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“Given that’s where we are…I even have a visual of it.” I lifted a hand toward his smoke-covered face.
He didn’t seem to find my humor funny. “Umberto will be by in an hour or two with a new one.”
I went to open my mouth, but he lifted a hand. “You can’t move me. Not on this.”
“I don’t know what the end game is here, besides getting what you’re owed in the form of someone’s misery, but if you think you’re going to turn me into a docile woman, you’re sadly mistaken.”
“Nah. I’m oddly impressed that you don’t fold so easily.”
Umberto pulled into the spot next to mine, and Big nodded toward the hospital. The only reason I walked when he motioned me forward was because I needed space from him.
On a side note, I noticed two men step out of Umberto’s car, fully suited with dark glasses, and follow behind me. They were keeping their distance, but I knew Big must have ordered them to.
I tried to ignore them as I went into the hospital and to Angelo’s floor.
Phoenix’s eyes widened when I walked in. He whistled. “Fancy pants. Where’d you go dressed like that?” He took my left hand when I was close enough and whistled even longer. “Nice ring.”
“Goes with the dress.” I rustled his hair and he smiled.
“Even if it’s fake, it looks real, so you better not wear it again. You might lose a digit.”
“Noted.” I turned toward Angelo. “How are you feeling?”
“Fine.” He went back to the comic he was reading.
I sighed, the pressure in my heart immense. I kept trying to remind myself that he was a teenager, and teenagers are moody, but I kept feeling like I’d failed him somehow and would never be able to have a close relationship with him.
After what had happened during his surgery, I felt such a relief at seeing him. Maybe I took for granted how much I needed them too, because I was always so busy trying to make it—for the four of us. I just wanted to change my clothes and relish the fact that Jerry had no hold on him, and he was going home.
I could forget the last twenty-four hours for a while.
Angelo knew what had happened during surgery, though. The doctor told him that he would always have to let medical professionals know about his reaction to anesthesia. It seemed like Angelo blamed me for it. He’d always been a little further away from me than Phoenix, and I could feel the gap between us widening.
I had no clue what to fucking do. It seemed like he was never happy.
“I’m going to change out of these fancy clothes, and after, how about the three of us play a board game or something?” Georgia had bought some.
Phoenix was all for it.
I looked at Angelo. “You?”
“What happened to your face?”
I automatically touched it and winced. That asshole had backhanded me and probably left a bruise. I hadn’t seen my face since I’d done my makeup before I left for Portofino. I was too tired to even come up with a lie. I just shrugged, and he turned away from me.
After I took a quick shower and melted into a comfortable top and shorts, I tried to spend some real quality time with the boys. Phoenix had coaxed Angelo into the game, and after a little while, he softened up some. Phoenix even got him to laugh when he started flinging fake money from the game all over, waxing poetic about losing.
By the third game, I fell asleep with the cards on my chest. It felt like Phoenix woke me up seconds later when he told me I had to get dressed for work.
Work.
I owed Vinny for bailing me out, and I didn’t want to deal with his bitching ass if he thought I wasn’t going to pay him back. He’d weasel his way into every facet of my life if I didn’t.
Besides, I wasn’t that person. The one who skipped out on my responsibilities. Vinny was a weasel, but he did help sometimes. I didn’t want to burn him.
It took me longer than usual to get ready. The bruise was angry looking, and I had to layer my makeup to cover it. I said goodbye to the boys, grabbed my bag, and then stopped short when I was out in the parking lot.
Did I even have a car?
