“Someone bring me some more epi. We’ve emptied both crash carts…”
“No, he doesn’t have any allergies. He’s always been so healthy. Never a single problem. Never. He’s never given us a single problem…”
More blood, a nurse walking past the other way, talking about how excited she is for the leftovers she brought for lunch, an important-looking man in green scrubs commanding the room and digging into my baby brother’s open chest, more, more blood…
“We want to be transparent that we’re doing everything we can, but we haven’t been able to find and stop all the sources of your son’s internal bleeding. As a result, we haven’t been able to restart his heart at this time…”
Beeping, a million kinds of beeps, a little old woman wearing Gabri’s hockey jersey being wheeled past me, asking if she can have apple juice.
“Please. Please, can you put my heart into him? I don’t…if his isn’t beating, just take my blood and my heart…”
“Does anyone else in the room have any ideas of any therapies or medications that we can offer to this gentleman that we haven’t already? Anything at all that we might have missed or not tried?”
A half-princess, half-superhero cake for our fifth and seventh birthday parties, when we wanted to share a cake but couldn’t decide on a theme.
“Ma’am, your chart says you’re a little past seven weeks pregnant? Your blood pressure is dangerously high. We’re going to be giving you medication to lower it, but we need you to please lie back and try to relax.”
“I’m so excited for you, Sis. God, you’re going to be the most amazing mama.”
“My baby, my baby. My last baby, please no. He’s my sweetheart, he’s twenty-one, he’s such a good boy. Leo!”
Mama sobbing, prostrate, forehead on the floor, begging for a miracle. Papa leaning heavily against a wall, bartering with fate and the medical team.
“Leo! Leo, son, please! Please don’t leave us here. You can’t have nothing else to do, he’s too young! Give him more medication! There has to be something. We can do anything. There has to be…”
“Time of death, 20:35.”
“Ma’am? Ma’am, can you hear me? I think she’s about to pass out. We have to get her pressure down before she—”
Silence. No more beeps.
Chapter 28
I should beon cloud nine after securing a spot in the finals, but all I can think about is how badly I miss my girl.Ellie. It’s been over a month since I’ve held her, kissed her,fucked her.Even worse, she’s barely talked to me since our fight. Per Nonna’s instructions, I’ve tried to give her space while staying persistent, but it’s not working. Ireallydon’t want to go into the final series without her. I’ll have Grandma and Thatch there. Misha even promised to try to get Mila to watch a game or two. Their combined support doesn’t hold a candle to what Ellie’s means to me.
At least I’m not able to wallow in my sorrow. Between the extra practices and Misha sending freaking drivers to pick me up at my condo, I hardly have any time to think, much less feel. I’m even too burned out to care when I’m summoned to the Taranov compound unexpectedly on the only off day I’ve had in a month.
Pulling in, we’re met with increased security, which doesn’t necessarily mean anything. But taking into account Misha’s hasty request, I’m a little uneasy as we drive by triple the men as usual guarding the entrance. The pit in my stomach deepens when Mila herself is waiting as soon as I get through the doors.
“Your rooms are prepared with everything you need, your coach knows you’ll be out until your first game. I know this is bad timing for you, but I assured him you would continue your practice. We’ll see how things look, but a peace treaty will have to be made before you’re allowed back on the ice with them.”
I’m following her to my rooms, trying and failing to understand what she’s talking about. Misha has mentioned the possibility of occasional lockdowns, and I’m totally following her until her last statement. “Excuse me? Who is ‘them’?”
“The Santori brothers, obviously.”
My first and only thought is about my Ellie. They must have found out about us and are out to get me or something. Wow…Mila must really care about me after all, if she’s this concerned over a little heated teammate spat. I know those guys are tough as nails, and I know it would mess with the team chemistry at a crucial point in the season, but I wouldn’t think they would ever actually hurt me.
“Why the fuck are you smiling right now?”
I can’t help the overwhelming urge to hug my sister and pull her into my arms in a snug embrace. “Because you’re so cute! You did all this just because a couple of my teammates have their balls in a knot over me dating their sister.”
“Getoff of me!” Mila maneuvers out of my hold effortlessly. “What do youmeanyou’re dating their sister? You’re dating Elia Santori? Are you fuckinginsane?”
“Yeah. Wait, how do you know Ellie?”
“Ellie? You call her Ellie?” My sister looks at me with genuine fear written on her face. “Theodore, tell me right now if their claims are true. We will stand behind you regardless, but I need to knoweverything if we’re going to get ourselves out of this.”
“Yes! Ellie! And yes, it’s true. We’ve been dating behind her brothers’ backs for months, just waiting for the season to end before we tell them.”
