Mamma crept over to the bed and took Markie's hand.
"It's the least I can do," she whispered, her eyes filling with tears. "I cannot thank you enough for saving my babies. We're getting you help, Markie. Our family needs you. Angel needs you. Hang in there."
She kissed Markie's forehead, and then hugged me on her way out the door.
Nonna came in next, holding a bag out for me. "The cafeteria food is rotten, so I hit that deli down the street and got you a sandwich."
I'd lost track of time. The clock on the wall said four-fifteen, but I wasn't sure if it was morning or afternoon. Although I had no idea how long it had been since I'd eaten, I had no appetite.
"Thank you," I said, taking the bag from her and setting it on a chair.
Nonna sidled up to Markie and repeated most of the same words Mamma had used, before kissing her cheeks, hugging me, and leaving.
Father entered. "How you holdin' up?" he asked.
"I've had better days," I answered honestly.
"Ain't that the fuckin' truth. Tech." Father shook his head. "Never saw that coming. If you hadn't been there... I don't know what would have happened. That bastard will get his, though. Just as soon as we wring every ounce of information we can out of him."
I felt no pity for Tech. He deserved everything he got.
"You get that wound in your side looked at yet?"
I hadn't even thought about it. "No sir."
He nodded. "I'll send a nurse in to stitch it up. Make sure you get some rest. Markie and the family need you to be at your best right now."
I knew he was right, but the idea of sleeping seemed almost as crazy as eating. I needed to know Markie was okay first.
Father hugged me and left, holding the door open for Ariana. She rushed in and sat by her sister's bed.
"Any change?"
"No. A specialist is on the way, though. He'll do everything he can for her."
"Thank you, Angel. I'm glad Markie has you."
I didn't know what to say, so I nodded. I stood at the foot of the bed and Ariana sat by Markie's side in silence until a nurse came in and started fussing over my cut. She cleaned it and stitched me up, and then Ariana left.
The specialist arrived and kicked my ass out of the room, informing me that they'd be moving Markie to a sterile environment for surgery and I wasn't allowed. Knowing he was her only hope, I gave her one last kiss before following Bones to the waiting room.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Angel
THE NEUROSURGEON SAID Markie's surgery was a success, and he was able to remove the entire tumor, but when the anesthesia wore off, she didn't wake up. He said these things take time and Markie's body needed to heal itself. No telling when she'd wake up.
Hooked to machines with her head bandaged and her eyes closed, she slept peacefully while Father and I plotted revenge.
Tech had squealed like a pig, rolling over on the idiots stupid enough to support Adamo over my father. Uncle Carlo organized teams to close down their warehouses and cripple their operations while Father and I hit Adamo directly. The very next day we found him at his current whore's house. As much as I wanted to be the one to drive the bullet into his brain, Uncle Michael had done the deed.
"Two in the head, make sure he's dead," Michael said, lowering his pistol. "Fuck, that felt good."
Uncle Michael was appeased, but my old man sure as hell wasn't. So many people he'd trusted had betrayed him. After everything he'd done for them... done for the city. There wasn't a doubt in my mind that every single traitor would die before my old man let up.
"How can I help?" Dante asked, finally taking an interest in the family business.
Father gave him a team and sent him after one of the families who'd fucked up. Dante returned only hours later, refilling on ammo and requesting the next hit.
