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“Like fuck you can! I’m not going anywhere. I’d like to see you fucking try to make me.”
“With all due respect, Mr. Valentino, you are not my patient. Your wife is, and if she wants privacy, you will give it to her.”
“No, I need Theo. He can’t leave me,” Holly rushes out, her fingernails digging into my palm as her grip on me tightens.
“Okay, if that’s what you want, he can stay. I’m sorry, Holly. But I have to ask: did your attacker penetrate you?”
In other words:was she fucking raped?It’s a question I haven’t been able to ask her myself. Because I’m scared of hearing the fucking answer, equal parts needing to know and not wanting to believe it. I hold my breath and wait for Holly to respond. My thumb rubs little circles on her wrist.
“He… his fingers. It was his fingers.”
Fuck! That fat fuck put his fucking fingers inside my wife. Insidemyfucking wife. It’s taking everything in me not to get up and let loose the monster clawing its way through my chest. I need to hurt someone—a lotof fucking someones. They need to pay for letting this happen. They all need to pay.
“Okay, do you want me to do a full examination? It’s completely up to you, honey. You can say no.”
“No.” Holly is quick to answer.
“Okay.” The woman pushes to her feet, before picking up her bag and tucking it under her arm. “Mr. Valentino, I’d like a word.” Then she turns and walks out the door to wait for me in the hall.
“I’ll be right back, dolcezza. I’m just going to stand in the doorway. I won’t leave the room, I promise.” I have to physically remove Holly’s hand from mine, and I feel like a fucking asshole for doing so. I stop at the threshold, listening for the doctor to tell me whatever it is she wants to say.
“She’s going to need help. This kind of trauma doesn’t just go away. Make sure she has someone to talk to. A friend, a sister, a therapist. Anyone she can trust.”
My first thought is Reilly. I should take Holly back to Sydney, so she can be with her sister. But selfishly, I wantthat personto be me. I want to be everything Holly needs. I don’t bother responding to the woman. I simply nod my head and climb back into bed with my wife. She snuggles up against me, and I hold her tight.
* * *
It takes Holly an hour to fall asleep. I don’t want to leave her.I promised I wouldn’t.But I need fucking answers. I pull out my phone and text Neo, telling him to get me Donatello. I’m not prepared to leave my wife’s side, so the son of a bitch can fucking meet me right outside this room. I untangle myself from Holly’s grip and tiptoe towards the entryway, inching into the hall but leaving the door open a crack, so I can still see her.
Neo and Donatello are rounding the corner, both headed in my direction. He came alone. Without backup. He’s either fucking stupid or brave. And right now, I’m not sure which. I tilt my head to the side, inspecting the old man’s demeanor. I’m good at reading people. I always know when they’re lying to me. “I have one question. Did you know that Giovani was planning to attack my wife?”
“No. If I knew, I would have slit his throat before he made it within two feet of that poor girl,” he answers.
“You’re oddly protective of my wife. Why?” I counter. I’m confused by his behavior. He’s not lying. I can see the anger in his eyes at the mention of Holly’s attack.
“She’s family.” He shrugs.
That’s not the first time he’s said that… “How so?”
Donatello sighs, running his hands through his hair. “You have to understand… I didn’t know about this until that day you came to see me. I received a phone call during that meeting. Do you remember?” he asks. I nod my head. I recall him stepping out of the office. I overheard one side of a heated conversation. When he returned, he stared at me for a long time, then he finally cleared his throat and we went back to talking business. “That call was from your mother. And that’s the day I learned who you were, Theo. Had I known beforehand, I would have done something sooner. Brought you here earlier.”
“What are you talking about?” He’s making no fucking sense.Who I am?Pretty sure I know who the fuck I am.
“You’re my son, Theo. That’s whyyour wifeismy family.” His eyes are glassy, which says a lot for a made man. A Don. We learn at a very young age to mask any and all emotions.
“No, you’re lying. My father is dead. And you aren’t him,” I growl.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know… I never would have let another man raise you.”
“This can’t be happening.” I shake my head. No, this isn’t true. I won’t believe it. “Neo, have the jet ready to leave in thirty minutes.” I walk back into the room and slam the door. Holly jumps at the sound.Shit. Fuck.I walk over and scoop her up into my arms.
“T, what’s going on?” she asks groggily.
“We’re going home,” I whisper. “Go back to sleep. I’m taking you home, dolcezza.”
