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She’s one of the few people apart from my family that I actually give a shit about. She works for my brother, who owns an auto repair shop. And while sometimes the lines have been ‘blurred, this is the first time she’s ever tried to take things further.
“Nothing. I guess I’ve just been a little on edge lately. My dad’s going to be released in a couple of weeks and I’m nervous, I guess.”
I don’t stand to comfort her, but I do offer words of encouragement. “I’m sure he’ll be happy to see you.”
“Yeah, but what if he’s changed? What if I’ve changed? What if I’m not—”
I stop her tirade before it gets out of control. “He’s your father. Family’s always and forever.”
I might not be sure about a lot of things, but I do know that. Cara nods, giving me a grateful smile.
“I need to go,” she informs me.
“Okay.”
She makes a move for the door but I stop her by calling her name. She doesn’t turn around and I know she knows what I’m going to say.
“This thing between us was fun while it lasted, Car. But it’s reached an end, okay?”
She still doesn’t turn to look at me. “You’re an asshole, D’Angelo.”
“I know.”
She walks out of the hotel room and I allow myself a few more minutes of solitary bliss before taking a shower myself and heading out. And right on time, too, because I receive a text from Christian asking me to come to the casino.
He probably wants to talk about our game plan for the Bianchi party. It’s still weeks away, but Christian’s nothing if not thorough.
CHAPTER2
Tori
“Tell me when it hurts, baby girl,” I say softly, placing my gloved hands on her stomach.
The girl in front of me is nine years old. Her lower abdomen is slightly swollen and she flinches when I press down on it slightly.
“Ah,” she cries softly, her green eyes welling with tears.
“It’s okay, sweetie. I’ll do my best to make you feel better. What’s your name?” I ask. I press down on other areas of her stomach, but it seems the pains only limited to the swollen part of her abdomen.
“Sarah,” she replies.
“Okay, Sarah. I’m just going to ask Mommy and Daddy some questions and run a couple of tests. After that, I’ll know how to help make you feel better, okay?”
“You promise?”
My heart clenches as I stare at her. I reach over to smooth down some of her brown hair. “I promise.”
She smiles when I wink. I get to my feet and move away from the hospital bed to talk to her concerned parents.
“How long has she been in pain?”
“A few days,” the mother replies. I can see the fear clearly in her eyes, so much like her daughter’s. “She complained a bit about her stomach when she got home from school and I didn’t think much of it. I gave her some ibuprofen and the pain went away. Then, three days later, I noticed the swelling. I took her to a clinic and some drugs were prescribed. I thought she would get better, but then ”
The mom pauses, too upset to continue.
“She was having some trouble using the restroom and I noticed some blood in her stool. I don’t think it’s happened before. I asked her and she said no but I didn’t get an ounce of sleep after that.” “And the pain got worse overnight. Which is when we brought her here,” her dad finishes, his voice hard and firm.
I nod, chewing the side of my lip as I try to understand what I’m dealing with. “Any other symptoms I should know about?”
