Page 97 of Savage Don

Fuck. There might never be any escape for me.

I’m been thrown back into the darkness. And the walls are closing in.

If something drastic doesn’t happen soon, I might suffocate.

20

Ray

“He’s just getting some shut eye now,” Leonid says, and I can hear the exhaustion in his voice. “Thanks for looking after him while I was away.”

“It was the least I could do,” I respond, my fingers tapping impatiently on my steering wheel as I wait at a red light. Above, grey clouds roll through the sky. Rain is on its way.

A storm is exactly what I need. Anything to match the conflict raging inside of me. Especially now.

I’m not far from Domenico’s place. Not far from Francesca.

This is the closest I’ve been since I dropped her off four days ago. The plan was to come back earlier in the week, but Leonid had to go out of town for some personal shit, and he had been keeping Maksim company at the hospital.

I offered to take his place while he was away. Maksim is my friend, too, after all. Plus, he got hit with that Soviet poison while helping me on one of my jobs.

“How was he?” Leonid asks.

“He’s recovering well. Don’t be surprised if he’s still slurring his words, though. The doctors say part of his face is still paralyzed.”

“Will he ever fully recover?”

“The doctors weren’t so sure, but Elisa seemed pretty confident.”

“I’d take her word for it over any one else’s,” Leonid chuckles. “She knows mafia men better than anyone.”

“I figure you’re right,” I agree. “She is married to the king of them all.”

“Speaking of the king of all kings, Aiden is going to stop by later today to check up on Maksim. Can’t say I was expecting that. It’s quite the show of respect.”

“The Kilpatricks aren’t as brutish as you might think,” I smile. “At least, not to their allies.”

“Well, I appreciate everything. It’s nice not to have to worry about security here—you know, since you Irish boys own the entire hospital. I can just keep my old mentor company and get some shut eye while I’m at it.”

“Why are you so tired?” I ask, the light finally turning green up ahead.

“Ah shit, I’ll tell you later, when I’m sure everything is figured out. You know how it is, right?”

“Sure do.”

Turning onto the private road that leads to the Galli mansion, I feel a knot tighten behind my chest. But I’m not sure if it’s because I’m anxious, or if it’s because of guilt.

The last time I saw her, Francesca was so upset. And it was all because of me.

How will she react when I show up on her doorstep?

“What are you up to?” Leonid asks.

“Same thing as you,” I tease. “Nothing I’m willing to talk about until it’s done.”

Leonid lets a little chuckle slip from his lips. “Understood. I’ll keep you updated on Maksim. Good luck on your nothing.”

“Same to you.”