"He's becoming the hitman you'll need him to be," Father told me, sounding both proud and sad. "This isn't what I wanted for him. For any of you."
"We're lions, Father," I told him. "We can't pretend to be anything less."
He smiled at me. "You are your mom's child. You'll make a good capo someday."
Hopefully that day would be well in the future. As soon as Markie recovered, I had plans to marry her, buy a house, and fill it with little monsters of our own. Thoughts of her made my stomach clench with worry. I glanced at my watch. Almost eight p.m. Visiting hours would end soon, and getting past the nurses' station would be a pain I'd rather not deal with.
"I gotta get back to the hospital."
"I know you do," Father replied. "We have all the teams out still. This shit should be wrapped up soon."
He wouldn't rest until his city was cleansed.
No change in Markie. I spent the night by her side, and then went back to work the next day.
Days were filled with killing traitors and taking over their warehouses and nights were spent beside Markie's bed. By the fifth night, I wondered if she'd come back. I replayed our time together in my mind, wishing I could do things differently. If I could have gone back in time, I would have jumped from the Ozone tower with her. I would have dove into the freezing ocean by her side and spent more time helping her with those brats at the orphanage.
"Wake up," I whispered, kissing her forehead. "And we'll go feed and shelter every last bum in this goddamn city."
Silence was the only reply I got.
On day six, I was getting ready to head out when Markie stirred. Rushing to her side, I squeezed her hand.
She squeezed mine back.
My heart leapt into my throat. "Markie?" I asked. "Baby, wake up."
Ariana and Bones were sitting on the couch. They both jumped up and rushed to the bed.
"What? What's going on?" Ariana asked. "Is she awake?"
"She squeezed my hand," I explained.
Ariana grabbed Markie's other hand. We stood on either side of the bed, waiting for her to do something. Anything. Nothing happened.
Ariana gasped. "She squeezed my hand! Quick, get a doctor!"
Bones rushed off and Ariana and I stayed with Markie. One beautiful blue eye opened, and then the next. I stared into them, still holding her hand as I leaned against the bed. Relief threatened to pull my legs out from under me.
She looked at us and then glanced around the room. "The twins?" she croaked. Wincing, her gaze cut to the water bottle in my hand.
"They're fine." I popped the top and helped her take a couple of sips. "Worried as hell about you, but otherwise fine. Nonna is too. You did good, baby."
Ariana burst into tears and hugged her. Markie patted Ariana's head, still looking at me.
I kissed her fingers one by one, so grateful I couldn't even speak.
"The cancer is gone, Markie," Ariana sobbed. "You're gonna be okay. Ohmigod you've been out for a week! Don't ever do this shit to me again."
Markie took another sip. "A week? It's gone?"
Bones returned with a doctor in tow. He looked over Markie's chart and smiled.
"We were able to remove the entire tumor," he confirmed. "Now that you're awake, we'll need to run some tests and make sure your body's not hiding more. Now tell me, how do you feel?"
"Ready to jump from the top of the Ozone again."
Her eyes sparkled with mischief, reassuring me she would be okay. Patting her hand, I promised her we'd fly to the fucking moon as soon as she felt better.
