My father’s never been one for suits. He’s worn them, but usually only for funerals and weddings. I can’t tell which category this meeting falls into. Probably a little bit of both. One part of his life is ending, and a new chapter is about to begin.
When my father wraps his arms around me, I feel him stiffen as Mario walks behind me. “Be good today,” I remind Papa. “This is for the baby, not your ego.”
He kisses my cheeks as he backs away and smiles. “I know how to handle men like Mario,” he tells me, and that’s exactly what I’m afraid of.
I want them to bury the hatchet, but I don’t even know if it’s possible with all the bad blood between them. Years of turf wars, murder, and backstabbing make the possibility of a truce pretty close to impossible. These two men have to rise above their work for the sake of their children and unborn grandchild.
“Santino,” Mario says as my father releases me.
My father dips his head. “Mario.”
Well, this is a start. They’ve been in the same room for thirty seconds, and there hasn’t been any bloodshed.
Baby steps. This is good.
Leo wraps his arm around my back and grips my hip roughly. “Let’s go into the living room, shall we?” Leo says to both men as they stare each other down.
I take a step and immediately double over like someone just sucker-punched me in the gut.
“Daphne,” Leo says, his voice filled with panic.
My hand flies to my stomach, and I gasp for air, feeling like someone’s trying to rip my uterus out through my belly button.
“Something’s wrong.”
20
Leo
“I’msure she’ll be fine,” my father says as he stands across from me in the waiting room.
I pace, wearing a path into the off-white linoleum. “I can’t believe they won’t let me back there.”
The nurse practically shoved me out of the emergency room, telling me they had to run tests and I should go relax in the waiting room while they evaluated Daphne and the baby.
“There was a time when they wouldn’t even allow men in the delivery room for the birth of their child. Remember?” My father asks Santino, trying to be friendlier than I’ve seen him in years.
“Life was easier then,” Santino tells him. “Much simpler.”
Besides our fathers’ small talk, the only other sound in the waiting room is the tap of my dress shoes on the tile. I cross the entire room in seven quick steps, before spinning on my heels and repeating. I can’t sit still. I can’t chitchat and talk about the good old days.
I glance at my watch, wondering what the hell is going on. It’s been an hour since they wheeled her to the back, and there’s been no news or updates as I was promised.
I walk up to the reception desk and scan the surface, looking for anything with Daphne’s name on it.
“Can I help you, sir?” the nurse asks as soon as she looks up from the computer screen.
“I’m here with Daphne Gallo. Are there any updates on her condition?”
She taps a few keys and shakes her head. “The system hasn’t been updated yet, but I’m sure a doctor will be out soon to talk to you.”
Her words don’t give me any solace. I’m not used to sitting on the sidelines, waiting for updates.
“Leo,” Mr. Gallo says as he walks out of the waiting room and comes to stand at my side. “You have to calm down. I know it’s hard.” He grabs my shoulders and stares me in the eyes. “Daphne needs you to be strong and not lose your shit. You hear me?”
I nod and clench my fists tightly at my sides. “I’ll be strong, Mr. Gallo. But until I know she’s all right, I can and will lose my shit.”
“Daphne’s a fighter,” he tells me, trying to put my mind at ease.
