A stand-up guy would cringe thinking we'd just had unprotected s.e.x two days ago.

But I wasn't a stand-up guy.

Nope, I was a Campisi, so that evil part of me hoped and prayed I had knocked her up so I could keep her forever.

But the bad guys never get to keep the treasure in the end-they end up cursed, and I suddenly realized why my father had started the rumor in the first place about me being cursed.

I was cursed the minute I took my first breathe of air, because I was already marked with the Campisi blood.

With a sigh, I stood to my feet and promptly collapsed back into the chair.

Well that was unfortunate.

Mo took a step forward, this time Nixon didn't block her. Instead, he grabbed Trace and made his way down the hall.

"You need help," Mo murmured, her hand finding mine. I quickly jerked away from her touch. It made me want things.

It made me yearn.

"Tex." Mo put her hands on her hips. "You need the med kit, just... stay."

I sighed.

"Like a dog," Sergio added.

"Yeah well, this dog could still rip your head off so joke around again, really, I dare you."

Sergio rolled his eyes and got up from his chair storming out of the room.

"Is it me or has he gotten more dramatic?" I said dryly.

"Since when are things not dramatic." Chase chuckled then eyed Mil, crooking his finger for her to come over.

For the first time in Mil's existence, she didn't argue. With a sigh she sat on Chase's lap and faced Phoenix.

"So." Phoenix cleared his throat.

"Is he good to you?"

"Right here." Chase swore.

"Yeah," Mil sighed dreamily. "The best."

Phoenix nodded.

"And when he misbehaves." Mil twirled a piece of her hair. "I just hold a gun to his man parts, and he suddenly becomes so much more agreeable."

Phoenix burst out laughing while Chase rolled his eyes and said, "Believe it."

"Dude." I shook my head. "That's not cool. No part of that is cool. Mil, not okay."

Mil shrugged. "How else am I supposed to be heard?"

"You use words," Chase said slowly. "And this miraculous thing happens with ears. You know what those are for, don't you? Or are you more familiar with the mouth?"

Mil grinned and licked her lips.

"Aw, baby, you want me to answer that in public?"

"Oh, G.o.d." Phoenix held up his hands. "No, please no, fine, I get it you guys love each other and..." he coughed.

"Share the same... bed."

"Ten bucks says he's going to have nightmares tonight." I nodded.

"I'll take that bet." Frank piped up.

Luca laughed.

"Phoenix?" Frank asked. "A minute of your time?"

"Take it all." Phoenix pushed away from the table. "You own me anyway."

The three of them walked out of the room towards the living room, leaving me alone with the always s.e.xual Chase and Mil, so basically I would have rather been back in that dark room getting punched in the face and shot at.

"Back!" Mo hobbled as fast as her b.u.m leg would take her into the room.

With a thud she sat the kit on the table and frowned.

"What?" I asked wincing as the pain was starting to travel up my leg.

"Not here." She sighed. "We need to go to your room I need you to lie down."

Chase chuckled. "If I had a dollar -"

"What?" Mil gave him an Iawill- kill-you expression. "Really, I'm dying to know."

"Then..." Chase looked at me helplessly. "I'd only have a dollar?"

"Good answer."

"s.h.i.t," he mumbled under his breath.

"Come on." Mil stood. "We'll help you guys take Tex to his room."

"I'm fine." I grumbled standing again only to fall back in my chair.

"Aw, he's like a baby giraffe."

Chase clapped. "All wobbly like."

"Can I at least be a baby tiger?" I pleaded. "My pride and all that."

"Baby tigers are so cute." Mil grinned.

"Just kidding. I want to be a baby tarantula."

"Too late." Mil sighed happily.

"Baby tiger it is."

Mo hid a smile behind her hand before grabbing the kit. Chase moved to the side of the chair and helped me to my feet. "Try not to like my touch too much, man. Remember I'm married."

"I'll try to keep my p.e.n.i.s at bay." I said dryly.

"That's really all I ask." Chase grunted as he helped me walk down the hall. "Well that and keeping it in your pants."

"I can't even walk, I won't rape you, dude."

"One can never be too cautious,"

Chase sang.

Once we were in my room, Chase dropped me onto the bed. It squeaked under my weight.

"How the h.e.l.l do you have s.e.x on a bed that makes so much-" Chase's voice drowned out as he looked from me to Mo and back to me. "Right, so, I'm just going to go help Mil clean her guns..."

Mil rolled her eyes. "Because that's what we do in our room at night.

Clean guns."

"Thanks, guys." Mo said softly as the door closed behind them. When she turned and faced me it was with hurt in her eyes and no smile on her face.

A part of me wanted to reach out.

Instead I closed my eyes and whispered, "Well, let's get it over with."

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE.

Giving yourself to someone else is only stupid if they don't take what you offer.

Mo NOT THE MOST ENCOURAGING words to come out of his mouth but it was a start. I propped open the kit and pulled out the supplies I'd need: Antiseptic, pain killers, tweezers, gauze, wipes.

"Mo, this isn't a hospital you don't need to bandage me up or anything.

Really I just want-"

My head jerked up. "What? What do you want?"

His nostrils flared as he looked away and mumbled, "A shower."

My body suddenly went hot and cold all over like it couldn't decide if I liked the idea of helping him in the shower or if I was terrified of what could happen, what that could mean.

Then again he could barely walk so it wasn't like he was going to try to seduce me.

"Okay." I nodded. "I can do that."

"Mo-"

"Tex," I snapped. "Let me help okay? It's my fault anyway."

"Don't," he growled. "Don't for a second blame yourself for my bad blood, do you understand me?"

I turned my back to him and stormed off to the bathroom, flipping on the shower so steam started to billow around my feet. After grabbing a towel and making sure there were no objects in Tex's way. I marched back out of the bathroom and held out my hand. "Let's go."

"Forceful." Tex's crooked grin caused my heart to falter. "You would have made a horrible nurse."

"Or the best," I said. "It's all in how you look at it."

"Right." He gripped my hand and slowly stood. I wrapped his arm around my body helping him carry his own ridiculously muscled weight, and we staggered to the bathroom.

"How are we going to do this?"

Tex was out of breath already and sitting on the toilet lid, leaning his head on his hands.

"Um..." I held up my hand and closed the door. "Just one second." I turned around and swore under my breath as I slowly peeled my clothes from my body.

"Mo," Tex croaked. "What the h.e.l.l are you doing?"

"I'm helping!"

"No." Tex hissed like he was in pain. "You're really not."

Ignoring him, I left my bra on and pulled down my jeans. Bra and underwear were safe, right? Without speaking I started pulling his clothes from his body. First his shirt, or what was left of it since it was so stained with blood. What was once white looked red and horrifying.

He winced when I pulled it over his head.

d.a.m.n the man. It would be impossible to get used to the way Tex's muscles freaking hugged his midsection like they were too swollen to do anything else but stick out and be s.e.xy.

Clenching my teeth I moved my hands to his jeans and slowly undid the b.u.t.ton. Tex looked away quickly. Right, no eye contact. Like a prost.i.tute. Or did they make eye contact and just not kiss?