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I order lasagna and Caesar salad and hand the server the menu.
I turn back to my brother. "You're full of it." I pick up my knife. "You claim you don't want a relationship, but you're always at the Little Bunny Club."
Gianluca lets out a sigh. "I meet with our allies there. You know that. I also bust my ass at the hospital all day. When I'm not working with patients, I volunteer at the Rainbow Youth shelter with underprivileged street kids. I don't have time for relationships."
"Volunteering at the homeless shelter doesn't take that much time out of your day," I say.
Gianluca isn't Mother Teresa. He repairs our soldiers after they suffer injuries in Mafia turf wars.
"It takes enough time." Gianluca nods. "It's also dangerous to date. We saw what happened to you after Carlos cheated on you. That can't happen again."
I grit my teeth as these memories wash over me. Gianluca's right. After my breakup, it took months for me to get back on my feet. I stayed in my bedroom and didn't attend family meetings. I watchedThe Proposalwith Sandra Bullock twenty times. By the time I got my shit together, I missed three missions to take out our mortal enemies.
At last, the server arrives with our food. Gianluca's steak smells delicious and my lasagna looks even better. I dig in and let the cheesy food wash over my taste buds. It's not great for my cholesterol, but it's delicious.
At last, I realize it's time to ask my brother the big question. I need to know if Arlo's medication is dangerous.
I blow out a breath. "There's something I need to ask you."
Gianluca nods. "Go for it."
I pull my phone out of my pocket. "Arlo says he has a medical condition. He takes pills for it but I don't think he's seen a doctor to diagnose him."
Gianluca furrows his brow. "What pills?"
"Generic omeprazole." I slide my phone across the table and tap the screen. "His throat burns in the morning if he doesn't take these meds. The label on the back says you shouldn't take them for over fourteen days without medical supervision."
Gianluca studies the pills, then turns his eyes up to me. "I'm a cardiologist." He shakes his head. "I appreciate you coming to me with this, but Arlo needs an ENT."
I reach out and hold my brother's hand. "Arlo is afraid." I blow out a breath. "He's too scared to go to a doctor. He trusted you last night."
Gianluca nods. "What do you want me to do?"
"Research this brand of medication and discuss your findings with Arlo next week during his checkup." I take a bite of lasagna. "Then you can refer him to a specialist."
Gianluca looks at the pictures. "It says this is from Nero Pharmaceuticals. That's the Diavolo brand of over-the-counter medication."
I set my fork down. "Is there a problem?"
"There was a lawsuit against them three years ago for producing tainted generic pills. It came out that the Diavolo family was funding the production of harmful drugs and pocketing government subsidies."
My blood goes cold. "What can you do?"
"Bring me one of Arlo's pills." Gianluca stares into my eyes. "I'll send it to the lab to check for suspicious compounds."
I nod. "Will you see Arlo in your office, too? He needs a physical."
Gianluca smiles. "Of course. I'd love to help Arlo out."
Gianluca performs physicals for our soldiers in the field. Most cardiologists don't, but he received proper training for it.
I finish eating lunch with my brother. I try not to think about the medication. But I didn't realize that the pills Arlo takes could be dangerous.
"Omeprazole has a very low risk side effect risk profile." Gianluca holds my hand to reassure me. "The fourteen-day figure on the box is recommended guidance. Many people are on PPIs their entire lives and never experience adverse reactions. Lots of the recent stories you see in the media are scare tactics to generate clicks for ad revenue and health nuts who sell alternative medicine programs. The two-week guidance only exists because the FDA wants to make sure people see doctors because their heartburn could be due to other conditions."
"But you'll research this brand, right? I want to make sure Arlo takes nothing harmful."
Gianluca smiles. "Of course. I'll report my findings to you next week."
