“Noah, my man, let’s grab a drink and calm down.”
When Noah didn't respond to Gio’s words, Vicki clutched his hand and tugged hard. Eventually, Benito stopped coughing, and Noah released me from his heated gaze to leave with the others.
It had just become crystal clear to me that Benito Costa was no longer my mark.
Noah Costa was.
Chapter Four
Noah
Pacing back and forth over the floor of my office, I clenched and unclenched my fists. I desperately wanted to tell that bitch I would have her tongue cut from her head for speaking to me in such a manner.
“Calm down, for fuck’s sake.”
Normally, Gio was one of the few people who could talk me down from an intense rage. Today, though, his voice only grated on my nerves.
“You were too fucking nice to her.”
“Somebody has to be,” he countered, casually lighting a cigarette and leaning back against my desk. “The Costa siblings are up her ass for no reason.”
Coming to a stop in front of him, I said, “Don’t tell me she has you in her hooks, too.”
“All that really matters is that your father likes her.”
I scoffed. The fact that he wanted only her and not me to comfort him when he was in distress sent me over the edge. That man wasmyfather,myflesh and blood.
“Maybe you’re just pissed she clocked your man.”
“Yeah, well, he’s immediately fired. If someone as simple as a doctor could spot him, then he’s shit at his job.”
“As simple as? You make her sound like an uneducated country bumpkin instead of a whatever-the-hell kind of surgeon.”
Gio blew out smoke, and I resumed pacing. My heart rate was returning to normal, so I could only assume my blood pressure had also dropped.
I couldn't seem to ruffle her feathers, and that bothered me more than it should. She was too calm, too collected. I’d caught her off guard the day before, but only barely. Sailor Wentworth wasn't a delicate flower, and for some reason, I hated her for it when I should have admired her.
“Where did my sister get off to?”
“Hovering over Benito until the good doctor leaves.”
“I’m sure she’ll love that.”
I saw Gio shrug out of the corner of my eye as I made another turn. “In all sincerity, why do you hate her guts? You haven't spent enough time in her presence to know what she’s like.”
“It started with the way she backed up Dad instead of agreeing with the hospital. He’s out against medical advice, so why the fuck wouldn’t she side with that same advice?”
“She did mention informed consent and a patient’s right to refuse.”
“Stop defending her!” I shouted, fed up with both him and Dad.
“You want her to do as you say without question, and she wants your father’s rights protected. Who sounds like they’re in the wrong here?”
I snarled, and he put his hands up in a peacemaking gesture that wouldn’t work on me at the moment. But I did need to focus on something other than the damn doctor. We had an arms meeting coming up, and I had to prepare for it.
“Has Mancini gotten with you?”
Gio’s brows went up at my abrupt change of subject, but he didn’t question me out loud. “He was scouting the location today.”
