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It almost sounds like he’s worried.
When we make it to him, several of his men flank him. A crease deepens between his eyebrows when his gaze darts to Costi.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“There’s been an accident. Costi, we need to get you to the hospital… your mother.”
Costi is in motion before I can even comprehend what my father means. “Is she ok?” he asks my dad.
“Not sure. We’ll take my SUV. Come on, Bianca.”
The two of them are nearly at the front of the house before I spring into action, racing after them. Costi looks pale as he climbs in the front seat as I pile into the backseat of my father’s black SUV. When we get to the hospital, I’m the last person inside.
I hate hospitals. The white walls and medicinal smell. The sadness and fear in people’s eyes. Healing lives here, but so does death.
It’s where I lost my mother. Where she clung to life for two days after being shot. Memories of my father bringing me here to say goodbye choke me as I stare at the big building.
I force my feet to move through the glass sliding doors and follow behind my father and Costi, listening as they ask a woman behind a desk for information.
The moment I’ve been dreading happens when a man in a white lab coat comes toward us, his expression unreadable.
“I’m so sorry. The car caught fire and…” The doctor’s words fade away and so do I.
“I don’t belong here,” Costi says at dinner, his eyes lacking their usual luster.
“Yes, you do,” I say, dropping my fork.
Costi is staying with us while they try to locate his father, and I don’t know what this means for our future, but I’d be lost without him.
It’s been a few days since Esmeralda’s funeral, and I’ve tried to give Costi space. I’ve also tried to be there for him, but every time I enter the room, he retreats to another one.
My father says to give him time and space, so basically I’ve been a lurking stalker.
I push away my shrimp scampi, no longer in the mood for food.
“Is it wrong for me to say that I’m not sad?”
“No. I think you’re in shock.”
His dark eyes meet mine. “I mean, I’m sad, but I don’t know… she wasn’t exactly a nurturing type of person.” He blows out a breath. “I feel guilty.”
I touch his hand. “Costi, it’s ok. Your mother loved you.” My heart bleeds for my friend, and more than anything, I wish I could make it better for him.
My father enters the dining room, looking grim, and I remove my hand from Costi’s.
“I need to speak with you.” My father sits next to Costi, and my breath stays in my lungs because I feel what he’s about to say will change my world. “We’ve located your father and he would like for you to come and live with him. Legally, this needs to happen because you’re not eighteen years old, but ultimately, the choice is yours.”
My mouth hangs open as I stare at my father, unable to put into words how badly I don’t want Costi to leave.
“Where’s my father?” Costi’s voice is strained as he stares at the mahogany table.
“Greece.”
My eyes go wide. “Greece? You can’t move to Greece. That’s a world away.”
My father ignores me, commanding the room. “If you stay here, there’ll be no more fighting. Understand? The Valucci’s are important people, and his son, Gino, will marry Bianca someday.”
I wish my father would leave. Every word out of his mouth is worse than the one before it.
Costi’s eyes shoot to my father, and he lets out a quick burst of laughter. “Married?”
My father nods. “Many years down the road, but yes. One day.”
I drop my gaze to the half-eaten food in front of me when Costi looks over at me. “You’re going to do it?”
“She has no choice,” my father answers for me. “I’d like for you to stay, Costi. You can continue living with us and attend school. Nothing has to change for you.”
Costi rises from his seat. “Everything’s changed.”
That’s not what he’s supposed to say. My heart cracks as he leaves the room in a hurry.
Later that night, I toss and turn, unable to think about anything other than the disappointed way Costi looked tonight when he found out about me and Gino. I punch my pillow, trying to make it more comfortable for me to fall asleep. It doesn’t work.
I lie in the dark, listening to the sound of my beating heart.
My door creaks open and I stiffen.
“B,” Costi whispers. “Are you awake?”
“Yes,” I whisper back.
He moves into the room, shutting the door behind him. My father is right down the hallway and would probably murder Costi if he found him in my room in the middle of the night, but the danger of the situation fades when Costi slides onto the bed with me.
