Chapter 14
Yuki
I think I’m finally dying.
My stomach is cramping so badly, I can’t keep the tears back.
The same thing happened every time I stole food during a cooking lesson, but unlike before, Yutaro isn’t here to slap me around.
Hearing movement, I open my eyes and see Augusto coming fast toward me.
Panic flares through my chest, and instinctively reacting, I roll to the other side of the bed before scrambling to my feet.
I don’t make it much farther because my legs give way beneath me.
No! I’m too weak.
When Augusto darts around the bed, I bring my right arm up in front of my face and beg, “Please!”
“Jesus, Yuki,” he says, his voice rumbling with anger.
Instead of hitting me, his arms slip beneath me, and I’m lifted into the air.
Unable to handle anything right now, I burst out in tears. My stomach cramps horribly, and feeling unbelievably sick, I pass the point of caring about what Augusto will do to me.
“I have a doctor coming. Shhh…you’ll feel better soon,” Augusto murmurs.
He lays me down on the bed again, and like earlier, his palm caresses my forehead and hair.
Through feverish eyes, I stare at the man who’s confusing me so much, I can’t predict his next move.
I think Augusto’s playing mind games with me, and as soon as I let my guard down, he’ll attack. I don’t trust him one bit and don’t know what he’s up to, but I’m not falling for this nice-guy act.
His phone rings, and after looking at the device, he gets up and hurries out of the bedroom.
I actually like the bedroom. It’s spacious, and the balcony overlooks the backyard, which is a mess right now. It looks like the gardener is changing everything, but I can’t tell what the end result will be.
As I stare at the doorway, parts of the day flash through my mind. Augusto’s Mom and Gianna were really nice to me. I didn’t spend a lot of time with Riccardo and their two sisters, but they gave me friendly smiles.
Since Yutaro left, no one’s scowled or slapped me.
I got married today.
The thought shudders through me again.
Father didn’t even say goodbye to me. Since he made the agreement with the Cosa Nostra, I haven’t seen him.
It shouldn’t hurt, but it does.
I wish I had been born a boy. Then I wouldn’t have been separated from Ryo.
Augusto returns with another man and says, “This is Dr. Milazzo. He’s going to take care of you.”
I have no strength to move and just watch as the doctor takes my vitals.
A woman also comes into the bedroom, accompanied by two men, and it looks like they’re carrying medical supplies.
As my eyes begin to drift shut, I see Augusto walking to the door. He gives me a worried look before he leaves, and right after, I’m pulled into a dreamless sleep.
Augusto
The moment Mom rushes into the house, she makes a beeline for me.
I called her after Dr. Milazzo said the next few days will be touch-and-go for Yuki. Because she ate at the reception, they have to closely monitor her vitals and perform frequent blood tests to make sure her electrolyte levels don’t drop rapidly.
They’re worried she might have seizures, or worse, a fucking heart attack.
As Mom hugs me, my body shudders, and I struggle to control my anger and worry. “I’m going to kill Tanaka,” I growl while taking a step backward because I’m too agitated right now to return Mom’s hug.
“Has Dr. Milazzo said anything else?” Mom asks, her face torn with worry.
I shake my head. “I’m staying out of their way so they can focus on Yuki.”
“That’s wise. I’ll make us coffee while we wait to hear more from Dr. Milazzo.”
Walking into the kitchen, Mom glances at the half-eaten plate of food.
“It’s delicious, but I’ve lost my appetite with everything that’s happening.”
“That’s understandable.”
While she prepares the coffee, I clear out the plate and load all the dishes into the dishwasher.
“Yuki won’t be able to go shopping for a while. I’ve brought some of my clothes.” There’s an emotional look on Mom’s face. “I’ll go to the store and get her a couple of items to tide her over.”
“Thanks, Mamma.” Closing the distance between us, I wrap her in a tight hug. “I’m sorry for calling you so much.”
“Nonsense! I want you to lean on me.”
“You’re the best,” I whisper, soaking up the love she’s giving me.
“We’ll get through this.” She pats my back before she pulls away to finish preparing our beverages.
Just as she hands me a mug, Dr. Milazzo comes into the kitchen. He smiles politely at Mom. “Evening, Mrs. Vitale.”
“Hi, how is Yuki doing?” she asks.
“As I’ve told, Mr. Vitale, we need to watch Yuki closely.
Tomorrow, we’ll start slowly with low-calorie amounts of food, and every two days, we’ll increase the amount she gets to eat until she’s able to handle a normal meal.
Simone and I will monitor everything she eats and drinks for the next few weeks.
Either we move Yuki to the hospital, or Simone will stay here for the next three days to keep an eye on our patient. ”
“Simone can stay here,” I say. “She can take the other guestroom on the second floor.”
“I’ll tell her.”
“Can we see Yuki?” Mom asks. “I brought her comfortable clothes.”
“Yes, but she’s in no state to bathe or shower. Simone can give her a sponge bath if it’s needed.”
When Mom follows Dr. Milazzo and I don’t move, she stops to give me a questioning look. “Aren’t you coming?”
“I need to make a call.”
Nodding, she leaves me alone in the kitchen with the intense rage burning like a wildfire through me.
I bring up Christiano’s number, and the instant he answers, I growl, “I’m going to kill Tanaka. This is me giving you a heads up.”
“Why?”
“Right now, his daughter is fighting for her fucking life because he starved her.”
“Christ, Augusto,” he snaps. “Are you at the hospital?”
“No, Dr. Milazzo is treating her at my house. He says it will be touch-and-go for a couple of days.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Do you want me to come over?”
I shake my head. “No. My mom’s here. I just wanted to give you a heads up. As soon as Yuki is better and settled in some kind of healthy routine, I’m going to Tokyo to kill that bastard. Not only did he endanger her life, but it’s a fucking insult to give me a wife in such a state.”
“I hear you.” He lets out a heavy breath. “We’ll deal with Tanaka once Yuki is back on her feet. Focus on your wife for the time being. I’ll check in with you tomorrow.”
“I’d appreciate it.”
We end the call, and needing something stronger than coffee, I stalk to the living room and pour myself a tumbler of whiskey.
Downing the alcohol, I work on controlling my anger.
I’m also going to kill Tanaka’s guard dog.
Yuki
My body feels stiff as I start to wake up, and when I try to turn onto my side to get more comfortable, a hand brushes over my temple.
“It’s okay, sweetie. You’re going to get better soon.”
I pry my eyes open, and seeing Samantha looking at me with something akin to affection, my tears instantly start to flow.
Moving carefully, she leans over me and gives me a gentle hug. “Shh…it’s okay. I’m here now, and we’re going to get you healthy again. I won’t let anything bad happen to you.”
I’ve never had a hug from a woman. It feels so good and safe, I want to beg Samantha to stay with me, but before I can get the words out, I’m dragged back into a dreamless sleep.
I lose all sense of time, and whenever I wake up, Samantha is there. At some point, I grip hold of her hand, and when I finally manage to wake up fully, the room is warm from the sun shining across the carpet.
“Hi, sweetie. How do you feel?” Samantha asks, giving my fingers a squeeze.
It feels like I’ve slept for a week. Every muscle in my body is tight, and my skin is sticky.
“Better,” I mumble as I pull myself up into a sitting position. Something tugs on the back of my hand, and looking down, I see a needle disappearing into my skin.
“The IV is to give you all the nutrients you need. Don’t worry about it.”
“What time is it?” I think to ask.
Samantha looks at her dainty wristwatch. “Just after ten am.”
Kuso!
Worry floods me as I think of all the chores I’ve missed, especially not making breakfast for Augusto.
“What’s wrong?” my mother-in-law asks.
“I didn’t do what’s expected of me.” My eyes fly to hers. “Augusto will be angry.”
“Sweetie, you’re sick. Augusto isn’t angry at all. Honestly, he’s been very worried about you the past three days.”
Frowning, I whisper, “Three days?”
“You’ve been in and out of consciousness for close to seventy hours, but Dr. Milazzo says you’re recovering much faster than expected. You’re a little fighter, and I’m proud of you.”
Shocked out of my mind, I can only stare at Samantha.
Then her words sink in. She’s proud of me.
A weird sensation ripples through my chest, but before I can inspect it, Augusto and the doctor come into the bedroom.
“You’re awake,” Augusto says as he stops by the foot of the bed. “Do you feel better?”
I nod while my attention is divided between him and the doctor.
“Yuki’s blood work looks good. We just need to go slow and keep doing tests.”
Why?
Augusto notices the question on my face and explains, “You were starved and almost died because of the food and alcohol you had at the reception. Dr. Milazzo is going to get you slowly used to food again, so you can’t have anything he hasn’t approved.”
“It will just be for a few weeks. Maybe sooner at the rate you’re healing,” the doctor says. “For now, you have to stay in bed and get a lot of rest.”
Fear creeps over my body as my eyes dart back to Augusto. “But I have duties.”
“Let’s give them some privacy,” Samantha tells the doctor, and I almost beg her not to leave but swallow the words.
Augusto comes closer, and as he sits down on the side of the bed, I pull my legs up and hug my knees to my chest.
“Forget about whatever duties you think you need to perform.”
My gaze flits to his, and I try to gauge whether he’s playing with me.
He might be waiting for me to get better before he punishes me.
Augusto stares into my eyes for a while before he says, “You gave me a scare. In the future, if you’re not feeling well, you need to tell me.”
Kuso! He’s definitely going to punish me once I’m back on my feet.
“I’m so–”
He shakes his head hard, giving me a look of warning. “Stop saying sorry for everything.”
Curling into myself, I nod while focusing my sight on the rumpled covers.
“I have to go to work, but my mom will stay with you.”
I nod again, and when he gets up, I watch from under my lashes as he walks to the doorway where he pauses to look at me again. “Just focus on getting better, Yuki. I don’t expect anything else from you.”
As he disappears down the hallway, I keep staring at the doorway, once again wondering whether Augusto is playing mind games with me.