“Yes, my name is Michael Vitali, and that gentleman over there”—I point at Hawk’s room—“is a dear friend of mine. As you know, his prognosis isn’t good. His family has been waiting to see him, and this one-person-to-a-room rule is for the birds. Is there something you can do to help me out here?”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Vitali, but rules are rules. I don’t need a bunch of biker rabble in here disturbing my ICU.”
Okay, so now I’m pissed. I tried to ask nicely and look where it got me. My gloves come off. “Let me explain something to you, sweetheart. This is notyourICU. My family paid for this state-of-the-art ICU wing. And although we don’t claim ownership of it, it highly offends me when someone else does. And that biker rabble you don’t want in here are my fucking friends. So you either allow them in here to say good-bye to their friend, or I swear you will be out on your ass looking for another job in which no hospital in this country will hire you. I’ll see to it.”
“But, sir…”
“Maybe you are not hearing me. Would you like me to repeat myself? Or perhaps I need to speak with the chairman of the hospital board, Edmund Stanton, who happens to play golf with my father twice a week.”
Meekly, she replies, “No, sir, that is not necessary. They may come in, but they have to be quiet.”
“Thank you. They will be as quiet as mice,” I reply smugly and walk back to Hawk’s room.
Honey is in there with him, and I decide before I tell the others they can go in—after what I just overheard between him and Ice—they need some time alone. I can’t help but linger, however. I really need to know how Sainte is involved in all this.
Honey is holding his hand. “I’m so sorry, Hawk. I’m so sorry for everything.” She’s crying.
“Baby, stop. I knew going in there were going to be things we would have to overcome. I knew you still harbored feelings for Ice, but I didn’t care. You were worth the risk.”
Worth the risk?I smirk.Zaira’s worth the risk.Perhaps I need to take a lesson from a dying man.
“I knew that too, but Sainte? I should have never kissed him, Hawk, and it kills me that you saw it.”
Oh, Sainte, what the fuck, moving in on Hawk’s old lady.
“I don’t have much time. Listen to me. I wish only one thing for you, and that is to be happy. Stop hiding behind your demons and live, Honey. You deserve so much. You deserve more than something safe. You deserve passion and lust and, above all else, deep love. Don’t settle for anything less.”
“But, Hawk—”
“No buts, no regret, and definitely no ‘I’m sorrys.’ We’ve talked about this, and I still stand by what I said before we left for New York. Sainte is the man for you. Give him a chance. He will give you everything you deserve.”
She lies her head on the bed and sobs.
“I’ve already broken a promise I made to you that day—when I said I would always be here for you. I’m sorry for that, but there is one promise I know I can keep. No matter what happens to me when I am gone, whatever the afterlife has in store for me, I want you to know I will always love you.”
She is sobbing uncontrollably now. “I love you too, Hawk.”
“I know, baby, I know. It’s time. Why don’t you see if Michael worked his magic and let the others come in?”
Honey leans over him and kisses him full on the lips. She lingers there a few moments as her tears fall down the side of her face. I hate that I’ve been eavesdropping on them, but I had to know what Sainte had done. I also think I learned something from Hawk today, and that is life is full of risks. You just gotta know when to take them and when not to. I turn to leave and head toward the waiting room.
“You all can go in and see him.”
“Thank you, Michael. I don’t know what you did, but I really appreciate it,” Ice says to me as the others proceed toward Hawk’s room. Ice then follows, and Zaira, Ricco, and I wait in the waiting room.
Roughly thirty minutes go by, and everyone comes back out. “He fell back asleep. I guess we wore him out,” Ice says.
“You all want to come back to the house, maybe get something to eat?” I ask.
“Naw, we’re gonna stay here. In case something happens.”
“I gotcha. Why don’t I have some food brought up here for you all.”
“That would be really nice, thanks, Michael,” Ice says.
“Consider it done.” I pull out my phone. I call Dina and have her prepare some sandwiches and sides. Then I call Gio and ask him to arrange to have everything brought to the ICU wing at the hospital. I turn back toward Ice. “It’s all set. Should be here in about an hour or so. We’re gonna head back to the house. If you need anything, call.”
“Thanks, man. Really appreciate it.”
Zaira, Ricco, and I leave the hospital and head back home. Now, we deal with Darius.
