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Prologue
Donata
Present Day, New York City
“Dr. Salvatore,” Ida called out for me from the Nurse’s station.
“Yes?” I stopped in my tracks and turned to face her. My gaze swept quickly over the stark white walls and her neatly kept desk.
In the last couple of years, the hospital had become my second home. The chaotic rhythm of the ER was a haven of sorts. My life felt normal every time I stepped through the sliding doors, every time I put on the white coat and became Dr. Salvatore. Here, I wasn’t the next in line to take over as head of the family of a century old crime society. When I was Dr. Salvatore, I wasn’t a mobster. I was a healer.
“I’m glad I caught you before I left.” Nurse Ida greeted me with her usual happy grin. We were eight hours into our night shift. She had to be bone tired by now, but she didn’t show it. She left her station and did a quick run to close the space between us. “Mr. Buratti was looking for you. He said he’d wait for you, but I don’t see him now.” She scanned the empty hallways, looking left and right, then behind her.
“Thanks. I’ll text him.” I gave her a quick nod and a smile.
“All right.” She stepped toward her desk, satisfied she’d delivered Santino’s message.
I waited until she went back to updating her charts to make my way to the on-call room. Ever since Santino’s wife Luce started working at the hospital, Santino had gotten into the habit of personally driving her in and escorting her to her locker. More than once I’d caught them making a pit stop by the on-call room.
“Luce.” I stopped in front of the door with a sign that read “staff only” and knocked. “You’re late.”
“Shit,” Luce whispered-shouted from inside the small room.
I chuckled when she dropped her shoes twice and then cursed some more. After a few more beats, she swung open the door, still trying to catch her breath as she stuffed her bra in her huge purse and glanced around the room.
“Looking for this, Red?” Santino dangled a staff badge in front of her.
“Yes.” She relaxed her stance then made to grab it.
He let her have it, but then pulled her into his arms and kissed her. I rolled my eyes at their public display of affection. I was happy Santino had found someone. But did he have to rub it in?
“By all means, take your time Nurse Luce.” I leaned on the door frame.
“Oh, yeah. No, I’m going now.” She met Santino’s gaze. “I’ll see you later.”
“Yes, you will.” Santino flashed her one of his sexy smiles.
As soon as Luce hung a left at the end of the hallway, I shook my head at Santino. “Do you really have to do this every time she’s needed at the hospital?”
“Do what?” He calmly fixed his tie and smoothed out his suit jacket.
“You were having sex where I work?” I pointed at the rumpled sheets on the bunk bed.
“Isn’t that what this room is for?”
“No.” I said it a bit too adamantly. “The Doctors’ mess is for sleeping.”
“Okay. Step into my office.” He pulled me inside and shut the door. “What’s going on?” He cocked his head to look me in the eye. “Is our Queen Bee sad?”
“Don’t call me that. We’re not in high school.”
“You’re still our Queen Bee.” He beamed at me. “But seriously, what’s up with you? Are you mad that I’m having sex or thatyou’re nothaving sex?”
“What? No.” I shook my head several times as I considered his words. It wasn’t the sex that bothered me. It was the love in their eyes. I plopped myself on the thin mattress. “I’m gonna die alone, aren’t I?”
“Oh wow, I was kidding. I didn’t mean to hit a nerve there.” He sat next to me. “Donata, you’re not going to die alone. You’re a Salvatore. The women in that family live forever. How old is Signoria Vittoria? Like a hundred?”
“Yeah, something like that.” I laughed and wiped my wet cheek. Furrowing my brows, I glanced down at my hands. Why the hell was I crying? “I’m being silly. I don’t know why. I guess seeing Enzo and Aurora finally find each other has left me wondering about my own life. It’s stupid. Forget it.” I made to stand.
