The Dark Ghosts

59. Layla

Josh's POV

Drinking my apple juice with a straw from a brick like a kid, I glared lightly at my friends, who were all scattered around my hospital room. They looked terrible, as if they hadn't slept. And knowing them, I knew they didn't. I appreciate their concern about me, but they can't turn a blind eye to their own health every time one of us gets hurt.

"Don't you prefer a natural juice? It's healthier than that, it's got less sugars," Mel suggested.

"Why don't you go home and bring me some after you take a damn good rest?" I retorted with a pointed look.

"Josh," Nathan groaned my name.

"Hospitals are making you cranky, I see," Hunter snorted.

"Oh please, don't act as if you didn't miss me."

Hunter chuckled darkly and moved from the wall he was leaning in. He walked up to my bed and gripped my shoulder in a tight but not hurtful hold as he stared deeply into my eyes.

"If you scare me like that again, motherfucker, I'll be the one to fucking choke you. Forget about smoke or any other substance," Hunter said as his way to express that he had missed me.

I chuckled nervously as he let go of my shoulder and sat down in one of the many chairs of the rooms.

"Well, I couldn't die without at least having a girlfriend, right?" I joked and Hunter rolled his eyes, remembering one of our last conversations.

"How are you feeling?" Audrey changed the topic into a more concerning one.

"I'm better. That's why I'm sending you all back home to sleep," I grinned sheepishly at them while they chuckled. Even Alec let out the tiniest of the smiles.

"Jokes aside, none of you got seriously hurt at the fire, right? Are you all doing fine?" I questioned as I put the empty brick of apple juice aside.

"Don't worry about us. We're perfectly ok," Nathan reassured me with a smile, though I noticed it didn't reach his eyes.

A knock on the door interrupted our conversation. Before I could allow whoever was at the other side of the door in, it slowly creaked open and Massimo walked into the room, standing on his full 6,4 ft height with his poker face mask on.

In spite of his emotionless appearance, you could see the distress displayed on his body language. He must have been informed about the fire and moved his trip forward so he could visit us sooner and investigate the whole incident. Though I think we all already know who the culprit is.

The girls slightly tensed and shifted uncomfortably on their seats, probably still not quite used to Massimo's presence. Or maybe they didn't like him like it happened when we first arrived here.

"Father," Alec immediately stood up and greeted his father with a respectful nod.

"Figlio," Massimo brought his son into a fatherly hug, patting his back. (Son)

"Hey, uncle," Nathan smiled lightly and hugged his uncle, who returned the gesture once he separated from Alec.

"Ladies, gentlemen," he greeted the rest of us before he put his whole focus on me. "How are you feeling, Josh?"

"I'm good, thank you," I smiled warmly at him.

Something I loved about Massimo is how he treated us all as his own. His question may have come out in the coldest tone you could imagine, but throughout the years you learn to search for more emotions in that deep, velvety voice. He always spoke tenderly to us, and now, in this case, also worried about my health and well-being.