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“You have an analytical mind much like your father, Emilia. He would be so proud.”
“I want to help avenge his death, Antonio. Imustdo it. It’s my right as his daughter.”
“I’m willing to let you have a seat at this table in deference to the fact that it is your father. Also, if Niko wakes up, the two of you will be married and Niko will have a lot of responsibility with the family.”
“It’s notif, Antonio. Nikowillwake up.”
“I believe he will, too. He has everything to live for.”
“I’d like to ask you to keep Niko’s condition silent for a little while longer. Even among the family.”
“You think the hit came from within?” DeLuca asks. He looks thoughtful about it, but not surprised in the least.
“I think it came from someone… close to home.”
He doesn’t say anything for a minute, and then sighs. “Let’s not talk in riddles, Emilia. I think we’re past that.”
“I have no proof, but I promise if I find it, you will be the first to know.”
He purses his lips, nodding with what I hope once again is approval. “I thought you would be a crumpled mess after this. Instead, you remind me of the small girl who told my father she wanted to work for the family all those years ago.”
My heart aches with this conservation. Is it a coincidence that Antonio is reminding me of the last conversation I had with my father? I don’t think it is. I think it’s my father sending me a message that I’m on the right path.
“Your father asked me if I was going to grow up to bake delicious treats like my mother.” I smile at the childhood memory.
“And you told him you were going to keep your family safe just like your father.”
“I didn’t keep them safe this time,” I whisper, once again warring with my guilt.
“That was my failure, cara. Do not take that upon yourself. The weight of it is heavy enough on my shoulders.”
“I’m fine, Antonio. I’ll wait to fall apart after I avenge my father’s death.”
“And Niko’s?”
I shake my head, walking to Niko’s bedside. I gently touch his hand. “I told you, Niko isn’t dying. He wouldn’t leave me like this. He likes to be in control far too much to let go now. He loved my father. He will come back to make sure he is avenged. He’ll come back because he has to.”
I turn my face away from the men in the room, wiping a stray tear. But Antonio walks over to stand beside me. “Niko would be a fool to give up now that he has you. And that man is no fool,” he whispers close to my ear, before depositing a chaste kiss on my forehead once more. I take the strength of his support and try to gather my emotions back up and put them away. “We will talk again tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow,” I agree as Antonio leaves.
I watch him walk away while praying I’m strong enough to do what I must. I need to make my father proud.
My father and Niko.
CHAPTER36
Emilia
Two Days Later
It’s late. I don’t exactly know the time—nor do I care. What I do know is that the nurses are leaving, and I can be alone with Niko. They have all been so kind but having them here does nothing but stress me further. I know they are here to do their job. Their presence, however, is a constant reminder that Niko isn’t making progress.
The doctors have warned that every day Niko remains in a catatonic state, his chances of making a full recovery get less and less. I still think it would be better if he was in a hospital, but Antonio assures me that Niko is safest here and is getting the best care possible. I worry, but I trust him, so I try my best to concentrate on other things.
The nurses leave me alone with Vic—who is hovering by the wall opposite of Niko’s bed and staring at me. I constantly feel like he’s waiting for me to fall apart. Everyone seems to be. The only sounds filling the room are that of the machines, whirling and beeping.I’ve grown to loathe that sound.
Niko’s practically hooked up to anything imaginable and yet the doctors rarely have any updates. They keep telling me that when he hit his head on the concrete it caused swelling around his brain and some bleeding. That coupled with the trauma of surgery and the gunshots themselves put his body under major strain. The brain is healing and yet, Niko isn’t coming back to me. They did get the bullets out and repaired the damage inside. It just feels like something should be happening by now. Yet, there are no signs of anything changing.
