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Dante
“A rupture with an extreme fever,” Carter Hawkins says, the Family doctor. His white jacket looks weird on his heavily muscled body. He stands like a soldier, his hair silver, his eyes serious as he looks across his desk at me. “She needs rest, and it might be time…”
“Doc,” I cut in.
He sighs. “I know, Dante, but you have to hear it.”
“Doc.” I walk over to the window, looking out at the parking lot. My head still feels more than a little dizzy. “When my dad passed away, he made me promise to take care of her.”
“We’re taking care of her for the time being,” Carter says as I turn back and see him run a hand through his hair. I think he’s around ten years older than me. “Just think about it, Dante. Where was her nurse?”
“Ma complained about her. Said she was stealing.”
Carter grits his teeth. “That’s the second one. How many thieves can there be?”
“Sometimes, I think…” My head aches sharply. I sit down and rest my forehead on my hand. “I think she wants to die, Carter.”
He sighs heavily. He’s been with us since the start. He’s a Family doctor to whom only high-ranking members have access. He was a medic in the military. I’m not sure what wing. “If she were in a home, she wouldn’t have to feel like a burden.”
“She’s not a burden,” I snap.
“Then she wouldn’t have tofeellike one.”
I massage my forehead, and my vision goes blurry again. Then, a moment later, Carter is at my side, his hand on my arm. “Hey, look at me.”
I blink, his face blurring. “My goddamn head…”
I focus hard, the migraine splitting right down the middle. I don’t pass out, but sitting upright and pretending to be somewhat okay takes so much concentration.
“Has that happened before?” Carter asks.
I grit my teeth and turn away. Sometimes, the Family connection makes it difficult. As a Marino doctor, Carter can ask me as many questions as he wants, whereas a civilian doctor might be intimidated. Carter’s the best, so I have to come to him for Mom.
“We’re here for Ma,” I tell him.
“If you don’t take care of yourself, how will you care for her?”
“Why do you do this, Carter?” I snap.
He leans back, emphasizing his size and height. “Do what?”
“Take care of the Family.”
“Dante, come on.”
Obviously, I understand. He needs the money. I’m not sure what for. I never get into his personal life, but he’s just like me.
“Has it happened before?” he asks again.
I swallow. “Tell me about doctor-patient confidentiality.”
“I can’t tell anybody.”
“Not even the Family, Carter?” I lean forward. “Let’s say Elio and Luca Marino walk in here, maybe with Colt Walker, and they’re tooled up. They tell you to discuss what we’ve talked about. What do you do?”
Carter looks at me steadily. “No man on this earth could walk in here and force me to do anything.”
“You’d take three armed men?Thosethree?”
