The nurse just shook her head.
“Let me see how it’s healing, at least,” Doc insisted.
“Have at it.” I tugged the strings that held the damn thing in place. The pressure of the binding eased off my forehead, and then the plastic loosened. Fell away.
Ma turned to fuss over her husband, but not fast enough to hide her wince.
Yeah, the right side of my face was an ugly mess.
“You sure you won’t see him?” Sean Ryan was a good man.
It would be a shame to wrap the stethoscope around his neck and choke the life out of him.
“Positive.”
“Padraig,” Ma protested.
“The lad’s stubborn,” Da grumbled. “Gets it from yer side.”
Ma smacked his shoulder. “Yours is worse!”
Da pulled her neck down, pressed a hard kiss on her lips, and she melted.
He’s faking it.There was no way he was sick.
Their love was sickeningly sweet at the best of times, but there was no way they were this moon-eyed in the face of the worst news possible.
“Draw the curtains, Cara, my dear, so I can get this fecking gown off,” Da grumped as the doctor gently pressed and prodded my face.
“It’s healed better than I expected,” Doc announced. “You’ve been putting the salve on it?”
No.“It burns.”
Cara snorted. “It’s supposed to keep it from itching, so you don’t scratch it and tear off the scars.”
Behind the curtain, my mother giggled. A fresh wave of sickness washed through me.
“I’m done.” I tugged out of Doc’s reach and yawned to stretch the too-tight skin before clapping the plastic back over the mess.
“You need to be careful in this heat that the moisture under that mask doesn’t create a fungal infection.” Doc slid his hands in his pocket.
“And use the damn cream,” Cara added.
“Ma! I’ll be seeing you,” I called, going for the door.
“Liam, hold up, lad,” Da clipped.
I pursed my lips but stopped.
“I’m gonna need you to make peace with yer cousins.” Da emerged from behind the curtain fully dressed, three-piece suit immaculate. He always said that a man was judged by his clothes. He didn’t want to come across as a pauper, so he spent good money to dress like a king. It worked. Now he ruled a thriving portion of this city undisputed.
I wore a suit too. But I was nothing like him.
“You told me to make an example,” I said flatly. “James insulted my bride. I made an example.”
“Yes, but we need to keep the lads in line. They’re grumblin’ about this business with the Italians.” Da eyed me. “Fix it.”
Burn the Morelli Family to the ground? I could do that.
