Page 25 of King

That draws a laugh out of Natalia, and we both smile.

“Pizza sounds great.How about Canadian pizza?You know, with ham and pineapple?"

I laugh out loud at that."I couldn't think of anything better.I'll get out the flour and start the dough."

For the next hour, we prepare everything we need for Canadian ham and pineapple pizza, which we discovered one night when we were alone and looking at a menu for something to eat that we hadn't tried before.Surprisingly, we liked it.

We sit in front of the TV and eat our pizza, watching the latest game.When we're finished and are cleaning up, I think about my talk with Ethan before he died.It's been nagging at me for a while, and I feel incredibly guilty about what I did.

"There's something I need to tell you," I say, taking in a deep breath.

Natalia frowns.“Today seems like a day of confessions.What do you need to tell me?Do I need to sit down?"

I shake my head.“No, it's just me, feeling guilty."

Then I tell her about my talk with Ethan and how he tried to leave the family before the heist.“If only I hadn’t talked him out of it,” I say, “he might still be alive today."

"You can't know that," she says and takes my hand."He may have decided to go along with the heist anyway.He was loyal to your father and wanted to help get the family out of the underworld."

“I know, but I can’t help but feel guilty.If he hadn’t come that day…”

“If he hadn’t come, you might have been the one shot.You can’t know what might have been, so stop trying.It’s a waste of mental and emotional energy.”

I sigh and realize what she says is true, but it doesn’t make me feel much better.

I pull her closer and wrap my arm around her shoulder, glad that at least I have her.

It’s the only thing that allows me to continue.

ChapterTwelve

Natalia

I spend the morning doing rounds and meeting with patients.Around 11:30 in the morning, I get a text and see it’s from Fogarty.

Fogarty: Can we meet?I have some important info you might want to hear.

I pause and consider his request.It’s couched as a request, but of course, I’m helpless to really say no.I look at the hospital ward.It’s pretty laid back today, and everyone seems very calm.I could slip out and meet him on my lunch break.

Natalia: I have lunch from 12:30 to 1:30 if you want to meet then.

Fogarty: Sounds good.Meet me down the street from you at Cup and Bowl.They have decent food.

Natalia: I know the place.See you at 12:30.

I send the text and exhale, wondering what it is he wants to meet about.Must be about the case, with my father, or something to do with the Andropovs.

Whatever the case, it distracts me for the next hour as I prepare myself mentally for the meeting.Luckily, I’m working with a very proactive attending named Dr.Reed, and she takes over and is the lead on our next patient review.

Finally, I check my watch, and it’s almost 12:30.I turn to Dr.Reed.

“I’m having lunch down the street,” I say and point to the elevators.“Can I get you anything while I’m on my break?I’m going to the Cup and Bowl.”

“Oh, they have great Cream of Broccoli soup.Maybe get me a bowl with some of their cheese bread.That would be great.”

“Will do,” I say and smile, glad that I can get her something to make up for my absent-mindedness.

I leave the floor and head down the elevator to the lobby.Once outside, I slip on my sunglasses.The storms of the previous night have cleared, and now the sun is bright.Too bright to be without sunglasses.Even though it’s stupid, they make me feel less visible, which reduces my stress a bit.I’m not the daughter of a Russian mobster on a mission to meet with my FBI handler.I’m just a resident on her lunch break.