Page 4 of The Doctor

Each word he said pounded a nail in my coffin.

Each word had taunting images popping through my head.

Teaching her the things she wouldn’t learn elsewhere. Show her things she wouldn’t see otherwise.

Fuck.

My dick acted like it was what she’d see and experience, and that was not fucking okay.

A quiet knock on the door shook loose those images, ushering in the raging storm. Clara stepped inside Paulo’s office, all sex in heels in that skimpy little dress. A tempest. This dark disaster that would surely bring my doom.

She looked my way, and the twinkle in her eyes told me I was destined for hell.

And she, this sinful siren, this dangerous woman who’d grown from the baby I’d delivered in the back of Berto’s car, would give me a first-class ride through those blackened gates, free of charge.

2

Zeno

Present Day

Somewhere overhead, something thudded, and it sounded like thunder rolling through the upper halls of my brownstone. I tried to ignore the sound, even as my patient raised his gaze to the tiny particles of dust floating down from the ceiling of my kitchen.

Keeping my focus on his tender wrist, I rolled his hand one last time.

“It all started with that girl,” Vinicio Tedesco muttered, dragging his attention back to his hand. “Cosimo went crazy when she was born, and it’s just gone downhill since.”

“Uh huh.” I cringed when another thud reverberated overhead, but pushed on before Vin could comment. “I think you’re healing nicely. I want you to take it easy for a few more weeks. Wear your brace, and ask Mrs. Tedesco to help you in the tub.”

“Now, come on.”

“No, no.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “You only sprained it this time, Vin. Next time, it could be a break. At your age, that’s the last thing we want.”

“Are you calling me old?”

“Only if you consider ninety-two to be old.”

Vin let out a loud burst of laughter. “No wonder he made you his lieutenant.” He shook his head, as if that feeble movement could keep me from sliding his wrist brace back on. “You, Paulo, Cosimo. You’ve all got that same take-charge, take-no-shit attitude. That’s where all the trouble starts.”

“Maybe the trouble starts with old men constantly poking the bear.”

Another burst of laughter pulled from his chest, but I still caught the thunk against the floor overhead. I’d thought he missed it, but his next words made me wonder if that was true.

“I think it’s the women. Stealing away all our sanity and making us into bloodthirsty fools.”

Fucking right, he was.

But I couldn’t admit it. Not to him.

I could hardly admit it to myself.

Instead, I muttered, “I think we get there just fine by ourselves.”

This time, his laughter was just a quiet chuckle. “I think you’re right on, my boy.”

With a gentle hand on his frail shoulder, I ushered him toward the front door. “Let’s get you home to Mrs. Tedesco, shall we?”

“Pssh. That’s a horrible idea. She’ll just fuss all over me, as if I can’t take care of myself.”