Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
KATERINA
I understand why Stefano came to the hospital, really, I do. The Cosa Nostra protect their own, and I’ve had thirty-four years to adjust to their way of doing things. Right now, anyone inserting themselves into my life is a problem. The Syndicate is about to tear itself in two. Lines will be drawn, and people are going to be hurt. I need to be able to fly under the radar, not be under constant watch by some misguided crush.
It's only been two days, and Danny has already backed off. I haven’t seen hide nor hair of him on my last shift. I feel a little bad, but I’m not a people person, and having to be consistently professional while he was refusing to take the hint was grating on my last nerve.
I wish he’d cut it out with the notes though. It’s unsettling knowing he’s been creeping into the doctor’s lounge to slip them through the vents in my locker every day. It’s beginning to feel more and more like a violation. Today's was a bit much, even for him.
I’m disappointed in you, Doctor Mancini. He’s not good enough for you.
I crumple the paper and throw it in the trash, fighting off a shiver at the tone. The difference between sweet and unnerving is persistence in the face of rejection. The last thing I need is for Stefano to see this. I’ll admit the notes are crossing a line, but if I show it to Stefano, he’ll overreact. I can’t have him hospitalising James Costello’s son.
I’m doubting myself, because I really thought Danny had got the message when I said no to a second date, but that can’t be the case if he’s still sending me these notes. How did I read him so wrong?
I’m just changing out of my scrubs when my phone echoes in my locker. When I check the notifications, the bottom drops out of my stomach. I have six missed calls from Sinclair and no voicemails. Members of criminal organisations tend not to leave messages when the contents could get them put away for years. The volume of calls doesn’t bode well, so I call him back immediately, and he picks up on the first ring.
“We need you,” Sinclair shouts down the line. His voice is urgent and strained as he goes on to give me the details of where I’m needed. It sounds like an absolute clusterfuck of a situation and there’s no way I’m not dropping everything to help them. It’s an all-out siege between the Bianchis and the De Lucas. I gasp when he drops the bomb that the De Lucas have captured Aurora. I worked my ass off to save her when her psycho husband left her for dead and I’ll be damned if I let them finish the job.
“ Shit , I’m on my way. Where?”
“Stefano is on his way to you. We have basic med-kits. Bring anything else you think we might need for triaging an all-out assault.”
“Got it.” Hanging up, I throw the phone down on the bench and grab a fresh set of scrubs. I don’t have anything else with me that would be appropriate. Digging out my sneakers and pulling them on, I tie my hair back before grabbing a hoodie from the long-neglected gym kit at the bottom of my locker. I turf out everything else in the bag, then grab my phone and slam my locker shut, turning and nearly jumping out of my skin when I discover Danny standing in the doorway.
“You scared the shit out of me, Danny. What are you doing in here?” I snap. It’s late, and even though I told Stefano he’s not a real threat, catching him watching me is more than a little unsettling.
“Sorry, Doctor Mancini. Is everything okay?” he asks, his voice laced with a little too much concern, so much it sets my teeth on edge. He doesn’t move out of my way as I head towards the door and despite his over-familiarity, he does look genuinely concerned, but I really don’t have time for whatever this is right now.
“Family emergency,” I say, and I barge him out of the way. As I head down the hallway towards the supply cupboard, I can hear the squeak of his thick-soled running shoes following me. Acutely aware that I’m under a time crunch, I opt for ignoring him and hoping he doesn’t get in my way. I shoulder open the door, stepping into the room, and grabbing anything I think will be useful. Should I be using the hospital as my personal dispensary? No, but I don’t think the kits I designed for our teams to carry with them will be enough. I have a stockpile of supplies at home that I can grab later if necessary, but you can never have enough gauze or suture kits when you’re launching an assault on a rival family. I start cherry-picking a few smaller items when the door behind me opens.
“You going to tell me what’s going on?” Danny presses. His brow is drawn in what looks like worry as opposed to judgment. I deserve judgment. I’m stealing from the hospital after all.
I turn, cocking a hip and resting the holdall on it, checking what I’ve already got. “Wasn’t planning to.”
“You keep a lot of secrets,” he says. It’s a statement and not a question, and I have no doubt that he’s also referring to the recent revelation of my new boyfriend as well as the fact I’m about to walk off shift with a bag full of stolen supplies.
“Ones I’m not going to elaborate on, Danny. I have to go.” I zip up the bag, throw it over my shoulder, and elbow my way past him. “I’m sorry. If I could tell you… I still probably wouldn’t.” When I look back, my apology appears to have softened his expression, and he nods before turning and letting me go without uttering another word.
Stefano is quiet as he drives us across town. With every passing minute, the tension grows, leaving me worrying my lip and picking at my cuticles. This is not how I saw today going. I’m only called in after the action, never before it.
“You’re to stay out of harm’s way, in a van with your father’s men. Any injuries will be brought to you, and when we find Aurora and Nico, you’ll get them to safety. You’re not to be within a quarter mile of the compound. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, sir.” I fail abysmally to hide the ‘fuck you’ in my tone. I want to be doing more than just hanging back and picking up the pieces. Doesn’t he realise this whole situation hurts me just as much as it hurts him?
We’ve been betrayed. Sold out to Salvatore De Luca. I may not be a foot soldier, but I was born and raised in this life and there’s no way I’m standing by and letting monsters like the De Lucas slaughter us.
“What about Dad?” I try to hide the tremor in my words and fail, my voice breaking.
“We’re hitting the De Lucas with a rapid response and reduced numbers. Your father is coordinating back up from Zo’s safe house.”
“Does he know I’m on the ground too?”
Stefano doesn’t reply immediately. “He knows you’ll be on the perimeter.” He turns his head briefly and raises an eyebrow. “Don’t make a liar out of me.”
“Don’t start with me, old man.”
There’s a barely audible growl from the driver’s seat, though I don’t know if it’s because I’m arguing with him or because I called him old. I’m nervous and taking it out on him, so I feel a little bad about both.
“Sorry,” I say meekly. “I didn’t mean to snap. I know you’re only trying to protect me.”
When I cast my gaze his way, he dips his head, acknowledging my words, but as I turn back to look out the window, I swear I hear him whisper, “Always.”
The buildings whizz by the window so fast and yet our pace feels glacial. When Stefano finally pulls the car to a stop, we find ourselves in the middle of a makeshift command centre. There are multiple panel vans and SUVs parked up with men congregating, ready for their orders. From memory, we’re not far out from the De Luca compound.
I head towards Sin—Enzo’s tech specialist—who’s already reiterating Stefano’s orders as I stop in front of him. “No fucking way you're going in with us.”
“Of course not, you prick. I’m here to triage any casualties and help when you get Aurora and Nico out of there.”
He gives me a ‘I’ll believe it when I see it’ face, and I hold up my hands. “Scouts honour. I’ll be in the van with my father’s crew backing me up. Besides, this fucking guard dog you sicked on me is making it really hard to have any fun at the moment.” I cock my head sideways at Stefano, who ignores my teasing.
“Less talk, more getting in the van, Katerina,” Stefano instructs.
I shake my head and make a move towards the vehicle. “That’s Doctor Mancini to you, old man. ”
Sinclair mutters quietly to Stefano under his breath, “So, she’s glad of the protection, then?”
“I’m not above shooting you, Sinclair,” I threaten. I don’t hear Sin’s response, but I don’t need to. I have other things to be getting on with. I start sorting through the med kits and checking what I’m working with.
Leo, my father’s right-hand man, hands me an earpiece so I can listen in on the action, before he closes the doors and moves us into position on the perimeter.
We’re waiting for what feels like forever, and every time Stefano’s voice rings out over the comms, updating his location, my heart beats a little more evenly. I’ve never been in the field like this before, but then, there’s not been an assault like this in my lifetime. It’s unprecedented.
Chatter erupts, and I heave out a sigh of relief when someone announces that they’ve found Nico and are bringing him to me. I start readying myself, laying out what I can for triaging trauma patients, but as I listen, I hear exactly what I don’t want to hear. “Fuck, Zo, we’re sitting ducks out here!”
I look up at Leo as we process the back and forth between Enzo and Sinclair.
“They’re pinned down. We need to get in there,” I plead.
“No way, Doc. I have my orders and you’re staying put. Your father would have me shot,” he says, shaking his head.
I pull myself forward between the front seats and lean close so the rest of the team can’t hear. “Don’t test me, Leo, or I’ll tell my father about the time I caught you fucking my aunt in the guest room at his fiftieth birthday party.” I lean back, crossing my arms over my chest and daring him to test me. “Your call.”
“She came on to me,” he mumbles before turning the engine over and putting it in gear. “You will stay in the fucking van.” He guns it in the direction of the compound and pulls up in an alley at the rear. It’s chaos in the courtyard. Even with the windows closed my ears are assaulted with a cacophony of gunfire and breaking glass. As I look out of the windscreen, Enzo bursts through a window on the second floor onto a flat roof, dropping low and focusing his weapon on taking out any unfriendlies. It probably takes less than a few minutes for him to neutralise the threats, but my heart is in my throat the whole time. There is a thunder of boots on the ground heading towards us before we see Sin, and his team hauling a pale-looking Nico our way. They throw open the rear doors and I blanch under Sin’s glare.
“Thank fuck you’re here, but you’re on your own when Stefano finds out you went rogue.” He looks exhausted and more than a little concerned to see me so close to the action, but I can also see that he’s relieved to see me.
“Fucking coward,” I say with a wink. Trying to reassure them all in some way with my usual attitude. I glance down at Nico and bang on the side of the van. “Close it up and get moving. I need to get him out of here. Now.”
He’s pale and despite the field tourniquet on his leg, it’s obvious he’s lost a lot of blood. I cut his pant leg open to get a better look, finding that the culprit is a gunshot wound above his knee. It’s a through-and-through and appears to have missed the artery, but it’s made a mess.
“Get me back to Zo’s safe house. They have what I need to treat him there. I can’t take him to the hospital. The city will be crawling with police looking for any injured stragglers they can pin this clusterfuck on,” I bark out over my shoulder as I pack the wound with gauze.
“On it, Doc,” Leo replies, his voice steady and even. Every one of my father’s men are calm under pressure, which I appreciate now more than ever.
The further we move away from the compound, the weaker the signal in the earpiece gets. The last thing I hear before it cuts out is Stefano. “Ground floor front room. Lay down cover fire. Aurora is the priority. Enzo is do ? —”
“What is it about you lot? Always fucking up my masterpieces. Every time I patch you up, you go and break yourselves all over again.” I’m talking to myself since my patient had to be sedated when we got back to the safe-house, so I startle when I get a response.
“We don’t mean to, and in this case, the De Lucas started it.” I smile at the familiar rich tenor of my father’s voice, and when he crosses the room to stand behind me, I lean back into him and let his arms wrap me in a hug. “How are you doing, my brave girl?”
There’s nothing like a parent's love and support to smash through your carefully crafted defences. I open my mouth to dismiss him and insist I’m fine, but all that falls out is a cascade of gentle sobs. I don’t know where the surplus emotions have come from, but they wash over me like a river bursting its banks.
“Sh-sh-shhh. It’s okay. I came down to tell you they’re on their way back.”
I turn in my seat and look up at him hopefully, but as soon as I meet his eyes, I know there’s bad news. “Tell me. Please Dad, just tell me,” I plead softly.
“They got Aurora out, but Enzo didn’t make it.” My father’s words hit me with a force that drags the air from my lungs in a raw and strangled gasp. He squeezes me tight before dropping into a crouch by my side.
Dead? That can’t be. He can’t be gone. Enzo’s one of the best of us. An ache settles in my bones, and it feels like it won’t ever let go of its grip on me. I’ve known Enzo my entire life. We grew up together and grew even closer when his brother fell in love with my best friend. That feels like a lifetime ago now.
He’s family.
Was family.
He’s gone.
A wave of nausea rolls over me and I struggle to suppress the sadness that’s threatening to pull me under.
“What about everyone else?” Please let everyone else be okay, I beg silently. Please let my bossy-as-fuck fake boyfriend be okay.
“Sinclair is on his way back now with Aurora, Benny, and Stefano. They’ll be able to fill us in more when they return.” My dad rubs my shoulder and hesitates before adding, “I’m not going to push this, you’re an adult and you’re a part of this world, but if you put yourself in danger like that again you’re going to give your old man a heart attack.”
I can’t help but smile at his tone. It’s as warm and loving as it is stern. “You know I had to, Dad. I couldn’t not help.” He arches an eyebrow, obviously not satisfied with my answer, prompting me to continue, “I’ll be careful, Dad. I promise.”
He shakes his head and smiles, standing back up and then kissing my forehead. “I guess that’s all I can hope for. I need to head out, but I want you at home for the next family dinner. Your brother will be there. He’s going to need proof of life when he finds out about everything that went down today. And it’s been too long since you’ve joined us.”
I start to protest but when I register the implacable expression on my father’s face I nod. “I’ll be there, Dad.”
It’s not that I don’t want to see them, but half the time, family dinner includes my father’s best friend. It was easier to make an excuse that I was called into surgery than to torture myself spending time with a man I can’t have. I don’t imagine it’s going to be any less awkward sitting through family dinner now that I’m secretly fake dating Stefano. Either way, I’ll still be wishing he was mine, and knowing he can’t be.
“No excuses, Katerina,” he mutters as he heads back out the med-room door.
I continue with my sutures, each stitch lulling me into a sort of trance as I focus on only what’s in front of me. When I finish the last one, worry seeps back into my consciousness. Even though I know they’re on their way back, I don’t think this feeling of dread will fade until I see them with my own eyes.
Until I see Stefano.
I’m aware of Stefano’s presence at my back, the anxiety that’s taken up residence in my chest beginning to ebb.
“We need to debrief, and then I’m taking you home.” His warm breath skates along the slope of my neck while he rests a hand on my shoulder. It’s a small gesture, but it’s everything I need right now. It quashes the undercurrent of unease rippling through me and makes me feel more grounded. Protected. Supported. Whatever is going on around us, Stefano always knows just how to handle me.
The next hour passes in a blur. I listen to Aurora as she addresses the room. It’s a rousing speech, but it’s not meant for me. She’s taking control of her father’s organisation. Practically daring anyone present to challenge her while honouring the memories of those we’ve lost today.
It’s hard to fathom the implications of what she’s saying. Salvatore De Luca is dead, his son still lives, and we are declaring war on the De Luca family.
Today has changed everything. I started the day on shift at the hospital and I’m ending it witnessing the ascension of the first female don.