I really should brush up on my languages.
He continues to mutter in Italian, “…figlio di puttana.”
I know that one as its particular favourite of mine. “Vaffanculo.”
“Portalo fuori,” a nurse shouts, which I believe is take it outside.
Lucia calls out, “Elio.”
Elio lets go of my shirt and steps back, puffing through his nostrils. “I’m here, Mamma.” He points to me and then at the door. “Get the fuck out.”
I bristle my spine and straighten my tie. “We need to talk.”
Lucia bats the nurses away. “Lasciami. I’m all right.” She coughs, then inhales more oxygen through her mask. “Get me out of this room. I need some air.” Lucia shuffles on the bed.
Elio points his finger in my face. “You come into my mother’s room, hurt her, and then want to talk?” He gets in my face and whispers, “I’ve maimed people for less.”
I roll my eyes and bat his finger away. “Hurting women runs in your family, Elio, not mine.” I narrow my eyes at him.
“I know you were here before. You sniffing round my sister again?”
“Leave him, Elio.” Lucia holds the oxygen mask under herchin as she settles into the wheelchair. “Take me outside. I need to get out of this room.”
A nurse speaks to her in Italian and places a blanket over her legs.
“Yes, Mamma.” Elio pushes her through the door and Lucia turns to me. “You coming?”
I stride out of the room, staying a few steps behind as I follow Elio into the hospital gardens. The afternoon sun shines on my face, but does nothing to lift my mood. This trip was meant to be a simple business trip that coincided with a family wedding. Enjoy a bit of downtime at Riccardo’s vineyard before catching up with my other cousin, Matteo. But now it’s turned into a fucking nightmare.
Shoving my hand into my pocket, I pop a piece of gum from the packet, and bring it to my mouth. The strawberry flavour bursts on my tongue as I chew, though nothing can satiate this unease in my stomach.
If the impending flight wasn’t bad enough, I’ve now got to deal with Rosetta and her family and her fucking husband.
Elio stops at a bench in the middle of the healing gardens, surrounded by a variety of plants and shrubs. He rests against the stone wall of a large fountain. “What do you want, Bianchi? You have about five minutes before you’ll be needing a hospital bed of your own.”
A chuckle escapes. “You’re funny.”
He crosses his arms over his broad chest. “I never knew you had a sense of humour.”
“Oh, Elio. There’s a lot of things you don’t know about me.” I match his stance and fold my arms across my chest.
“Have you boys done with the pissing contest?” Lucia coughs, sounding worse than she did a few days ago. She waves her hand between us. “Tell him what you told me, D’Angelo.”
I spin around, doing a full sweep of our surroundings before I speak. “I need to get in touch with Rose.”
“Yeah, you and everyone else. I checked the hospital footage. I know you were here the other day.” Elio stands up straight and pushes his hands into his trouser pockets. “You followed her here. Get in touch with her yourself.”
“I followed her here from the flight. I don’t have her number, but I know she’s coming here today and, as you know, I’m not the only one looking for her.”
“Is it true, Elio?” Lucia stares up at him, the oxygen mask in her hand. “Is Magnus in Rome?”
Elio drops his head. “He’s out for blood. He thinks she set him up and put him in prison.”
Lucia coughs and holds the oxygen mask over her face.
Elio rests his hand on his mother’s shoulder.
I scratch the bristles on my jaw. “You need to tell Rose to stay away and keep her distance.”
