Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Alejandro
I need to explain my thoughts fast before my parents and Vita lose their shit. My parents definitely won’t want Joaquin coming with me. We’re likely to work for the next few hours, but they’ll want me to nap. I can’t exactly Houdini like I did when I was a kid and didn’t want to sleep.
“I doubt too many people know Cosima and Zorzi are dead. Unless your mother told your father or Don Piero, only she knows what happened to her sister. It wouldn’t surprise me if she told your father. We can use this time to our advantage.”
“Damn it! I need to call my mother back. She probably thinks we’re dead too. I can’t believe I didn’t think of that.”
Vita’s horrified expression makes me feel badly because her attention’s been centered upon me. Even when she waited alone, she clearly wasn’t thinking about what her mother must be going through.
“Call them.”
“I will. Excuse me.”
She doesn’t look like she wants to leave, but she steps around Papá. However, she pauses before she moves aside the curtain.
“What should I tell them, Jandro?”
“As much of the truth as you think they need.”
“Until we know more, the only truth they need is that I’m still breathing. I can text them that.”
There’s a bitterness to her tone I’m unaccustomed to.
I should’ve done more to comfort her rather than tease her.
I’d hoped to distract her from how shitty I surely look.
My face still sports the bruises from Cosima’s henchmen.
Turns out the cut on my face wasn’t as bad as I feared.
The doctor said the scar will barely be noticeable. So much for improving my menacing aura.
While the injuries aren’t severe, I don’t want her to guess how much pain I’m actually in.
It’ll worry her and only compound her guilt.
I blame her for nothing, but I know she’s ashamed of her family.
If the situation were reversed, I’d feel the same way.
Except my family would never be so dishonorable.
Even at Juan’s worst—when he could’ve brought down our entire empire because he went after Laura—we didn’t turn against him.
We banished him, but we didn’t turn on him.
We found out he returned to New York a couple hours before Maks and his family struck.
We did our best to get to him, willing to defend him despite the shit he piled upon all of us.
We didn’t save him, but we retaliated. Even though we knew—we conceded—he was in the wrong, family doesn’t turn against family.
“Vita, call them. Your parents must be in a panic right now. I’m surprised your mother hasn’t been calling every five minutes or insisted Serafina track you down.”
“She may have. I turned it off. I didn’t want the tracker on.”
She pulls the device from her pocket and turns it back on. The moment the phone is active, alerts go off like someone’s in cardiac arrest. She winces as she swipes the screen.
“I really better call. Excuse me.”
I watch her walk away, noticing she left the curtain open just enough for me to see she doesn’t go very far. My chiquita gets me.
“If you won’t let Joaquin see me, then please ask him to look up some things for me.
I want to know what that building was and who owned it.
I want all of Vita’s tía’s and her ex-boyfriend’s financial statements for the last six months.
I want a list of their known associates, all their travel records, and all their phone logs.
I want to know who they’re sleeping with and who they aren’t.
I want to know what Piero thought about them and the last time he spoke to them.
I want to know what Cosima’s and Zorzi’s relationships were like with Vita’s parents and with Piero.
Hell, I want to know the last time either of them went to the dentist. This would go a lot faster if you let me work alongside Joaquin. ”
“No. Jorge can help him with all the financial data. Pablo and Javier will do whatever Joaquin asks.”
“I know, Mamá, but—”
“But?”
I tuck my chin and lean back against my pillows. I know better than to say more, so I look at Papá. That’s a lost cause, and I know it, but I had to try. If it’s for my wellbeing, Papá won’t consider disagreeing with Mamá.
“Mijo, your mamá is right. Let your primos do the work for now. You can make it up to them later. I’m certain Pablo, Jorge, and Javier would love to use your jet for getaways with their wives.”
I open my mouth, then snap it shut. “Sí, papá.”
I like it a whole lot better when I’m listening to Vita say “yes, Daddy,” than me acquiescing to my parents.
I observe Vita through the opening in the curtains.
She swipes a hand over her hair before she appears to brush tears from her face.
I sit up farther, ignoring the searing pain in my back and shoulders.
Whatever good stuff they gave is starting to wear off already.
Or maybe I should be a better patient and sit my ass still.
She inhales and straightens her shoulders before turning around.
Our gazes lock, and I catch her moment of surprise.
She didn’t want me to see her like that.
“Vita?”
I push back the covers as she returns. Both of my parents reach for me, but I ignore them. Holding my gown shut in the back, I rise. My free arm reaches out to her. She hesitates, then steps close enough for me to wrap my arm around her waist and draw her against me.
“Mamà had to tell Papà and Don Piero. They called Don Salvatore. He’s searching for me. I told Mamà to call it off, that I’m fine. It’s too late. I’m certain Don Salvatore’s already called your zio.”
“And nothing catastrophic happened. Otherwise, Tío Enrique would’ve come back here. At the very least, he would’ve called or texted Papá. I’m certain he’s taken care of it.”
“This is my fault, Jandro.”
“No, it’s not. Cosima said the Galicians were after me. It’s on them if that’s even true.”
“But she and Zorzi wouldn’t have gotten involved if it weren’t for me.”
“That makes no sense. Think about it. If they weren’t angry that the hit didn’t happen, they wouldn’t have gotten involved. This was about me not dying.”
“I—”
“Vittoria, let us help. Alejo needs you here. His primos, tíos, and I will collect the information he wants. Once we have everything, we’ll sort it out and strategize. Keep my son from getting too agitated.”
Vita leans back far enough to see over my shoulder as my father speaks. She nods, and I kiss her forehead.
“Mr. Diaz?”
I turn toward the nurse who stepped into my bay. She appears friendly, but I’m skeptical of anyone I don’t know. When all four of us stare at her, she steps back, instinctively avoiding our forceful presence.
“Your room is ready for you. We’re going to take you upstairs. Could you get back into bed, please?”
“I’d prefer a wheelchair since I’m certain you won’t let me walk.”
“Fine. I’ll bring one around. Just give me a moment.”
She disappears, but she’s back before we can resume our conversation.
It takes ten minutes to get me settled into my room.
We stopped at the nurses’ station where my parents and Vita insisted on meeting all the medical personnel on the floor.
They learned when the shift changes, so Vita will return to learn the names and faces of the new group.
“We’ll be back in the morning, mijo.”
My father gives me a careful embrace as he speaks.
Then my mother does the same. Vita and I are finally—blessedly—alone.
There’s a solid door between us and the rest of the world.
There’s no window in the door, so Vita and I are a little twitchy.
We won’t know who’s entering the room until it opens.
“Lie next to me, little one.”
“You’re too big. There’s not enough room on there for me.”
“I’ll turn on my good side.”
While my arm and leg didn’t get burned, they did get bruised.
I shift around until I’m nearly against the guardrail, but there’s enough room for Vita to fit if she lies on her side too.
She’s tentative as she eases on, but I pull her snuggly against my chest the moment she settles. I reach around her.
“What’re you doing?”
“Enjoying my girlfriend’s company.”
I pull the scrubs pants’ drawstring loose before my hand slides down the front. Someone must have given her a pair since her clothes were ruined. My hands are large like the rest of me. My long fingers slip between her legs, my middle finger rubbing her clit.
“Daddy.” It’s a strained whisper as she squirms.
“Shh, chiquita. We’ve been through a lot today. Let me take care of you.”
“You should rest while you can. You know hospitals aren’t where you stay to get better with how they won’t leave you alone for more than an hour. They’ll be here to check your vitals soon. Sleep before they disturb you for that.”
“I can sleep when I’m ninety.”
I nearly said when I’m dead. Figured that might upset her. I continue to toy with her clit as I feel her grow wetter. I’m growing hard as a steel stake. It tempts me to take her into the bathroom and fuck her from behind.
How sexy is that?
Wheeling an IV stand in with us to a bathroom that has a shower seat and handrails on both sides of the toilet.
“Daddy.”
Fuck. The way she says that word.
That’s it.
Sexy or not, I’m fucking my woman.
I push her pants down over her hips until I can slide my fingers into her. She rolls toward me, her hand slipping beneath my hospital gown. This gown beats my suits for easy access. I might switch to these permanently.
That’s the drugs talking.
I’m the only one in the family who doesn’t mind wearing suits every day.
I’m just so used to them I don’t think twice about it.
My cousins think they’re too starched and stuffy.
They complain the ties are nooses. I look at them as my suit of armor.
My wealth and size impress and intimidate before I say anything. They keep most people at arm’s length.
Not my chiquita.