“I know,” I said with a forced smile.
He asked about my next appointment. I told him it was scheduled for Friday.
“Lars and I will go with you,” he said.
“That’s not necessary,” I protested. “You always send four men with me anyway – ”
“I know, but we’re going nonetheless. In fact, I’m considering having your doctor come here from now on. To the house.”
By threatening him,a dark little voice in my head whispered.
“I don’t want you forcing Dr. Aiello to come here,” I said.
“I won’t force him – I’ll pay him handsomely.”
“He has other patients – ”
“And you’re his most important one.”
I knew Dario meant well, but his words still made my chest tighten.
“But Ihaveto go to the doctor’s office. I have to have an ultrasound – ”
“I’ve been thinking about that, too. I’m considering buying the necessary equipment and installing it here in the house. Like my father did for my mother.”
The tightness in my chest turned into a shiver of terror.
“Dario… your mother wasdying,”I whispered. “I’mfine.”
“Of course you are,” he said hastily. “It was just a thought. To make things more convenient for you.”
“I’m fine with going to Florence.”
He paused, then smiled and nodded. “Then we will go to Florence.”
I knew better than to pursue the subject right now, so I just nodded and let it go.
He leaned over and kissed me… and his lips on mine temporarily banished all my fears.
When he held me, it made everything better.
It was only when he let me go that my fears returned.
“That was very nice,” I said with a smile after we finished kissing. “But was there something else you wanted to see me about?”
“Yes,” he said, and I could hear a note of unease in his voice. “Raffaelo came here for the meeting this morning. He had some unfortunate news from Florence.”
I frowned. “Oh?”
“It seems that small-time gangs are selling drugs on our streets, and that the drugs are tainted. A lot of young people are dying from overdoses.”
“That’s horrible,” I murmured, and I meant it.
“Yes,” he said gently. “Which is why we are considering getting back into the business of supplying Florence.”
His words were like a bucket of ice water over my head.
“What?!” I asked as I pulled away from him. “But you got out of selling drugs!”
