Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 71179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
“That’s good.” I look over at him in his hospital bed. “Why hasn’t he woken up?”
“We’re giving him Demerol for the pain. He’s probably having a nice nap. It’s good for him. But my guess is he’ll wake up in the morning.”
“Good.”
“Will you be staying with him?”
I pat the arm of the recliner. “Yeah. I’m spending the night.”
“That’s fine. But you should know that the nurse will come in every hour to check his vitals. You may not get much sleep.”
“Believe me. I’ll get more than I would if I weren’t here. I’d be a ball of worry.”
She smiles. “I understand. He’s doing just fine. I’m glad you’re here for him.”
Dr. Pinkman steps over to the computer monitor, makes some notes, and then leaves. A moment later a nurse steps in.
“I’m Nora. I’ll be Falcon’s nurse tonight.” She lays a hand on my upper arm. “Do you need anything? A toothbrush?”
“That would be great if you have one.”
“We do. We keep toiletries on hand for overnight visitors. I’ll bring you a packet as soon as I make a note of his vitals.”
She checks Falcon’s oxygen and his IV, makes some notes on the computer, and leaves. Ten minutes later she returns and hands me a small paper bag. Inside is a toothbrush, toothpaste, some makeup remover wipes, and cotton swabs.
“Thank you.”
“Not at all. If you need anything else, let us know. We’ll help if we can.”
“Just take care of Falcon. That’s all I need.”
“I will.”
“Thank you, Nora.”
She smiles and leaves, closing the door behind her.
I take the toiletries to the bathroom in Falcon’s room and get ready for bed. I opt to sleep in the recliner so I can be next to him rather than pulling out the bed from the loveseat in the room. I fall asleep to his breaths through the oxygen mask.
“Sav.” Someone nudges my shoulder. “Sav, wake up.”
I jerk upward. “Falcon? Is he okay?” My vision adjusts and I see my brother’s face. “Vinnie? What are you doing here?”
He darts his eyes around the room nervously. “I don’t have much time. The sun’s about to come up. I’m getting all my stuff together to move in with Mom and Dad.” He frowns. “Well…Mom.”
“What’s this all about? What—”
“Shh. Don’t wake Falcon.” He kneels next to the recliner and lowers his voice. “I want to talk in here, where I know we won’t be overheard. I told Grandpa I would check on Falcon this morning and also make sure you were okay. He’s not happy with either of you, of course, but I told him if he wants me, then you two are off limits.”
I grab his hand. “I never wanted that, Vinnie.”
“I know that, but I made a choice at the time. I see the way you look at Falcon, the way he looks at you.” He looks over at Falcon, who is still snoozing away. “The two of you deserve a chance. I’m not in love.”
“But you’re going to marry an eighteen-year-old?” I say. “And wait seven years to do it?”
“A lot can happen in seven years, Sav.” His voice drops. “I mean a lot.”
I nod. His eyes are laced with fire.
He’s still determined to take them down from the inside.
“Vinnie, you’ve been gone for so long. What makes you think—”
He puts a finger to his lips, indicating for me to be quiet. “There’s a lot I can’t tell you for your own safety, but suffice it to say our theories were correct. They’re combining the business. And getting into…new ventures.”
God. I gulp. The Bianchis and the McAllisters are merging, and somehow Grandpa got talked into dealing not just in drugs.
But in people.
I swallow back the puke that feels like it will erupt at any moment.
“Vinnie…”
“Don’t say it. I can only tell you this.” His gaze burns into me. “Grandpa didn’t have a choice.”
“There’s always a choice, Vinnie.”
“In the abstract, I agree with you.” He swallows. “But given the facts as I now understand them, if I were Grandpa, I would have done the same thing. Agreed to the same thing. Even if it meant marrying you to Miles McAllister.”
I drop my jaw, ready to scream at him.
But he shakes his head. “Understand what I’m saying, Sav. This is big. Enormous, even. I can’t give you the details. I don’t even know all of them yet. Grandpa’s an old man, and he’s a product of his age, of his upbringing all those years ago. He didn’t see any other way out.”
“I can’t believe you’re taking his side,” I hiss out in a whisper.
“I’m not. I said if I were Grandpa.” He pounds a fist against his chest. “I’m not him, Sav. I would have made a different choice, but it’s too late at this point. All I can do is go along for now.”
“Christ, Vinnie.”
“Listen to me. I can’t tell you more. It would only put you in danger. I need you to trust me.”