Gina is pale and unmoving in my arms, and I’m reluctant to let her go. I only release her when the ER charge nurse convinces me by saying that Gina could die if I don’t.
“I want Johnathon Moretti to be with her,” I demand, referring to the doctor I trust, who has saved more than one Santoro man.
“Sir, Dr. Moretti isn’t a neuro—”
“I don’t give a fucking shit. He will be part of her medical team,” I grit through clenched teeth. “If my wife dies, you donotwant to be on the end of my wrath.”
“Your wife, Tommaso?” Johnathon, the man himself, hurries into the room. “And stop threatening my colleagues, you thug.” He gives me a pointed look and turns to the nurse. “Do as Mr. Santoro asks, please.”
I didn’t ask; I commanded.
But I’m not about to split hairs because they’re jumping into action, saying things like ‘pressure is increasing’ and ‘the CT scan is ready for her’.
I stop them as they move to wheel her out. Johnathon goes to stop me, but I shrug him off.
I lean down and press my lips to Gina’s, murmuring. “You fight,il mio sole. We have many years for me to make this up to you. And we’re going to have at least three sons, and I need you here to help me love and raise them. You’re my entire reason for living, so come back to me.”
Then I straighten and watch them whisk her away.
Johnathon stands beside me.
“Why aren’t you going with them?” I grit.
“I will, but first, I need to know a few things, Tommaso.”
“Whatever it costs, and whatever the hospital needs, consider it done.”
His jaw works as he studies me. “I know you’re not the kind of man to hurt a woman, but I have to ask…are her face and head wounds because of you?”
Rage swells within me. “I didn’t hurt her.” Not physically, at least.
He nods, accepting my word. “I’m assuming you want her admitted under an alias.”
“Yes.” I have no idea what Caruso will do once he discovers she’s gone. “Either Marco, Silvio, or I will be with her at all times. No one else, except the cleared medical staff, is allowed in.”
“That will be arranged. Is she really your wife?”
“Yes,” I lie easily because there’s no way in hell that she won’t be. “Is that all?”
“You might want to call someone to bring you a fresh set of clothes.” He looks at my bloody ones, along with the blood on my hands and smeared on my neck. “I’ll have someone take you to a private room where you can get cleaned up.”
Then he’s gone, and I stagger to brace myself against a wall, feeling like my entire world balances on a blade.
Chapter 16
Gina
There’sabeepingthat’sannoying as hell, and a smell that makes me want to scrunch my nose in distaste. It’s a clean smell, but it’s sterile and off. Like disinfectant.
I try to move, but my limbs won’t cooperate. That slight exertion seems to have depleted all my strength, so I fall back into the dark, but then come back up. I’m not sure if I was pulled fully back under and into the deep pit, and I’m now pulling myself out again. I’m not sure how much time has lapsed—it could’ve been seconds, maybe hours, days.
Time has no meaning where I am.
But there’s an urgency that pulls me out of the dark. But an urgency for what?
I can’t say.
I try to move again, and this time my hand lifts. At least I think it lifts. I can’t be sure because my eyes are closed, and my consciousness is just being reattached to my body.
