The fluffy blanket that Malio had wrapped around me a while ago slipped off my shoulders the moment I stopped abruptly and turned to face him in horror. "Your WHAT?" A small crooked smile spread across Malio's face, as seductive as ever. That smile grew even wider as he let his gaze travel down my body. He bit his lower lip hard as his gaze settled on my breasts. "Don't you want to come back again? It would definitely be worth the pain!" I rolled my eyes, grabbed the blanket and said annoyed: "Malio! You just want to distract! Gunshot wound?" I still looked at him stunned because it just didn't want to get into my head. "Well, you see! You understood it and I'm not distracting." He replied. "But?" I wrapped the blanket tightly around my body again and looked at him sternly. I couldn't believe what he was just telling me. gunshot wound? How did Malio get a gunshot wound please? " You're distracting me! With this incredibly beautiful sight!" Malio said with a grin. "You're trying to wrap me around your finger so I don't ask any more questions!" I didn't have to be a genius to see through his plan. "Is it working?" he asked hopefully. ,, No, not at all! So how did that happen?" I asked, still horrified by his statement. "With a gun!", Malio answered unnecessarily. Again I rolled my eyes in annoyance. "I'm aware of that! Who? How? Why? Can you answer seriously now?" I watched him get up from the chair. He grimaced for a moment and I took a step towards him. "You're in pain, aren't you? Why did you do that?" He narrowed his eyes at me while breathing heavily. "You mean our little insert right now?" I nodded silently and felt my cheeks start to glow. I fought the memories that made their way into my head. "Because the desire for you is greater than the pain." He stroked my cheek, which made me feel hot and cold again. "You have to lie down!" I said worriedly, examining his face with the thick, dark circles under his eyes that I hadn't noticed before. How long hadn't he slept properly? Malio swayed and grabbed the back of the chair again. "Malio!" "Everything okay." He waved him off, but I saw on his ashen face that he wasn't feeling well. Not at all. Small beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Malio closed his eyes for a few seconds and breathed heavily. I grabbed his hand and his lids immediately fluttered open again. He bent to pick up my clothes, which were still lying on the blue Persian rug. He silently pushed her into my arms and then put his shaky hands on my hips to steer me out of the room. "Let's go over there," he said exhaustedly, pushing me straight into his room across the street. I felt his breathing on my neck, giving me goosebumps all over my body. The fluffy, fat cat Blue came rushing towards us meowing and snuggled around my legs. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Malio glancing over my shoulder and muttering something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like "traitor." I stifled a giggle, but before I could lean forward - to pet Blue - Malio shoved me further, right in the direction of his big bed. "What's that supposed to be?" I asked skeptically. I was well aware that I was still only in my black lace underwear and I guessed I had tormented him enough for today - after all, he could hardly stand up straight, felt with every step I'm getting more of his weight on my shoulders. "You told me to lie down!" Malio said faintly as he walked past me, flopped onto the bed and pulled back the black covers. "Since when do you listen to me?" I asked with a smile and ignored his invitation to jump into bed next to him. Instead, I sat on the edge of the bed and started petting Blue, who was curled up on my legs. "Traitor," Malio whispered again. I stuck my tongue out at him, "Well, he probably likes me better than you!" and continued petting the cat under the chin. Malio let out a deep growl and I laughed out loud. After extensively scratching Blue behind the ears and under the chin, I turned back to Malio, who was looking increasingly worse. "Now will you tell me how that happened?" He leaned against the padded headboard and fixed me with his icy blue eyes, which now shone feverishly. "I can't!" "Why not?" "It's a family matter - my father takes care of it," Malio said dully. "Your father will take care of it, that sounds like a Mafiosi business!", actually a joke, but when I saw Malio's face I felt completely different. His eyes dropped suspiciously at the word mafiosi - almost as if he wanted to hide the truth in them from me, unaware that this reaction spoke volumes. "Malio.. since you..", I broke off, unsure if I could really endure the answer to the questions that were buzzing in my head. "Are we what?" he asked softly and patted gently on his lap. Unsuccessful - because Blue continued to lie on my legs and purred with relish while I continued to stroke his soft fur like in a trance. "Oh nothing." I said quickly. No, I wasn't ready for the truth - not now that Malio was just beginning to open up. Where I finally started to see a different side of him. I also worried about his condition. ,, Do not worry. Such a small injury won't kill me.", he said with a smile, "but maybe you should put your clothes back on - I have to call the doctor." With a heavy heart, I pushed Blue off my legs, who loudly expressed his displeasure. "Where are you going?" I watched as Malio went to his closet when I realized I still had his hoodie at home. "I might want to change my boxers and sweatpants!" he said and winked at me meaningfully. When he grabbed the waistband of the sweatpants, I quickly looked away, causing him to laugh hoarsely. "So shy now?" I heard him say, getting hotter by the second at the thought of Malio standing there, half-naked, in front of his closet. "I like the mix. On the one hand depraved that you'd just give me a lap dance, on the other hand so shy you can't even watch me change my clothes." He breathed suddenly in my ear and I felt himself immediately my insides clenched at his words. "How much would I like to slide my hand down your glowing body now? Feel every millimeter up to your wet..." "Malio!" I interrupted him quickly. He laughed, blowing on the glowing skin, which drove me almost insane, but then his pain-twisted gasp reached my ears and the next moment I heard the bed etch as he sat down heavily on it. I slipped into my skirt and blouse when he reached for the cell phone that was on the bedside table and was surprised to find that I had texted him. Oh great, I could have waited a long time in front of the gate! I got up unsteadily from the edge of the bed. "I think I'd better go when your doctor comes - you must rest." "Stay, please!" It was the second time there was something pleading in his voice, which made me immediately to sit next to him on the edge of the bed again. "I thought we could talk a little more." For a moment I didn't know who liked my decision to stay better, Malio smiling contentedly or Blue coming towards me again, tail raised and meowing happily. "Who is your doctor anyway?" I wasn't sure if Malio had dozed off in the time we sat in silence on his bed. He had his eyes closed and he was breathing shallowly. "Harry!" whispered he then hardly noticeable. The Butler Harry?! You mean, that old man?" I looked at him confused, which was actually pointless since he kept his eyes closed. ,, Mhm!", he mumbled. "That's the butler! Wouldn't you rather have a real doctor examine you?" Malio's eyes opened just a crack to fixate on me. "Don't let him hear that!" "How so? But that's the way it is.", I answered, "You should maybe have a real doctor look at it." Malio laughed briefly and for a moment the butterflies in my stomach returned. "Jolien, I would trust Harry with my life, every time, unconditionally." "Why?" "Because he's the only person I trust. Harry has always been a greater father figure to me than my own could ever have been. Without Harry..", he averted his eyes, "I might not be here anymore." I had automatically grabbed Malio's hand and was a little surprised that he also allowed this sudden closeness. It was only a small gesture, but there was something comforting about it and I knew by now that Malio didn't believe in consoling. He preferred to deal with his worries and concerns with himself - in silence. But he even interlaced his fingers with mine, giving me yet another shot of fluttering butterflies. An infinitely long second, we just looked at each other. His blue eyes took me in completely, pulling me deeper and deeper into their claws. Malio sat up with a jerk, bringing his face very close to mine. He threw one last, almost longing look into my eyes and the next moment I felt his soft lips on mine. His free hand curled around the back of my neck and although his grip was rough, I gasped into the kiss as he yanked my head closer to him. My hands automatically wandered into his soft, black hair. "What the hell are you doing to me, Jolien?" Malio whispered against my lips as he broke the kiss to give us some air. His words made the butterflies flutter again and at the same time I felt hot and cold. He grabbed my hair roughly, making me groan, turned on by the dominance he exuded. A lot. His lips crashed onto mine again. This time, however, all tenderness had left the kiss and been replaced by blazing passion. Before his hand could pull away from my neck to explore my trembling body, there was a soft knock on the door. "Fuck," he swore in frustration. And I loved it. Loved it every time he swore. "You can come in!" Malio said, letting go of me and sinking back into the pillows with a sigh, which immediately made me whimper wistfully. He commented on my undeniable displeasure at the sudden interruption with a soft, pleasing laugh. I watched as Harry walked slowly through the door, holding a small black suitcase in his right hand. "I think the bandage has come loose," Malio said, and he couldn't help but grin. Of course, I knew what he was thinking, which is why my cheeks immediately began to glow again. "Besides, I need more painkillers," he continued, while Harry came around the bed and set the case - which didn't exactly look like a professional doctor's case - on the floor. "You've been drinking, wouldn't it be better not to take so much painkillers?" I said without thinking. Actually, I just wanted to watch in silence, but of course I couldn't keep to it and had to contribute something directly to the monotonous conversation. "I think that's all right. I'm fine." Malio dismissed my objection, but I noticed Harry's hesitation. At least someone who understood my concerns. Harry grabbed the suitcase he had put down less than a minute ago, placed it on the bed next to Malio and finally opened it without saying a word. I took an interested look inside. It had to be a first aid kit. Bandages, so many bandages and compresses were in the little suitcase. Malio grabbed his neck and pulled his shirt over his head. The first thing I noticed was the bandage that wrapped once around his entire chest. I still somehow couldn't believe Malio had been shot. After taking some compresses and two rolls of bandages from the suitcase, Harry began unwrapping the old bandage around Malio's chest. "Relax!" Malio said, gently grabbing my hand. Only then did I realize that I had clenched my teeth tightly and was watching tensely as I got closer and closer to seeing my first gunshot wound outside of an action film. As soon as Malio's soft hand settled on mine, I exhaled the accumulated air, but I couldn't relax. Harry dropped the used bandage on the floor and gently tugged at the compressions that were still stuck to Malio's skin. He grimaced and squeezed my hand as Harry pulled the compress off with a quick jerk. I felt instantly nauseous and had to look away from Malio's wound. "She's healing well. But you still shouldn't overdo it, Malio," I heard Harry say. "I didn't expect anything else." I heard plastic ripping but didn't dare take another look at what was happening. "It's still infected, though." I heard Harry's worried voice. "I know, but you can fix that too, can't you?" "Sure, Malio. I can always patch you up." I always get you patched together? How many times did it happen that Malio showed up injured? "So, that's it!", I heard Harry say and I let out a relieved breath - almost as if I had been the patient and not Malio, who didn't seem to care. He seemed to endure the procedure almost routinely. The only thing that indicated he wasn't taking things so lightly was that he held my hand tightly the entire time. I didn't know if he was trying to reassure me or himself. "Thank you Harry!" "I'll leave you a pill, but you should wait a little longer before you take it." "I will, Harry!" Malio's hand slipped out of mine and he grabbed Harry's arm, who was about to turn away and leave the room. "Thank you so much, Harry!" Harry squeezed Malio's hand briefly. And for the first time, I saw something flash in Malio's eyes that gave me hope that he wasn't hopeless after all. There was love in his eyes. The love a boy felt for his father. Except this man wasn't Malio's father. How was the relationship with this man, this cold-hearted man who called himself his father? My thoughts immediately went back to the moment in the garage. My encounter with Mali's father was completely disturbing. "Hey, where are you with your thoughts again?" Malio waved his flat hand in front of my eyes and I jumped in shock. Harry had already left the room and I was alone with Malio again. "Sorry, all good. Not so important. I have a question." Malio pulled his shirt back on, "What's up?", his black hair disheveled as he emerged from the depths of his shirt. "Have you been in the hospital at all?" For a moment he just looked at me in surprise. The blue eyes were slightly wide and the mouth was slightly open. "What made you think of that?" "Well, it wasn't difficult, the suitcase, Harry's statement. It seemed as if this scenario had happened very often." There was a brief silence, only the soft snoring of Blue, who had curled up at the end of the bed, could be heard. "You're right. I wasn't in the hospital." Malio finally admitted. It didn't even surprise me anymore. "Who shot you?" I asked cautiously. "Does that matter?" He asked a question in return. ,, Yes, it does! Who shot you?" I repeated my question, a little more forcefully. Malio opened his mouth, only to close it again without saying a word. His eyes rested on me. I held his gaze, not wanting to be put off so easily this time. "Malio, I'm waiting," I urged, which was a mistake. His face hardened, becoming hard and cold. "You should go!" he said suddenly. "What?" I stared at him in bewilderment. "Go!" he repeated sternly. "Are you serious? You wanted me to stay!" He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, now I want you to go. I need silence!" A cheap excuse. The truth was, he didn't want to answer my question, and it was the only way Malio knew of avoiding an uncomfortable discussion. "Fine. All right Malio, always send me away if it gets too uncomfortable for you. That's very mature of course!" "Jolien, just go and don't provoke me!" he said menacingly. Again, something he really enjoyed doing. Threatening to Trumpets not to provoke him. I took a deep breath, feeling the anger rising inside me - but this time I didn't want to show how upset I was when he so suddenly and unexpectedly snubbed and rejected me. " Get well soon. That was certainly my first and last visit to you." "That won't be necessary anymore. I'll be back to school the day after tomorrow," he replied. ,, Nice." I straightened my blouse and tugged at my skirt, simply to give him a chance to say something else or hold off at the last minute. I was that crazy - but he didn't. Without a word, I rushed out of Malio's room. Angry and hurt. Angry because I was stupid enough to think he would open up to me, and hurt because I didn't worth his honesty after all. Words mean so little without action. Once again I played with fire and burned myself mercilessly.