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“She’s his girlfriend. She has every right to see him…” I blurt out.
The doctor shakes her head. “You are listed as his next-of-kin, though.”
“It’s complicated. Just let her see him, okay? By all accounts she might have saved his life after he was shot.”
The doctor nods, and we leave Camila in the waiting room, follow the doctor down the corridor to the ICU. The world spins around me. My heart feels as if it’s about to break into a million pieces. He’s hooked up to machines and drips, his face almost as white as the hospital sheets. I bend and kiss his forehead, whisper that I love him.
Sefi touches the hand that is resting on his chest. “I’m so sorry, Alessio.” She sucks in a sharp breath. “Please, fight this. Marco loves you and needs you so much.” She bends and kisses his fingers, tears spilling from her eyes.
Without warning, the machine monitoring his heart suddenly ratchets up the volume and speed of the steady beeping sound. Beep!!! Beep!!! Beep!!!
Holy, fucking shit.
I’m about to call for help, when a crash team arrives.
Sefi lets out a strangled cry, and we are ushered out of the room.Chapter Thirty-ThreeSefiIn the corridor outside the ICU, Marco and I hold onto each other like we are drowning. “Alessio, Alessio,” we repeat his name.
The doctor brushes past us, her face a picture of anxiety as she enters the unit.
My stomach rolls and a sour taste invades my mouth.
I stare at Marco and he stares at me, our expressions saying more than the words we’re too scared to speak.
Please, God, don’t let him die.
Some minutes later, the doctor emerges from the ICU and comes up to us.
My chest tightens painfully.
“The Commissario went into cardiac arrest. We’ve managed to get his heart started again. But he isn’t out of danger…”
I sag against Marco, my breath bursting in and out.
“Can we see him?” he pleads.
“Not yet.” Her tone is brusque. “We need to get him fully stabilized first.”
The doctor returns to the ICU, leaving Marco and me staring at each other again.
“Excuse me, Sefi.” His face has turned white. “I need the bathroom. Going to throw up.”
Poor Marco. But more to the point, poor Alessio. And not to forget… poor me. I’ve given my heart to them both.
With my feet dragging, I return to the waiting room. Camila looks up from scrolling on her phone and her mouth falls open as she takes in my distraught expression. “Don’t tell me…”
“Alessio nearly died,” I come right out with it, the words wrenched from my throat. “He went into cardiac arrest.”
Deputy Superintendent Koffler leaps up and goes to stand by the window. I wonder if he’s crying and doesn’t want us to see.
I sit next to Camila, hot tears rolling down my face… I brush them away with my hands. She holds me close and strokes my back. “Shh, honey. I’m so sorry. What a mess…”
“I love him so much. Love both of them.”
“And we love you too, tesoro,” Marco’s voice comes from the doorway.
I gasp, stare at him incredulously. He approaches and spreads his arms wide. For the second time today, I go straight into them. We kiss, our tears mingling.
They love me.
“How will we cope without him?” Marco wails.
He’s included me in the equation, and his words give me a small degree of comfort. Except, I can’t imagine being with Marco if Alessio wasn’t a part of us.
“He’ll pull through,” I murmur. “He has to…”
If only my giving voice to the thought will make it happen.
Marco sits next to Camila and pulls me into his lap.
“I’ll go see if I can find out anything,” Deputy Superintendent Koffler offers. “Oh, and an armed guard should be here soon to keep you all out of danger.”
The notion we could still be a target of that horrible boss dude gives me a sick feeling in my stomach.
Will I need to spend the rest of my life hiding from him? I fucking hope not…
We thank the Deputy Superintendent and, while he’s gone, through stuttering breaths, I tell Marco and Camila everything that went down from the time I was taken until Alessio was shot.
Marco hugs me, tells me how sorry he is.
Sis expresses her concern for my welfare. “Are you sure you’re okay, honey?” she inclines her head toward me.
“Please, don’t worry,” I tell her. “I’m so grateful you’re here.”
“Fine welcome you’ve had to Venice, Camila,” Marco’s mouth twists.
“I’m just glad my sis is safe.” She yawns. “I didn’t sleep a wink the whole flight here I was freaking out so much.”
Marco holds me close. “I’d like to suggest you both go home to the apartment, but I wouldn’t be able to guarantee your safety…”
“I’m not going anywhere,” I counter. “Not until I know Alessio has pulled through.”
“I can sleep here,” Camila gives a wry laugh. “Been on enough tour buses with rock stars to have mastered the art of sleeping in uncomfortable places.” She glances around the room. “Maybe we can ask for some blankets and pillows?”
