Why the hell did it feel so much like I was heading toward the electric chair?I was starting to crave normalcy, even if it meant finding a way to coexist with the man sitting opposite me in the jet’s cabin.As always, he was on his phone, something I could count on no matter what was happening.Where was I going to sleep tonight?In my bed?In his?What did he expect?
For that matter, what did I want?
If anything, that was the question that paralyzed me because I didn’t know.Did I want to share his bed now that we were back in the real world?Were we supposed to forget everything that happened?It was what I told myself we should do, leaving Lake Tahoe and heading to Napa, but I couldn’t bring myself to stay away from him.
I sat up straighter, clearing my throat to break the silence.“So here’s a completely random thought.”Yes, that was definitely the way to lead into it.Very smooth.
His only response was a grunt, letting me know he’d heard me.I could’ve slapped myself for being a coward.What the hell was my problem?I could face down a boardroom full of stuffed shirts or a handful of disappointed customers without blinking an eye.Yet I couldn’t seem to find the words to have a discussion with my own husband.
I had to do this or else stand around feel like a smacked ass when it came time to go to bed.
My phone rang, and I didn’t know whether to be annoyed or grateful for the interruption.Clay’s head snapped up, his eyes glittering, and I knew exactly what he was thinking.He was not hard to read at all.
At least I got his attention, though when I checked to see who was calling, my heart seized.It wasn’t Matteo this time.“Hello?”I almost barked on answering the call from somewhere at Cedars-Sinai Hospital.
“Is this Mirabella Rinaldi?”a woman asked.
I looked at Clay, who was confused but concerned, leaning closer.“Speaking,” I managed to choke out.
“I’m calling from the intensive care unit at Cedars-Sinai.You’re down as your father’s contact.”Before I had the chance to scream out my fear, the woman on the other end said, “I’m sorry to tell you this, but he’s had a heart attack.”
13
CLAY
There was nothing I could say, nothing I could do to make things better as we rushed in through the ER doors.Mira hadn’t spoken a word since getting off the phone and confirming what I had already put together during the course of that short call.Alessandro was in the ICU after a heart attack.
“He’s in good hands.”That was all I could say, the only thing I knew to be true.Otherwise, I didn’t know whether he would be alive by the time we reached him.An ugly thought, one that filled me with concern for her.
No doubt, she was in shock.
We reached the desk and instead of trembling or showing any weakness, Mira asked in a clear voice, “Can you tell me where I can find my father?Alessandro Rinaldi.I was told they took him to the ICU, but I don’t know how to get up there and would like to speak to a doctor first to get the rundown on his condition.”
Pride warmed my chest, but I was in the minority.The woman behind the desk frowned, looked at me then turned back to Mira.“I’m not sure the doctor who treated him can drop everything?—”
Big mistake.“I don’t think my wife asked you how things are typically done,” I muttered as evenly as I could.“We just received the call and rushed straight over here.The man is very sick, and my wife would like to get his condition from one of the doctors who treated him before we continue to see him.If that is too much to ask, we’ll have him transferred to a hospital where the staff understand things like this without having it explained.”It wasn’t often I threw my weight around like that, but there had never been a better time to do it.
“It’s up to you,” I concluded.
The woman pushed her chair back, looking wounded.“I’ll find Dr.Miller for you.”She gave us one last disapproving look, then whispered something to a passing nurse who disappeared behind a pair of automatic doors leading into the emergency room.
That meant there was nothing for us to do but wait.Mira gripped the counter’s edge tightly enough for her knuckles to stand out, bone white against her skin.I touched a hand to her back, saying nothing because what was there to say?Was it enough for her to know I was with her?There weren’t many things in the world that left me feeling helpless, but this was one of them, and I didn’t have the first fucking clue how to navigate it.
A middle-aged man in scrubs came out to greet us.“I’m Dr.Miller.I treated Mr.Rinaldi when he was first brought in.”He motioned for us to join him in an alcove off the waiting room.Mira followed without saying a word, her back ramrod straight, her chin raised like she was going into battle.I had to almost force her into a chair before pouring her a cup of water from a cooler in the corner.
“How is he?What happened?”Mira asked.
I handed her the water, but she was more concerned with searching every inch of the man’s face for answers.
He looked regretful when he replied.“Mr.Rinaldi suffered a serious heart attack.I’m sorry, you are?”he asked suddenly, looking up at me.
“My husband,” she explained almost offhandedly.“He can hear this.”
“Excuse me,” the doctor murmured, nodding at me.“We have to be careful of privacy, especially with high-profile patients.How long has he been treated for his heart?”he asked Mira.
Nobody could fake the sort of confusion written all over her face.She even looked up at me as if I would know.“I wasn’t aware… I mean, he never told me…”
“I see.”The doctor sighed, shaking his head slightly.“That isn’t unusual.Oftentimes, patients would rather keep these things to themselves than worry their family.I will have to consult with his cardiologist and get the results of his latest tests to put together a timeline of his treatment and how his condition has progressed.”
