I'll live."

Crap. He wasn't gonna budge. Stubborn as heck. Stupid and reckless.  While I stayed standing in front of him, Enzo kept his eyes shut as though he couldn't stand to look at me any longer.

Did he hate me now? Why?  I just wanted to help.  He was blatantly pushing me away again.  Like he really wanted me gone.

My tears came rushing down my cheeks before I could guess the answer.  My heavy heart made it difficult for me to breathe, too.  "Please, Lorenzio. We have to go."

"Cazzo." Enzo sighed out loud when he saw me wiping off more tears with my palms.  "Bellezza..."

[Fuck.]

"Let's get it checked."  I took a deep breath and let out a calming sigh when my voice cracked again. "Won't take long."

After seconds of strained silence, my pleading finally got through to his hard-headed resolve.  "Stop crying."  Enzo watched me try to hold back tears, his immediate reaction one of hurt and confusion.

What's so confusing about me being worried for his safety?  Did he simply not care that he could be in serious trouble if he didn't get proper medical attention now?  "I just...we need to get you checked at least. Won't take a while, love." I leaned over to help him up.

"Alright." He sighed resignedly. While clasping my arm, Enzo slowly got up from the couch. Finally.  "Just stop crying."

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