I frown. “I haven’t had a burn victim yet.”
“Seems you aren’t as ready as you thought. I will talk to Dr. Fields.”
I nod numbly.
“Oh good. You’re here, Isabel.” Bash acknowledges her as she walks in.
Izzy glares at the three men on the other end of the table before dropping into the chair next to mine. “I was in the middle of my shift. You can’t keep pulling me from work. I need to pay bills,” she snipes at them.
“We will compensate you for your time, Isabel. This is important.” Bash gestures for Giovanni to close the door.
Once he’s seated again, Bash begins to speak.
“We have obtained new information on Fillipo. We know where he resides, but he doesn’t know we know. This intel also indicates he has been having each of you followed.”
I can’t help the gasp that comes out of my mouth. I think back to the past couple of weeks. Have I noticed anyone out of the ordinary?
“We will be assigning two extra guards to each of you. These you will have no choice on. You will also have one reside in your home for the time being. He will protect you from any home invasions.”
My blood turns cold.
Home invasions?
“Do you really think it’s necessary? Do you really think they will come for us?” Izzy asks, looking furious.
I wish I felt a sliver of the confidence she has.
“I do, Isabel. I think they think you’re the way to us. Each one of you has a connection to one of us. It makes you a liability. Someone who they can use.”
“I understand them wanting to use Mia. I’m sure by now they realize she’s going to be your doctor, but why would they think I mean anything? I mean something to Sofia, but that surely isn’t enough.”
“Izzy.” The soft plea comes from Giovanni. I look to him and find regret in his eyes.
“No. No. You don’t get to do this, Gio. You don’t get to ruin my life again.” Tears threaten to fall from Izzy’s eyes.
“Izzy, I have loved you since I was fourteen years old. It’s no secret how I felt for you back then. Anyone with two eyes can see my feelings haven’t gone away. It’s why you're a target. It’s why they will use you if they can get their hands on you.”
“You’rean asshole, Giovanni Catalni. A grade A asshole. Don’t you ever talk to me like that again. Whatever we had in the past is in the past. I’m over it, and you should be too.” She brings her eyes to Bash. “Whatever protections you deem fit are fine with me, but Giovanni is not to be involved. I don’t want to see him or talk to him. Is that understood?”
“You don’t make demands of me, Isabel.” Bash’s tone is cold.
“Bash,” Sofia whispers. “Please. It isn’t a demand. It’s a request.”
His eyes soften as he looks to Sofia. Some unspoken communication is happening between the two. After a moment of silence, he relents.
“Fine. Giovanni will not be involved in your protection.” Giovanni growls at his decree, but quiets when Bash shoots him a look. “You will have protection though.”
“Thank you. May I go now?”
“You may.”
I watch as Izzy leaves the room, envying her for her ability to separate herself from this world I have intertwined myself in.
“Mia, you will always have a guard with you at the clinic. He will need to be in the room with you at all times. We have no idea what Fillipo’s plan is. We need to take all precautions.”
“Are they going to be dressed like always? If so, it’s not going to work.”
He eyes me but doesn’t speak. I sigh.
