“Most people don’t realize that surgery is itself a form of trauma to the body. We put you under, sometimes we have to intubate you, would force your body to operate under very unnatural conditions for an extended period of time. You’re recovering from all that as well as the attack. You’ll start getting your strength back soon, but you’ll be sore in the abdomen for a very long time. So give yourself some grace and be gentle with your body so it can heal better and faster.”
In other words, don’t fight off cops trying to kill you, he thought darkly. He’d been lucky that the staples hadn’t ripped open.
“You’ve got a great bedside manner, Doc,” Angelo said.
Dr. Morales laughed. “Thank you. I never for one minute forget my patients are people. The nurse will be in with your dinner shortly.”
He sighed. “In other words, more smoothies and pudding. Doc, when I get out of here you need to come by the Italian Village. Your dinner will be on me.”
The doctor’s eyes brightened. “I know the place. You work there?”
He nodded. “I own it, and I’m the head chef.”
She chuckled. “Well I will be certainly dropping by in that case. No wonder the hospital diet is killing you.” She chuckled as she left him to rest and think.
After the doctor left, Angelo was left to his own thoughts and how much he couldn’t wait to get out of the hospital. He wanted to get back to his life, to his family, to Kara.
Kara was just as anxious as the rest of the family to visit Angelo again later that night after dinner. She rode with Dante and Matteo, while Francesca and Alessia came with the kids in a separate car.
For the last couple of hours, Dante had been watching her. She could tell he’d tried not to let her notice, but that was exactly the kind of thing she’d learned to pick up on. And if you caught someone doing that at just the right time, the look in their eyes would tell you if you were in danger or not.
She’d caught Dante at the right time, but she didn’t know what to make of his look. It wasn’t exactly suspicion, more like concern. But there was a lack of trust there as well. Something was wrong. For the entire ride to the hospital, she twisted her fingers in the folds of her baggy sweatshirt. She sat in the back seat and when she sensed the moment was right, she looked up, catching Dante who was sitting in the driver’s seat watching her in the rearview mirror. The odd look was still there, but this time he didn’t look away.
“You okay, Kara?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
In the passenger seat, Matteo turned to her, his face gentle. “We’re all nervous to see him again.” The fatherly expression soforeign to her but also so welcome. Whatever was going on with Dante, Matteo wasn’t aware of it.
“I think it’s just the hospital,” she finally said. “I keep thinking about bringing him here in the ambulance. It’s still a lot to process.”
Dante parked the car in the hospital lot, and they got out meeting with the rest of the family on the way inside.
Kara flinched as an ambulance drove into the emergency area, it’s sirens were off but the lights were flashing. She remembered holding Angelo’s hand while he’d been fighting for his life. He’d almost died for her, and now he was stuck with her, at least for a while.
“Hey,” Dante seemed to sense her spiraling and gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. “It’s okay, Kara.”
She saw that concern in his eyes again, and she managed to smile back. “Thanks,” she said, and she meant it.
They checked in at the front desk, and were allowed to visit straight away because Angelo was doing better. Kara kept herself at the back while the Vertucci clan bustled into the room.
“You look much better,” Matteo said as he carefully hugged his son. Francesca fussed over him, then ushered Millie and Nicholas forward. Angelo smiled as he hugged the kids and kissed the top of Millie’s head. Millie reached up to Angelo’s bandaged hand.
Kara frowned.Odd. Why had they removed his IV and put it on the other hand?
“Are you really hurt?” Millie asked.
“Yes, but I’ll be okay soon.” Angelo stroked a hand over Millie’s hair, and she laid her head against his chest.
“Is it true you havestaplesin your stomach?” Nicholas asked with wide eyes.
“Yeah,” Angelo said. “But I shouldn’t show them to you right now because they’re under a protective bandage. Maybe later.”Angelo’s gaze shifted away from the children, searching for someone else, then landed on Kara.
Suddenly she felt herself being pulled forward. “Kara! Quit hiding back there,” Francesca said.
“Yes, quit hiding from me,tesoro mio,” Angelo said with a soft smile, holding out a hand to Kara.
That simple act of reaching for him, touching him, and feeling his hand wrap around hers scared her almost as much as the thought of her father’s men finding her.
