Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
T he tyres of my car screech as I pull into the underground car park in my brother’s building. I received a call from the doc. He’d been instructed by Vin to come and check on Cammi.
I ordered the doc to inform me any time he’s been asked to check in on my sister-in-law. It’s not just for Cammi. I want to be there for my brother if anything were to happen to her. I know that Vin is over the top when it comes to his wife’s health. Considering her heart condition, I don’t blame him. But he does take it to a level that’s…
Well, I have no words. He’s insane. It’s that simple.
When I walk into Vin and Cammi’s apartment, I find Marcus pacing the living room. “Where are they?” I ask him.
“Bedroom. Doc’s in there with them,” he tells me.
“How is she?”
“She didn’t look good.” He shakes his head. “I don’t know… Sick? Like a stomach bug or something.”
“Okay.” I turn and make my way down the hall. The bedroom door is open. I knock on it twice, to make my presence known, before I walk in.
“You called Santo too? Seriously, Vin, I’m fine,” Cammi says.
I look from my brother to his wife. She’s… pale. Sweat covers her forehead.
“I didn’t call him,” Vin says, eyeing me suspiciously.
“I was in the neighbourhood,” I lie. “What’s going on?” I direct the question to Cammi.
“It’s nothing. I just ate something bad,” she says. “Right, Doc?”
“Ah, I’d like to speak with Mrs De Bellis. Alone.” Our fucking family doctor looks to both Vin and me like either of us is going to leave the room.
“That’s not happening,” I grunt.
My brother glares at me before turning back to the doc. Vin gestures between himself and his wife. “Whatever you have to say to her, you can say to me,”
“Yeah, I didn’t think either of you would leave. Cammi, if you don’t want to answer any of these questions in front of an audience, tell me. I don’t want you to be under any stress.” Doc looks at us again. He’s either brave or stupid. Or maybe he just really does have Cammi’s best interests at heart.
“It’s fine.” Cammi smiles.
“When was your last menstrual cycle?” the doctor asks.
“Out,” Vin growls. Turning to me and shoving at my chest. “You don’t need to be in here. And you don’t need to hear about my wife’s vagina.”
“Periods are not my vagina,” Cammi counters.
“I’m leaving.” I raise my hands in surrender. Because my brother is right. I don’t need to know about any of that.
When I make it back to the living room, Marcus is still pacing. “How is she?” he asks, genuinely concerned.
“I think she’ll be fine. It’s just a stomach bug she says,” I tell him.
“How is he ?” Marcus raises a brow.
I lift one shoulder. “He’s…. irrational as ever.” I chuckle. “He’ll be fine, though. That’s if Cammi doesn’t kill him first.”
“Right.” Marcus nods. “I’m gonna head out now that you’re here. Call me if he…” He lets his words drift off. He means if Vin loses his mind . Call him if my brother loses his mind.
“I’ve got it.” I nod once, then pull out my phone and ring my wife to let her know I’m going to be awhile.
“Hey you. I just got home,” Aria answers.
“Hey, darling. I’m at Vin and Cammi’s. I’ll be home a bit later.”
“Is everything okay?” she asks me.
“Cammi’s sick and Vin is driving her mad with his overbearing ass.”
“Oh, is she okay? Is it her heart? You want me to come over?”
“No. She says it’s a stomach bug,” I explain. “I’m sure she’s going to be fine.” As much as my words are meant to reassure my wife, they are also spoken to ease my own mind. Cammi has to be fine. Because if she’s not fine, then my brother isn’t either and I’m not losing my brother.
“You sure?” Aria presses.
“Yeah, I’m just gonna stick around and see what the doc says. I love you. Be home soon.”
“I love you,” she replies before cutting the call.
Falling onto the sofa, I stare down the hall. I don’t know why the doc is taking so long… If it’s just a stomach bug, he should be out by now.
Twenty minutes later, Vin and the doc walk out together. My brother looks ten shades paler than he did when I last saw him.
I jump to my feet. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. It’s just a stomach bug,” Vin tells me. “Why are you still here?”
“I wanted to see how she was doing,” I say. Whatever is really wrong with Cammi, my brother is keeping it to himself. “I’ll walk you out, Doc. You sure she’s fine?”
“Yep,” Vin says, popping the P.
“Okay, call me if you need anything.” Once I’m enclosed inside the elevator with the doc, I turn to him. “What the fuck is going on?” I grunt.
“Santo, Cammi is fine,” he says.
“That’s not what I asked. What’s wrong with her?”
“She’s just feeling a little under the weather,” he tries again.
I don’t believe him. They’re hiding something. And I don’t fucking like it. “If I find out you’re hiding shit from me, there will be consequences.”
“Even within this family, there is such a thing as doctor-patient confidentiality. If Cammi asks me to keep her business private, I will,” he reminds me, stepping out of the elevator as soon as the doors open again.
Well, fuck me. Didn’t know the old man had the balls to step up to me like that. I’m both pissed off and proud at the same time.