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"Live like a normal man? Work a nine-to-five job? Go to the office and return to a house in the suburbs with two-point-five kids?"
"Would that be so bad?"
Not if you were there waiting for me.I almost say the words aloud, then stop myself. What am I thinking? When did everything change? When did Angel become so important to me that I’d consider changing my way of living for her? Something not even Michael has been able to convince me of; but the thought of losing her, of someone harming her…? I can never let that happen. I really would put myself in the path of the bullet and take that hit if it meant she were safe.
I pull her close and tuck her head under my chin.
Penny walks into the room and comes over to us. She holds two paper cups filled with coffee. She offers one to Angel, who refuses. I take the cup instead, and Penny sits down in the chair next to mine.
"Any word while I was gone?" she asks.
Jeanne shakes her head.
We settle down to wait. I take a few sips of the coffee—which isn’t too bad, considering it’s from a vending machine—then make sure Angel sips from it, too. I place it aside, then wrap my arms around her.
I lean back against the wall, taking her with me. I must doze a little because the next thing I know, there’s a doctor standing in front of us.
"Are you Olivia Johansen’s family?" he asks.
"Her family lives out of the country. We’re her friends," Jeanne replies. She pushes off my lap and stands up. "How is she?
The doctor takes in Penny’s, then Jeanne’s faces, before settling his gaze on me. A flicker of recognition dawns in his eyes. He probably recognizes me as one of the Sovranos, which is useful when it comes to situations like this. Nothing like the threat of being offed to make anyone perform at peak capacity.
"Doctor," Jeanne prompts him, "is she going to be okay?"
The doctor nods. He flicks his gaze between the two girls. "The bullet grazed her side. So, it’s not life threatening.
"So, she's going to be okay?" Jeanne asks.
The doctor hesitates.
"When she fell, she hit the edge of a prop. It cut into her cheek, and while the wound is not lethal by any stretch of the imagination, it's going to leave a scar."
"She’s an actress. Her face… her face is the key to more roles," Jeanne whispers. "Can we see her?" She appears steady on her feet, but that doesn’t stop me from holding her hand. She tightens her fingers around mine. "Is she awake?"
"She’s sleeping. Likely, she won’t wake up until the morning. I suggest you all go home and get some rest. Come back tomorrow."
Jeanne nods. The doctor turns to leave.
"Poor Olivia. She’s going to get a shock when she wakes up." Penny draws in a breath. "But the doctor’s right, we should go home now."
Just then, Jeanne’s phone vibrates.
41
Jeanne
I pull the phone out of the pocket of my jeans and glance down at the message. The blood drains from my face. The world tilts. It’s a good thing Luca’s holding my hand; otherwise, I might have fallen.
"Angel!" He jumps up and wraps his arm about my shoulder, steadying me. "What is it?"
I swallow, open my mouth, but the words refuse to come. Instead, I hold up my phone so he can read the message.
Penny, too, is on her feet and walks over to peer at my screen.
"Oh, my god, he wants you to play the lead?" She gasps.
"The premiere is tomorrow, and now Olivia can’t play the lead, so…" my voice trails off. I glance up at Luca. "I feel terrible about this. I should refuse. This is my fault."
