“Ready?” Baz takes my hand and inhales a sharp breath. The wound is clearly hurting him. I worry incessantly. About him and myself. And the precious cargo I carry around everywhere.
Am I ready? Is anyone ever ready to walk the green mile?
I place my hand over my stomach as Baz rings the bell. He has barely pulled his hand away from the button when the massive door swings open.
“Master Benjamin!” A tall, lean, gray-haired man in a butler get-up greets us.
“Frederick.” Baz smiles as we enter the house.
“I wasn’t informed you were coming.” Frederick buzzes around Baz and me. He sounds like he’s British.
“I didn’t exactly call ahead.” Baz puts his arm around me, and I notice blood seeping through his shirt.
“He needs to see a doctor,” I blurt out.
Both men look down at me, and that’s when they both notice the blood, too.
“Shit,” Baz spits. My patch job has run its course.
Frederick extends Baz a worried look, but he doesn’t ask any questions. He just ushers us into a sitting room off the foyer and orders us to stay put.
Baz takes a seat on one of the white, plush couches. He’s most definitely going to leave a blood stain.
The whole house is decorated in white, walls, furniture, and trim. It’s warm, bright, and airy. The black floor and matching built-in bookcases ground the ethereal decor. It’s so regal. So high end, and very impressive.
“The doctor will be here any minute.” Frederick enters the room carrying a silver tray. On it, a magnificent silver tea set, a small jar of honey, and a dish of assorted teas. He places the tray on the table in front of Baz while I pace the room.
“We haven’t been formally introduced.” Frederick turns to me and bows slightly.
“This is Stevie,” Baz takes it upon himself to make the introductions. “My fiancée.”
Frederick pauses in his bowed state and looks up at me with just his eyes. I share his surprise. Neither Baz nor I have ever used that term before, and for him to toss it out so freely is extraordinarily gratifying.
“It’s an esteemed pleasure to meet you, Miss Stevie.” Frederick bows lower, and I glance over at Baz. No one has ever bowed to me before. Baz just smiles weakly. Approvingly.
“The feeling is mutual,” I reply.
“Would you like to share with me what happened now?” Frederick directs his question to Baz. Worry and concern clearly written all over his long, narrow face.
“We were ambushed. Stevie and I were staying at the safe house upstate, and they found us.” Baz closes his eyes and rests his head on the back of the couch. Both Frederick and I take a worried step forward.
“Baz?” I utter. He cracks open his eyes.
“I didn’t pass out. But I feel like I’m going to.”
“Should I ring Master Gianni?”
“Not to alarm him. But maybe to let him know we’re here.”
“Of course.” Frederick nods just as the doorbell rings. “That would be the doctor.” He scurries out of the room.
I sit by Baz’s side as we wait. Brushing some renegade strands of hair out of his eyes, I put on a brave face.
“Doctor Levinstein,” Frederick announces as he and another older man enter the room.
From the looks of it, Dr. Levinstein just got out bed. He’s wearing silk pajama pants and a black sweater.
It’s nothing unusual to have a doctor on call. Benny had two on his payroll. Many times, hospital visits are out of the question. As in Baz’s case. Too many headaches and too many red flags. In this business, you operate underground. No questions asked or your tongue gets cut out.
