“I want you guys out of here,” she says, voice shaking. “I mean right now.”
“You helped him?” I ask in surprise.
She nods, glancing at Leo. “He said they were going to kill my patient. I couldn’t just let them.”
“Thank you.” I go over and gently take the bags from her. “But next time, let the patient die.”
“Trust me, I will.”
“You have no idea how perfect you are.” Leo grabs the girl and smashes his mouth against hers. She struggles for a beat but seems to sigh into the kiss.
“Don’t call me,” she says, staring at him. She shakes her head and shoves him away. “If I never see you again, I’ll die happy.”
“Do me a favor and don’t mention what you just saw until after we’re gone, alright?”
She gestures toward the corpses. “Not sure what I’m supposed to do about this.”
“We’ll handle it. Just go back to work like nothing happened."
“You people are fucking crazy.” She walks away, shaking her head and talking to herself. “Raf needs real care!” she shouts over her shoulder before taking one look at Stefano and dashing the hell away.
“I think I’m in love,” Leo murmurs, watching her go.
Chapter 32
Fiorella
The basement smells like disinfectant. The monitors constantly beep with the slow rhythm of Raf’s heart. I sit near his bed as the full-time nurse goes over his vitals, checks his chart, and makes muttering sounds to herself. She’s older, in her sixties, but Luca says she’s one of the best.
“Dr. Gabriel should be back around in a few hours, but it seems like your brother’s doing well.” She gives me a tight smile. I like her immediately. There’s no nonsense with this woman. “I’ll be in the other room in case you need anything.”
“Thank you so much.”
“Happy to help.” She heads back upstairs, leaving me alone.
I watch my brother’s chest rise and fall. From what the doctor said, he should be waking up soon. His wounds are healing, and the risk of infection is dropping by the hour. Assuming he regains consciousness within the next few days, his recovery is going as expected.
I reach out and touch his arm. “This sucks, doesn’t it?” I say quietly. Raf doesn’t answer. His pale face is tense, like he’shaving a bad dream. All this feels like I’m going to break out from under the water at any moment, like I’m trapped in some alternate dimension.
“Dad would’ve hated this. But you knew the risks. You weren’t always a good older brother, but at least you’re trying to keep the family together, right? A few weeks ago, that wouldn’t have mattered to me at all. Now, I don’t know what I want.” I press a hand over my belly. It’s hard to believe there’s a baby growing inside of me. I honestly haven’t really come to grips with it yet. I’m not sure I will, at least not until I start showing and can feel kicking and movement. “All I ever dreamed about was running. Now I’m standing still, and I don’t know how to handle it.”
There’s creaking on the steps. I look over as Elisa comes down. She smiles at me and takes the chair next to mine, leaning forward to pat Raf’s arm gently. “How’s he doing?” she asks quietly.
“Hard to say. Nothing’s changed. The doctor was just here checking on him.”
“I keep thinking I’ll come down here and find him sitting up and lecturing you on something you did wrong.”
“Honestly, I’d kind of welcome that right about now.”
Elisa smiles slightly and puts on her best Raf voice. “Fiorella, you spend far too much time under those cars. You know what people say, don’t you? Why can’t you be more into girl things?”
“What do you think he imagined when he saidgirl thingsanyway?”
“Knitting. Tea parties.”
“Guess I was never going to live up to his expectations.”
“You don’t have to. And who knows? Maybe getting shot will knock some sense into him.” Elisa pats his arm again lightly. “He’s a good person though.”
