My phone rang and Johnny’s name flashed across the screen. Weird. It was nine o’clock and he never called me after business hours. “Hey, man. What’s up?”
“Jesus, Joel. I’m glad I caught you.”
He sounded breathless, making me sit up and set my empty glass down on the coffee table. “Is there a problem?”
“It’s Gia, she’s had an accident.”
The alcohol I’d just downed was making my gut churn as the acidic taste of fear burned my throat. “What are you talking about? What happened?”
“I heard the sirens, saw the flashing lights so I ran up to the main house. The paramedic is a buddy of mine, so he told me she’d had a fall coming down the stairs with a suitcase. But she was able to call for help before she passed out.”
“Shit,” I whispered, closing my eyes as I pinched the bridge of my nose. “How bad is it?” When he didn’t say anything, I said, “Johnny, tell me she’s gonna be alright.” I didn’t have it in me to face the alternative. Losing my parents had been bad, but losing Gia that way so soon after making her my wife would destroy me.
“I don’t know anything, Joel. I’m at the hospital right now, but they can’t tell me much.” He cleared his throat. “They’re only allowing one visitor at a time and she, uh, already has a friend in there with her.”
At least they were allowing visitors. They wouldn’t do that if her situation was grave, would they? “Who’s in there with her? Briar, Deanna—”
“Um, no. I think it’s one of the guys from the crew.”
I could tell he didn’t want to say any more, but I had to punish myself by asking. “Cropped dark hair, beard, plaid shirt?”
“Uh, yeah. His name’s Danny, I think. He’s a production assistant on her show. You know him?”
“No, I just saw a picture.” I wanted to ask him more about this guy’s relationship with my wife, but I had more pressing concerns right now. Like getting to Gia, whether she wanted me there or not.
Jason was watching me, obviously trying to figure out what was going on. “I’m going to try and get a flight out tonight. Keep me posted, okay?”
“Yeah, sure. Boss?”
“What?”
“You have any idea what she might have been doing with a suitcase?”
“None.” For all I knew, that sonofabitch had convinced her to go away with him, to leave her show, friends, and me behind. “But I can promise you I’ll find out when I get there.”
* * *
I hadn’t made a flight the night before, so when I walked into Gia’s hospital room the next morning and saw herfriendsitting by her hospital bed, holding her hand, wearing the same clothes he’d been wearing in the picture I saw the day before, I was seeing red.
“It’s about time you got here,” he muttered, barely sparing a glance at me over his shoulder as he released Gia’s hand.
Her lower leg was in a cast, she looked pale, and was hooked up to an IV and some monitors, but the doctor told me on my way in, she’d suffered a concussion and they’d kept her overnight for observation. He suspected I’d be able to take her home later today. Assuming she was willing to go home with me.
“Who the hell are you?” I knew it wasn’t the time or place to get into it with him, but I couldn’t help myself. I’d been making myself crazy, worrying about the nature of his relationship with Gia, and I needed answers. Now.
He barely spared me a glance as he brushed a lock of hair off Gia’s forehead. She must have been sleeping soundly, because she didn’t seem to feel his light touch.
“Take your goddamn hands off my wife,” I said, through gritted teeth.
The fact that he thought he had the right to touch her, in front of me, was my breaking point. I had no control over what they did when I wasn’t around, or behind closed doors, but I’d be damned if he’d lay his hands on her in front of me.
He shook his head, looking disgusted. “You really are an idiot.”
I curled my hands into fists, trying to process the audacity of this guy. “Excuse me?”
“You leave a girl like this?” He gestured to Gia. “You don’t even bother to call, text—”
“Mind your own business, asshole.”
