Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 112069 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 560(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 374(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112069 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 560(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 374(@300wpm)
Whatever, it wasn't my problem. He’d had his chance… he'd had lots of chances.
This time it was his phone ringing that interrupted my own call. I let my finger hover over the green button on the phone as I watched Luca from my peripheral vision. He pulled his own phone from his pocket and glanced at it. His expression changed instantly, and he practically fumbled to answer the thing.
"Luca Covello," he said. "Dr. Taylor?"
Where Luca's eyes had been dead before, now they were filled with a host of emotions. "Is he all right?"
What I wouldn't have given to hear the voice on the other end of the phone. But all I could do was watch and listen as I watched the man before me transform from an angry, cold, distant person into a scared yet hopeful human being. In my gut, I knew what the subject of the call was.
His son.
"Yes, I understand. I'm on my way." Luca hung up the phone. I was shocked to see that his hand was trembling as he gripped the device. "Terrence, stop the car."
"Luca," I began, but it was like I wasn't even there. Terrence pulled the SUV over to the shoulder.
"Take Mr. Valentino and Violet back to the hotel." That was all he said before he reached for the door handle. I expected Terrence or Stan to say something, but they remained silent. I reached across Violet's car seat and grabbed Luca's arm before he could open the door.
"Where you going?" I asked. "What's happening?"
"Stay with Terrence and Stan. They'll keep you safe. I'm going to grab a ride with the other car."
I knew he was talking about the SUV trailing us with another set of Ronan's men. His voice was shaky, much like it'd been the day in Ronan's den when he’d begged me to stay with him, to let him watch over me and Violet.
I dug my fingers into his arm when he began to climb out of the car. "No, Luca, don't go." He looked down at my hand where I was holding on to him, but he didn't try to pull free, though he easily could have. "Is it about your son? Is it about Gio?"
I expected him to blow me off with the denial or just more silence, but he surprised me when he hesitated, then jerked his head in a quick nod.
"I have to get to him. He's awake."
I had no clue what that meant, but I didn't need to know. The terror and hope in Luca's expression told me enough. I gave him a gentle tug and felt my heart nearly explode when he gave in to the silent request and sat back down in his seat. I was dimly aware of the fact that we had an audience in Terrence and Stan, but I didn't care. I let my hand drift down Luca's arm until our hands were touching. When I laced my fingers through his, he didn't protest. His hand was damp, but his skin felt chilled. I didn't speak as I continued to hold on to him. I was glad when he slowly shut the door.
"Take us to Luca's son," I said to Terrence, not looking at the man. I only had eyes for Luca. Luca's fingers tightened on mine just a little bit when I mentioned his son. I was glad Terrence didn't ask me any questions, specifically about where Gio was. But I also hated the fact that the bodyguard seemed to know about the boy while I didn't. I heard Stan's quiet voice as he spoke into the phone, presumably to tell the bodyguards behind us about the change in plans, but I didn't really listen to his words. I kept my eyes on Luca, even as he turned his head to watch out the window. But he didn’t release my hand.
With the heavy traffic we encountered, it ended up taking a couple of hours to get to our new destination which was on the eastern outskirts of the city. Violet woke up several times, but fortunately I had packed enough toys and snacks to keep her occupied. Luca had bought the child her own tablet and had filled it with educational games for her, so she spent quite a bit of time with that. I tried a million times to ask Luca where we were going and what had happened to his son, but I couldn't get the words out. I was afraid that speaking would somehow change the fact that he’d let me come with him.
The stately building we arrived at was clearly a hospital, but not a typical one. The sprawling grounds were beautiful and lush with trees and flowers. There were multiple paved walking paths and I saw numerous patients in white robes being escorted by staff members. The entire facility was surrounded by a tall black iron fence. In my heart, I knew what kind of hospital it was. I just didn't want to believe that Luca's son was in that kind of place, beautiful as it was.