Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“Daddy!”
Marco could hear before he could see, but gradually, the world came back into focus.
Only he wasn’t still on the loading dock. Pain jolted him further awake as he tried to sit up. Looking around, he realized he was on the bed in Kelsey’s room.
Damn. Those lights were so bright! Had they been that bright before?
Groaning, he gingerly put his hand to his head and instantly regretted it.
“Well, that’s going to be sore for a while,” he noted.
“Yeah. And we need to make sure you don’t have a concussion,” Breaker said.
Marco hadn’t even realized anyone else was in the room with them. But as he looked around, he saw that Breaker wasn’t the only extra person concerned about him.
“You’re all here,” he said, noting Trixie, John, and Stephanie too.
“Well, not all of us,” John replied with a grin. “The semi driver left.”
Marco smirked. “Union rules probably prohibit him from rendering medical aid.”
Everyone laughed.
“Hey, don’t you guys control the unions?” Breaker asked. “You know, Jimmy Hoffa and all that.”
Marco opened his mouth, unsure what to say, but Breaker actually smiled at him.
“Easy. I’m just playing around.”
This brought a smile to Marco’s lips. Then, for the first time since regaining consciousness, he realized he had a bandage on his upper cheek, just below his left eye.
Touching it, he said, “I thought I took the brunt of that wood in the back.”
Trixie snickered. When everyone looked at her, she said, “Sorry. I’m kind of immature.”
Reaching out and tapping Trixie’s diaper, Stephanie said, “You don’t say.”
They laughed again.
Looking at Marco, John said, “You did take it in the back. But pretty big splinters flew and one got your cheek. We got you patched up.”
“How did you learn to do all this?”
“I’m a former firefighter and EMT,” John said. He jerked his head toward Breaker. “He has some experience in field medics.”
Breaker nodded. “Used to find it necessary to doctor a bit, out in the field.”
Marco had a pretty good idea what he meant by that.
“Speaking of,” John continued, “I need to do some concussion protocol checks.”
A few minutes later, when they were all done, he happily pronounced Marco concussion-free. “We’ll still keep an eye on it, but I think you just got your noggin bonked pretty hard.”
“That the professional term?” Breaker asked.
“Sure is.”
Breaker smiled, and Marco was happy to see the man didn’t seem as moody as he had. But he worried when he said, “Girls, can you give us a minute, please?”
Kelsey looked at Marco with questioning eyes, but he nodded. “Go on, cutie. Play. But later, we’re going to have a good long talk about that stunt you pulled with the dolly. And it might involve my belt.”
“That goes for you too,” John told Trixie.
Breaker indicated the same to Stephanie, and all three of the women groaned as they left the room, shutting the door behind them.
Marco prepared himself. Was he going to come to blows with Breaker? It would be a hell of a time for a fight. He’d be hard enough to beat when Marco was healthy! But after getting knocked out by that falling wood, well, he probably wouldn’t be much good in a brawl.
Thankfully John was there to moderate whatever discussion was coming.
But Marco sure wouldn’t run from a fight if and when Breaker was hellbent on having one.
To his surprise, though, Breaker extended his hand. “You saved my little girl’s life. Thank you. And… I want you to know you have my respect.”
Marco was too stunned to speak for a moment.
Finally, he shook the offered hand and said, “Thank you. The feeling is mutual. We both love our babies and would do anything for them.”
“You didn’t just save yours,” Breaker pointed out. “The way you put yourself in harm’s way to shield them, well… you have the instinct. The kind of thing we look for in the Guard.”
Was Marco hearing this correctly? Was Breaker actually asking him to join the Daddy Guard?
John must have read the puzzled expression on his face, because he said, “Breaker’s right. We’re looking to expand the roster and you’d be perfect. We have plenty of room right here, though you two wouldn’t have to live here if you didn’t want to.”
Marco grinned. “Guys, I’m honored. Seriously. But there’s one problem—I’m going to be in jail.”
The two Guard members exchanged knowing glances with each other before turning their attention back to him.
It was Breaker who explained. “We have some friends in high places. While you were out, we talked to them and they made some calls. The DA is willing to cut a deal. If…”
Marco waited. It was obvious Breaker hated to say the news he was about to deliver.
“…you’re willing to turn state’s evidence on the Family.”
And there it was. Marco sighed. “You mean be a rat.”
The two other men didn’t say anything. They probably didn’t understand just how bad a prospect that was. The mob didn’t have many morals. But loyalty was one they actually valued.
Marco ran a hand through his dark hair and gritted his teeth as he thought it over. He basically had to pick Kelsey or the only family he’d ever known.
He’d been about to quit, sure. But he was just going to leave quietly to build a new life. Helping prosecutors had never been part of the plan.
Kelsey was worth it, though. She was his world now.
But still…
“Guys, you don’t understand. Enzo Bianchi has been like a father to me. I owe that man so much.”
They exchanged glances again. Both of them looked sympathetic as John said, “Man, I’m afraid we have some bad news. The DA’s office received word. Enzo Bianchi passed away. That news isn’t public yet, but it will be soon.”
“Son of a bitch!” Marco said, the room suddenly spinning as he tried to process it all. “That’s why Niko was making his move. The old man was gone, and he was keeping it a secret until he could consolidate power!”
The loss he felt was heavy, but it was overpowered by the rage gathering in his core.
“Niko is going to turn the Family into a drug-dealing operation,” he said, talking mostly to himself. “Just common trash.”
The pain of his fingers digging into his palm made him look down and he saw how white his knuckles were as he balled his fists.
“I don’t have any loyalty to Niko. But there are some people I want to get immunity for.”
“I’m sure the DA would listen, but that’s all I can say,” John said.
“Yeah. The fine-print stuff is all out of our hands,” Breaker added.
“I know,” Marco told them. “And I appreciate you making those calls on my behalf. And on Kelsey’s behalf.
It really means a lot to me. Okay, I have some stuff stashed away in a safe at my apartment.
Some documents and evidence I’ve been gathering myself about this drug stuff Niko’s been pushing.
” He smiled devilishly. “I was going to turn him in, just not to the Feds. I was going to tell his father.” That smile faded.
“But Niko is watching my place. I guarantee it. Wonder if the cops would be kind enough as to give me an escort.”
“The way it sounded,” John said, “is that you need to show up with evidence in hand if you want any shot of not being thrown into the general population. Everyone is pretty pissed about that escape.”
Marco bit back a curse. “Well, then this is going to be dangerous. But I have to do it.”
“No,” Breaker said. “We have to do it.”
“And luckily,” John added, “The Daddy Guard just happens to specialize in dangerous situations.”