Or if he saw a future with me.
I shook my head. It didn’t matter. And it wasn’t like I was going to make him marry me simply because I wanted to escape my life so badly.
What kind of marriage would we have?
One where he resented me for the rest of our lives?
I grimaced.
Yeah, I would much rather live unmarried for the rest of my life if that were the case.
I hookedmy arms around Maura and led her off the property.
“Careful,” I said, leading her out to the waiting car.
“I’m fine,” she said. “I think you are making a big deal out of this.”
“I don’t think I am,” I said as I opened the back door to the car.
The driver eyed us, his expression wary. I didn’t blame him. I doubt we looked like we were going out for a fun outing.
There was nothing fun about today.
I helped Maura into her seat and climbed in after her, giving the driver the address to the hospital. We didn’t say anything on the way there. I looked back at Maura. She was looking out the window, lost in thought.
She lied.
It wasn’t just the black eye.
It was a sprained wrist that had made it hard for her to do anything in the house.
So I was taking her to the hospital, and Valentino was already looking for a temporary hire to take her place while Maura “rested” from a fever she had.
Valentino didn’t need to know the details. Dad wouldn’t be happy once he realized I had gone over his head and went straight to Valentino to handle what he considered his business.
We arrived at the hospital in the city about twenty minutes later. I tipped the driver and got out of the car, looking back at Maura. She hesitated.
“Come on,” I said. “I already called. They can see you right away, and Valentino had already set it up with Dad so that you can be off for a few weeks while your wrist heals.”
She shook her head. “Mr. Gambino will not be happy about this.”
I looked over at the driver, who was pretending not to hear us. “He’ll cool off by the time you come back. But you need to get this checked out.”
I watched as indecisiveness moved in her eyes. We were already here. There was no point in going back home. Sheshouldn’tgo back home and try to work with an injured wrist. I let out a small sigh of relief when she nodded and got out of the car. I walked to the familiar entrance of the hospital door.
I didn’t come here often.
But I knew a nurse who worked here who would help us. We had insurance, but I usually paid with cash, not wanting to leave a paper trail behind me. We would also be paying with cash for Maura today.
Nurse Jane greeted us near the entrance.
Her smile was soft when her eyes found mine.
We stopped in front of her, and I watched as she looked me up and down, as if to check for some hidden injury I might have.
I wasn’t here for me though. “Hi,” I greeted her. “This is Maura.”
Nurse Jane’s eyes moved from me to Maura, as if trying to decide what our relationship with one another was, before she plastered on the professional smile I knew well.
