The Accardi Twins: A Mafia Romance Duet

Chapter 2

Chapter Two

Elisa

“ C an you take these supplies to Dr. Kerrigan, please.” Natalia hands me a box filled with gauzes, surgical tape, hydrogen peroxide, saline solution, and other medical supplies. “And check if they need more water or food.”

“Will do.”

“Thanks, Elisa. You’ve been a godsend tonight.”

I smile at Caleb’s mom. She’s my surrogate aunt, and I love her to bits. I give her a quick hug before taking the box and walking off, ignoring my protesting calf muscles. I’ve been on my feet for hours, dashing all over the emergency room, doing whatever is needed of me. I have zero medical expertise, but I wanted to help, and Natalia accepted my offer without hesitation. Mom and Sierra stayed behind to mind the kids while I traveled with Natalia by helicopter to the new private hospital.

We have been inundated with patients. All with gunshot wounds, and some with additional knife wounds. As much as Mom and Dad have tried to shelter me and my siblings, there is no escaping the world we live in. I’m not na?ve. I know the things that go down, but it’s still been a shock. I spent the hours we were holed up in the panic room worrying about everyone we love. Now I see the devastation wrought by the big battle, I’m more acutely aware of the danger they were in. I’m so grateful they all made it out alive.

Reaching the section under Dr. Kerrigan’s command, I pull back the first curtain and hand over the box, purposely not looking at the semi-naked man lying on the table. Bloody bandages litter the floor and he’s groaning as the medical team attend to his injuries. “I have the supplies you requested,” I confirm, handing the box to a male nurse. “Do you need anything else, Ken? More water?”

“We’re fine. Thanks, Elisa.” He shoots me a quick smile before rummaging in the box.

I turn around, to see where else I’m needed, almost face-planting into a toned chest and broad shoulders I would know anywhere. “Excuse me,” I say, not looking up at him. It’s hard to hold on to my resolve when I see his gorgeous face or peer into his stunning blue eyes.

Remember what he did , an inner voice whispers in my ear, and suddenly it’s not so hard. “Move, Caleb,” I say, glaring at him when he doesn’t budge.

“You look dead on your feet. You should take a break.” Concern splays across his face, but it’s as fake as the promise he made me.

“It’s busy and I don’t need a break.” Lowering my eyes, I move sideways, to walk around him, but he follows my movement, blocking me.

“Caleb,” I grit out. “Quit this shit. Look around? I’m needed, and you’re interfering.”

“You can’t avoid me forever, Lili.” He grips my chin gently, forcing my face up so I’m looking at him. Tingles dart across my skin, and my heart gallops like a racehorse just let out of the gate. I hate how much he still affects me. Why can’t my body just get with the program?

Gia has been right all along.

Caleb is bad news, and I’m a gullible fool for thinking he would ever develop feelings for me. He truly doesn’t care if he hurts me, and I’m done being his punching bag.

“Watch me.” I drill him with a resolute look as I fold my arms over my chest.

“Leave her alone.” Gia shoots daggers at Caleb with her eyes as she loops her arm through mine.

“Just tell me.” There was a time I would have fallen for his pleading tone, but that time has passed. “Please, Lili. Tell me what I did so I can fix it.”

“Fuck off, Caleb.” Gia shoves past him, knocking into his arm. “Lise has told you she doesn’t want to speak to you anymore, and if you care for her at all, you’ll respect her wishes.”

A muscle clenches in his jaw as he levels a lethal look at my best friend. “Butt the fuck out, Gia, or you and I will have problems.”

Gia flips him the bird. “Do I look concerned?”

I shift uncomfortably on my feet. I love how readily Gia rises to my defense, but Caleb will be her brother-in-law someday, and I don’t want to be the reason they don’t get along.

“This isn’t the time.” I fix both of them with a warning look. “Drop it. Please.”

“I’ll get it out of you.” Caleb pins me with a look that ordinarily weakens my knees, but I’m resisting these days and…hell.

I cling to Gia’s arm harder as I feel my knees buckle.

Who am I kidding?

I’m still hopelessly fixated on Caleb Accardi. The only difference now is I don’t want to be. I want to be cured of my addiction, and I’m prepared to do whatever it takes to detox him from my system. “Let it go, Caleb. Just let it go.”

He stares at me, and whatever he sees in my eyes is enough for him to back off. For now. I watch him walk off with a pain in my chest and knots in my stomach.

“He’s not going to give up,” Gia says. “He’s a stubborn motherfucker, and he won’t stop until he knows the truth.”

“I don’t understand how he hasn’t figured it out yet.” I shuck out of her hold as we walk across the busy space. “He’s smart, and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize how badly he messed up.”

“Let’s grab a quick coffee break. I told Antonio I’d get him one. They’re keeping him overnight because they can’t operate tonight. There are more urgent cases who take precedent.”

“What about your dad? Is he still here?” I ask as we walk off.

She shakes her head. “He went home with Mom and Marco. His injury wasn’t serious. He got a couple of stitches and some pain meds, and they sent him on his merry way. Cosimo insisted on staying with me. He feels guilty Antonio took a bullet for him.”

“I can imagine.”

My cell pings in my jeans pocket just as we step into the elevator. Gia pushes the button for the cafeteria as I extract my phone and swipe my finger across the screen. My best friend leans over my shoulder as I open the text from Seb. “He’s so smitten.”

“I know.” The elevator moves as I tap a quick reply telling him I’m still with my family, which isn’t a full lie though it’s not the truth either. It’s hard dating someone outside la famiglia because they can’t know anything about the mafioso . It means I have to lie to him sometimes, which I hate. He’s a nice guy, and he doesn’t deserve it.

“Wow, enthusiastic much?” Gia arches a brow as the doors ping open on the cafeteria level.

“I like him,” I protest. “And I’m giving it a shot, Gigi, which is a really big deal for me.” He is the first guy I have ever dated. All the others who asked me out were instantly rejected because I could never see past Caleb. I have been pathetically clinging to hope for years, and I feel like the biggest fool.

“I know it is.” She links her arm in mine as we make our way to the counter. It’s after four a.m., but the cafeteria is still moderately busy with loved ones anxiously awaiting news. “I’m proud of you for sticking to your guns.”

“It’s not easy. He’s not making it easy.”

“I think Caleb took you for granted for far too long. This is good for him. Let him see what he’s missing.”

“He doesn’t care,” I mumble. “Not really. His ego is bruised ’cause no one says no to him ever. This is a novelty, and it’ll wear off.”

“Hmm. I’m not so sure.”

We pause our conversation to order coffees, taking a seat at a nearby table while we wait for our order.

“What do you mean?” I knot my hands on my lap under the table.

“Joshua said he’s really down over it. He was upset you sent back the flowers.”

“I can’t accept roses from a man who isn’t my boyfriend, and I want nothing from Caleb anymore.” He always sends me flowers on Valentine’s Day, and this is the first time I’ve refused them. “He’s hurt me for the last time.” My choked tone conveys how much further I have to go with my rehabilitation.

“I’m glad to hear it. He has never deserved your love and attention.”

Tears prick the backs of my eyes. “Why was I never good enough, Gigi? I know I’m not beautiful like most of his conquests but I’m not ugly either.”

“Babe.” Gia reaches across the table to hold my hand. “You’re drop-dead gorgeous, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. You have that whole willowy model look going for you. I would kill for your figure.”

“We should swap,” I joke. “Then you wouldn’t need to have surgery.”

“I can’t wait to reduce these puppies.” She casts a glance at her large chest.

“And I’d love to increase mine.” I peer at my modest B-cup chest.

“You’re perfect, Lise. It’s Caleb’s loss, and you are worth a million of the skanks he usually hooks up with.”

“He has hooked up with supermodels and actresses and other celebrities,” I remind her. “Most are not skanks.”

“None of them mean anything, Lise. He flits from one woman to the next like they’re a dying breed.”

“Except for her .” I pout, like always when I think of that horrible woman. I don’t know how Caleb has put up with Anais for years. Gia told me it’s revenge because Cruz stole Bettina from Joshua, but that was years ago, and Caleb still sleeps with her, so I’m not sure I buy it.

“He can’t stand Anais,” Gia reminds me before getting up to grab the two trays with our takeout coffees.

“It hasn’t stopped him having sex with her. If she’s the kind of woman he’s into, I never stood a chance. I just wish I’d realized it earlier and not wasted so many years pining for him.” I take one of the trays, and we walk back toward the elevator, waving at a couple of people we recognize on the way.

“Are you going to give it up to Seb?” Gia keeps her voice low so no one overhears.

“I don’t know.” I was saving myself for Caleb, but that dream died a death last year. “After waiting this long, I don’t want to just give my virginity to anyone, and this thing with Seb is still new.”

“How does he feel about that?”

“He’s been decent about it. I explained, and he said he won’t pressure me, and he hasn’t. We mostly only kiss.”

Gia’s features soften as we step into the empty elevator. “I’m glad he’s letting you set the pace, and you shouldn’t feel under pressure to lose your V-card.”

“Says the girl who spontaneously gave hers up to Cristian DiPietro.” I grin at my bestie. I remember the morning after when she was gushing to me about it. “Maybe I should give him my V-card. I bet that would seriously piss Caleb off.”

“It would but we both know you’d never do it. You wouldn’t willingly hurt him even if he deserves a dose of his own medicine.”

“I couldn’t do that,” I readily agree as the doors ping at the lower level. “I wish I could be as heartless as Caleb, but I refuse to lower myself to his level. I’m not going to compromise who I am just to get even no matter how tempting it sometimes seems.”

“And that is why you are one of the sweetest, most authentic people I know.” Gia smiles at me. “The best revenge is cutting him out of your life and moving forward. Seb might not be the one, but at least he’s helping you to heal, and in time, you’ll forget all about Caleb Accardi.” She presses a kiss to my cheek. “I bet you’ll find your Prince Charming when you least expect it. Just like how it happened for me.”

I don’t have the heart to tell her I’ve given up on ever finding true love because, if this is what it feels like when it all goes wrong, I want no part of it anymore.