So I made a bold decision, which probably would bite me in the ass, but I didn't care. Wearing my sweater and Dory’s worn out Uggs—no matter the heat, the cold always somehow seeped into my bones—I decided to explore the forest, and the Hudson River I’d never seen before. The cliffs were dangerous, but at the same time, the landscape from the window appeared to be beautiful.
The rocks and ground crackled under my shoes as my eyes explored nature. Tall, fully leafed, green trees, mushrooms scattered around, birds chirping along with some squirrels running around like lightning. Leaving a bit of bread and some nuts I had at the cabin on the ground, I continued my walk as I deeply inhaled the fresh air, and I opened my arms wide enjoying the breeze.
The sound of waves crashing caught my attention, and with a frown, I followed it and, in a few steps, I emerged from the forest to the shore.
The blue water glistened in the sunlight as the white seagulls flew above me, and I became mesmerized with the view.
Why hadn't my dad taken me here before? But before I could dwell on this thought, I noticed something weird on the shore. The area was deserted. After all, Monday morning was not the most popular time to hang out for fishermen or anyone else, but under a black fishing net lay someone. Frowning, I sped up my walk and quickly kneeled next to the body, finding a man approximately ten years older than I was. Blood coated his grey shirt. He had a fishing net wrapped around his neck, scarring the flesh, and a deep wound on his head.
“Oh, my God,” I whispered, frantically searching for some kind of help, but no one was there. Checking his pulse, I relaxed a bit, discovering he was still breathing, but my mind spun thinking about a solution.
Think, Rosa. Think!
I needed a knife and car to get him back to the cabin, to help him out somehow.
Jeep! Quinn’s Jeep was still there. She was supposed to come after it this week. Running as fast as I could, I ended back at the cabin, hopped in the Jeep, blessing Alfonso for teaching me how to drive a vehicle, and in record time, I ended back at the shore.
Still, no one to help.
Cutting the fishing net to free him, I winced at his condition. I placed my hands under his arm pits, scooping him up and up, although hell, he was heavy compared to me. Opening the Jeep door, I almost cried, because I just couldn't get him in without help.
Then, an idea, like a light bulb clicking on, popped into my head. Taking the surfboard Dorothy had on top of the Jeep for her upcoming tournament, I put the man on it, strapping his body with the ropes. Then I attached it to the back of the car and sat in the driver’s seat. Driving slowly, I almost sang “Hallelujah,” because the road wasn't bumpy or rutted. In six minutes—I counted due to the information in all the medical books I loved to read—we made it back, and I pulled him inside.
And for the next two hours, I used everything I knew and all I could find in the available books to save his life.
Rosa
“You should eat more,” Dad said, as his eyes critically scanned my body in the short black wrap dress. Along with mocha heels, I looked as though I was attending a funeral instead of hosting Dad’s dinner party.
Rolling my eyes and fixing my hair in a bun on top of my head, I replied, “I eat enough.” Pointing at the candy wrappers scattered on my bedside table, I chuckled. “See? Can’t resist.”
He scowled. “I meant like dinners and breakfast.” Sighing heavily, finally satisfied with my look, although I seriously hated this dress Dad pushed me to wear, I spun around and gazed at him as my eyes held warning.
“You promised.”
He cursed in Italian, which meant he was highly frustrated, then nodded. “Fine, but I’m still your father and have the right to be concerned.” He finished his short lecture, probably what he was aiming for, and I laced my fingers through his as the doorbell rang, indicating guests were here.
“Concern, yes, but not demanding. Otherwise, I won’t stay here, and you won’t be able to stop me.”
His lips thinned, as he muttered, “I should have killed Damian Scott when I had the chance.” Restraining my laughter, we went downstairs to greet the guests.
When Damian found out who my father was, he went to him, and they came to some kind of understanding that it was safer for the time being for me to stay with Damian. However, both of them shared the small fact that Dad had his gun pointed at Damian’s head, not that Damian could easily be intimidated. The reason Dad currently hated him, though, had to do with my bank account and apartment in an elite neighborhood in Manhattan. He knew how my dad tried to restrict my freedom and schooling back in the day, so he made sure I had the means to be on my own until I had my medical degree. Because no matter what had happened, my dream of becoming a surgeon didn't die, and I still wanted to pursue it, even if I finished much later than anyone else.
We were right on time, as Lucretia opened the door, and the first loud voices echoed in the house as guests entered. For tonight, Dad invited only Allegro, his best friend since childhood, who used to be his counselor equivalent of asovietnikin Cosa Nostra, but retired when his wife got cancer. The action didn't save Felicia, as far as I knew, and it saddened me, because she was a nice woman. Dad allowed it, and he was still part of thefamilia.
Before I could say anything or run into his arms as I used to do as a kid, muscled hands picked me up and spun me around the room. I squealed and held tight to his broad shoulders. Once the world stopped spinning, I was placed back on the floor, and we both leaned back as green mischievous eyes held mine.
Oh, my God.
Squealing once more, I hugged him close as I shouted. “Alfonso!” He laughed back as a cocky grin appeared on his handsome face. “Rosalinda, good to see you, sweetheart.” His voice held a playful note, but I ignored it as I studied my childhood friend who I hadn't seen in forever. Alfonso was always the nicest kid on the playground, loved goofing around, and never took anything seriously. His olive skin went well with his dark hair. The body under his suit was toned but not overly muscled. The little wrinkles under his eyes spoke of his love for humor, but at the same time, they indicated he knew everything. Maybe he acquired this look as a bodyguard in the Cosa Nostra.
“Good to see you too!”
He grinned. “Who wouldn't be happy to see me, babe?” I opened my mouth to reply when the smell of alcohol and cheap cigarettes stuck in my nostrils. I looked at the man near the doorway, a thin guy who wore black jeans and shirt. His arm was wrapped around a fragile-looking woman with her blonde hair and porcelain skin shadowed with several bruises, which were visible even under the tons of foundation she had put on to cover it up.
Her lip was split. Paralyzing fear ran through her eyes, and she winced a bit when he gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Long lost princess of the Cosa Nostra. Welcome back.” However, his voice was anything but welcoming as his cold blue eyes ran over my body as though he imagined me naked, and it made me feel dirty inside.
“Romeo,” I said calmly, because only he could grow into such an ass. He was the one who always hurt girls on the playground, tugging on their hair or throwing dirt at them, and he was always in some kind of trouble. Dad had saved his ass from the police more times than could be counted on two hands. Why he still bothered was beyond my understanding.
