Chapter 5
Michael
That had been the last time I saw Zaira Bonita, until last night when I saw the confusion and fear in her eyes.
Before the big fight between the two families, Zaira and I spent a lot of time together. At least once a week, we would have dinner together or meet for coffee. Sometimes, we’d go down to the lake to hang out and talk. She told me how bad she wanted to go to college and that her father would not allow it. He finally agreed but told her it would be a waste of time. She hated that all he expected of her was to be someone’s wife, barefoot and pregnant.
She would even confide in me about her father. Sometimes she would say too much and realize she slipped. I kept everything she said confidential ’cause frankly she had never told me anything I hadn’t already known. She told me about the punishments her father would dish out and how cruel he was to her and Mia. It seemed the girls got the brunt of his sadistic nature and Vince was pretty much left alone, but he was also away at law school for a while.
The first time Zaira and I had expressed our feelings for each other was right before everything fell apart. I will never forget that day. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wondered what would have happened if Maria Bonita wasn’t murdered. Would Zaira and I be married today, perhaps we’d have a kid or two running around, making our lives a living hell. I guess we’ll never know. That’s ancient history, and we can’t change what happened.
To me, it was obvious. If Zaira and I married, it would solidify the power between the two families and bond them together forever. There was only one person who would gain if the friendship between our two families ended. Victor Masserie. He knew the plan the family had for Zaira and me. He saw us growing closer together every day. Victor Masserie wanted Zaira for himself and, more importantly, the bond between his family and the Bonita family.
Alberto Bonita was convinced our family ordered the hit on his wife and severed all ties with my family. He refused to look within his own organization like my father had said because he swore no one in his family would turn on him.
After the funeral, everything changed. Zaira was never available to get together when I called or texted. She always had an excuse, and I realized I was getting blown off. I had really hoped the blowout between our families wouldn’t have affected our relationship, but obviously it had. Five years later, I was still in love with her. Fuck, I still wanted to marry her.
Then came the day when I called and got a recording that the number I’d dialed had been changed, and there was no forwarding number. She had severed all ties with our friendship and no longer wanted me.
So imagine my surprise when Vince told me she was engaged to that asshole Victor Masserie. He played me perfectly ’cause he knew I would do anything for Zaira. All he had to do was mention her name.
When I saw her lying unconscious on her solarium floor, blood pouring from her head, what did I do? I took her and gave her sanctuary in my home. I should have left her in her brother’s care, but like my father said, that’s not me.
Now, getting ready to check in on her, I am questioning why I brought her here, my father’s words still fresh in my mind. I’m sure she would have been fine with Vince. Then I wonder why she was there in the first place. Even though Vince would have figured out something where we could cross paths to make everything work out, I can’t shake the feeling she is safer with me. And, besides, she’s here because I fucking want her here. Plain and simple. I saw an opportunity to take something I wanted, and I took it. She’s fucking mine. She’s always been mine. She isn’t even conscious yet, and already she is opening up old wounds.Will I ever fucking learn?
I cautiously walk into her room, afraid she will be awake and read me the Riot Act. But when I enter, she is still out. Dr. Siegel has his stethoscope out and is checking her vitals. Siegel has been our family doctor for years. He has nursed me, Alex, and Gina through all our childhood illnesses and has always been on call for many of our family predicaments as well. He really is like one of the family.
“How is she?” I ask him.
“Her vitals are good, but I’m concerned she has not woken up.” He pauses and looks at Zaira. “I’ve dressed her wound and stitched it up. I just expected her to wake by now.”
“What can I do?” I ask.
“She’ll need to be watched, at least until she wakes up. With her sleeping so long, I fear a concussion, bleeding on the brain, or worse, brain damage. To be on the safe side, I want to have her transported to the hospital for a CT scan. Would that be okay?”
“Of course, Dr. Siegel. Whatever she needs,” I reply.
“Okay, then if you will excuse me, I need to contact the hospital and make the arrangements.”
I nod, and he rushes from the room. Walking up to the bed, I look down at Zaira. She’s sleeping so soundly, and even when her body is stressed, she still carries a faint smile across her lips. Her head is bandaged, and there are a few drops of blood that have seeped through the gauze.
I sit next to her on the bed and grab her hand. It feels so frail in my grasp as I pray for her to get well. She may have severed her ties with me, and I am sure she is not going to be happy with me when she wakes up—which will only make her feelings for me that much worse—but I would never wish her unwell.
Staring at her sleeping form, I silently ask her,Did you love him? If you did, how could you love a man like that? If you did, I’m sorry he’s dead for you, Zaira. Only for you. “Did you ever truly love me?”I ask in a whisper. Can you love me again?
My thoughts are scrambled. The last thing I wanted to do was to hurt her, but after hearing my father’s words and now seeing her lying here unconscious, in the last twenty-four hours, that’s all I have done. I find it difficult to believe she loved Victor or even her father, but if she did, I am sorry they are dead.
Fuck that! I’m not sorry. They both were complete wastes as human beings. Neither one of them deserved her. I hesitate.Do I?The realization of that thought consumes me as I gaze at her. If not for the bandage, nobody would know she suffered any kind of trauma. She could simply be sleeping.
I’m lost in thought when Dr. Siegel returns. “I’ve made arrangements with the hospital. They will be here this afternoon to pick her up. She will be taken via ambulance to the hospital for a scan of her head. Is that acceptable, Mr. Vitali?”
“Of course, Dr. Siegel, and please, you’ve known me since I was a kid. Call me Michael. My father is Mr. Vitali.”
He chuckles and nods.
I leave Zaira with Dr. Siegel and step into the hallway. After dialing Vince’s number, I wait for him to answer.
He answers on the fourth ring. “How’s Zaira?” he asks into the phone.
