Page 89 of Winter With You

Luca shook his head. ‘I don’t know what you’ve heard but⁠—’

‘Luca, please, why do you treat me like a stupid man? I have never been that. And if you really didn’t want me to ever know you should have taken witness protection when they offered it to you.’

Luca was shaking, on the inside as well as the outside. Yes, he had turned down witness protection. He had known the risks – even when the culprit involved was his own father, maybe more so because of that – but the detective had sworn his identity would be protected as far as humanly possible. Now what?

‘Stop shaking. Believe it or not, family visits where a relative pisses themselves is not a good look.’

Keep breathing. Remember why you did it. Stand by your morality. He sat a bit taller in the chair.

‘You know I’ve had a while to reflect on the fact that my own son ratted me out to the cops,’ Renzo said, nodding. ‘I went through all the stages like it was grief and then I realised that ultimately this was a good thing, a golden thing.’

‘Yeah?’ Luca replied, unconvinced.

‘For a time.’

‘And now? Should I be looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life? Or am I gonna end up in a barrel of acid like Guiseppe?’

He saw the fury imbedding itself in his father’s face. That was the man he knew. The ruthless leader of a relentless gang. He watched the storm gain momentum and then just as quickly begin to rescind.

‘Want me to shut up?’ Luca asked. ‘What if I don’t?’

‘Why are you angry, Luca? Shouldn’t I be the angry one? In here for years already, missing out on everything freedom offers, thanks to you.’

‘It’s not my fault you’re in here. Your actions had repercussions.’

‘And now your actions are having repercussions for you and your friends,’ Renzo hissed. ‘And how long before things escalate and include your mother and Stefanie?’

‘What?’ He didn’t understand.

‘I’m not the only one who now knows it was you who turned me in, Luca,’ his father said. ‘And these people are concerned about how much you do know. And how much your blabbering mouth might affect their own affairs.’

He contemplated exactly what his dad was telling him. ‘Your enemies?’

‘Let’s call them contemporaries. But, I’ve had my warning.’ He parted the collar of his jumpsuit, a jagged scar on his neck. ‘And when Ronnie told me what’s been happening with you, I knew you’d had yours too.’

‘You were attacked? When did that happen?’ Luca asked. ‘Does Mom know?’

‘Shh,’ Renzo ordered. ‘It’s unimportant. What is important is what I’m going to tell you next.’ He took a breath. ‘OK?’

‘I’m listening,’ Luca replied.

53

NEW YORK LOWER MANHATTAN HOSPITAL

Gabriella was pacing. Back and forth over the tiles, up the corridor then back to the Christmas tree in the reception area, repeat. She checked her watch. It was almost thirty minutes since she had arrived here, yelling for help, Phoebe screaming in pain, a nurse arriving fast and asking questions she only had some of the answers to. What was taking so long? Surely someone could come and tell her something so she didn’t have this sickening feeling in the pit of her stomach.

People were looking at her as she headed towards the Christmas tree again. People with injuries waiting for their turn with the medical staff. She knew she should sit down, take a breath, manifest a positive outcome but all she could feel was a sickening sense of some kind of déjà vu. And it was all her fault. She about-turned, headed up the corridor again and at that very second the nurse who had come to the initial rescue was walking her way. Gabriella upped her pace, trying to read the expression on the nurse’s face, heart thumping.

‘Everything’s fine,’ the nurse said as Gabriella got to her, rolling up like a ball of pure anxiety.

It would have been easy to release the taut breath burning her insides, but she needed to be certain. ‘You’re sure?’ Gabriella asked.

The nurse smiled, kindly, caring, then she put a hand on Gabriella’s shoulder. ‘Everything is OK. You can come and see Phoebe now.’

Finally Gabriella let the air whizz from her lungs and with it went her balance. She reached out, found the wall with her fingertips. A flashback of another hospital corridor in another time, an outcome that hadn’t been favourable. Where was the air in here?

‘Hey, hey, breathe in now,’ the nurse said, supporting Gabriella until she finally began to gain control of herself.