Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
Joshua
“ H ow is she? Does she need to be at the hospital? What can I do?” I ask Mom when she finally emerges from my bedroom where she’s been attending to Gia for the past hour with a nurse and another doctor.
“Breathe, Joshua.” Mom pulls me into a hug. “Gia is sleeping now, and she’s in good hands. We’ll take very good care of her. Try not to worry too much.”
“Mom,” I croak, clinging to her like I used to when I was a little kid. “Will she be okay?”
She holds my face in her hands. “Gia is strong. She’ll get through this, but she’s going to need time to heal.” Tears well in her eyes. “She has scars on the inside as well as the outside.”
“I’m going to gut that motherfucker until even his own mother won’t recognize him.” Pain slays me all over as I recall being in the helicopter en route to A.C. and hearing that sick fuck force himself on her while his men cheered him on.
“Good. He deserves to die a slow and painful death for what he did to her.” Her voice cracks as she removes her medical hat and puts her motherly one on. “Has Caleb found him yet?”
My brother took a large team, and they’re searching for Liam as we speak. I wanted to go with him, but I need to be here for Gia. Caleb will find him and keep him for us to deal with. Though I’m not sure if Gia will want to see the prick again. Either way, it’ll be her decision to make.
I shake my head. “No. They ransacked his apartment and the bar, but he wasn’t there. He appears to have ditched his cell, and O’Hara has no clue where he could have gone. He’s in the wind, but he can’t have gotten too far. Philip called the entire IT team in from their holiday break, and they’re combing through camera footage in the area. He’ll surface, and when he does, we’ll grab him.”
“You should be checked out. Your brother too.” Worry fills her eyes. We called Leo shortly after leaving Commission Central, asking him to tell Mom what had gone down so she and my stepdad could visit Luca’s family and relay the bad news. Giulio knew something was up after Caleb’s call, and we couldn’t leave him hanging.
“I’m fine, Mom. Not a scratch. Benedito and Luca took the fall.”
“Poor Luca. Poor Maria. She’s inconsolable. All the kids are too.”
“I’ll bet.”
“Does it bring back bad memories for you?” She caresses my cheek.
“Not really. I’m more concerned about Gia. She’s all I can think about right now.”
“I’m worried about her too. She begged me not to call her mom yet. She doesn’t want her family to see her like this. I didn’t want to agree, but I had to because she was stressing herself out and causing herself more pain. But it doesn’t sit right with me. Frankie is my best friend, and she’ll be beside herself with worry when she finds out.”
“Gia won’t go long without telling her family, and Frankie will be reassured to know you’ve been taking care of her.”
“I’m going to stay over for a couple of nights if that’s okay?”
“Of course. I’m hoping Gia will want to stay here where I can properly protect her, but she might want to go home.”
“I’ll go wherever she goes. No one else is taking care of my future daughter-in-law.”
I don’t contest it or confirm it, but Mom smiles all the same. “How much of it does she remember?” I ask, taking Mom’s hands in mine.
“She was still quite disorientated, so it’s hard to tell yet. I hope for her sake she doesn’t remember much.”
I nod in agreement.
“We’ve taken a blood sample to test for drugs, but my guess is she was given GHB.”
I squeeze my eyes closed and count to ten as pain lashes me from all angles again.
“You love her.”
My eyes open. “I haven’t told her.” I wanted to when she said those three little words, but I couldn’t. “It’s my biggest regret.”
“You will have time to tell her.” Mom squeezes my hand. “She’s going to need all our love and support to overcome this.”
“Whatever she needs, she’s got it.” I wet my dry lips as my stomach rumbles, reminding me I haven’t eaten since lunch and it’s now after three a.m. “How bad are her injuries?”
“She had mild hypothermia when we found her, but her body temperature has returned to normal now, thank God. She has two broken ribs, a concussion, lacerations, cuts, and grazes to her entire body. And…” Tears flood her eyes again. “There’s some internal tearing.”
I want to pound that motherfucker until he stops breathing, then bring him back to life, and do it all over again.
“I failed her,” I croak. “I promised to keep her safe, and I failed to protect her.”
“No, absolutely not.” Mom vigorously shakes her head. “You are not doing that. This is not your fault, Joshua. The only person responsible is that soon-to-be-dead Irish prick. It’s not Gia’s fault, and it’s not yours.” She squeezes my cheeks, forcing my gaze to hers. “She’s alive because of the protections you put in place that enabled you to find her in time, and it could have been a lot worse. Gia is alive, Joshua, and she will heal and get over this. That’s what you need to concentrate on. Not beating yourself up for failures that are not yours.”
“It’s easier said than done.”
“It’s as easy as you let it be. Push those thoughts from your mind, and focus on loving Gia and helping her recover.”
“I saw what he did to her arm.” I grind my teeth to the molars, like I did when I lifted her off that ledge and saw his name carved into her left arm. It was a bloody mess, and it’s going to scar.
“He will rot in hell for that.” She cups one cheek. “She can opt for a skin graft and plastic surgery to have it removed.”
“Is she in a lot of pain?”
“She was, but we’ve given her morphine, and to answer your earlier question, we can care for her here better than at a hospital. It’s safer too.”
“Thanks, Mom.” I bundle her into my arms and press a kiss to the top of her head. “Thanks for being here.”
“You know I already consider Gia a daughter. I wouldn’t have let anyone else take care of her.”
“How is Rowan doing? And did his bodyguard make it?”
“He is shaken but unharmed, and his bodyguard made it through surgery. He’ll pull through.”
“Good, I’m glad.” My stomach rumbles loudly.
“Come.” Mom loops her arm through mine. “I’ll make you a grilled cheese and hot chocolate like old times.”
“I’m not five anymore, Mom.”
“I’m well aware, but indulge me. Today’s been a trying day.”
We make grilled cheese sandwiches side by side, and Caleb shows up at the perfect moment just as we’ve plated a mountain of sandwiches and a jug of hot chocolate. We sit around my table, talking in low tones, as we eat and drink, and it reminds me of the past. When Mom would be waiting up after we got back from some bloody mission or a late-night party with sandwiches, apple cake, and hot chocolate.
“All we’re missing is your apple cake,” Caleb says, confirming our twin bond is still alive and kicking.
“I’ll give you a list for the grocery store tomorrow, and I’ll bake a cake for you.”
“You’re the best.” He leans over and hugs her. “It’s late. You should grab some sleep.”
“I’ll just clean up here and check with the night nurse.”
“Go. We’ll clean up,” I say, kissing her cheek.
“You can sleep beside her if you like. It would be good for you to be there when she wakes.”
“I was planning to.”
“The nurse will be in and out to check her vitals during the night, so I suggest you don’t sleep nude.”
“Gross,” Caleb mutters, like he’s some innocent altar boy.
Mom giggles. “Night, my loves.”
“Night, Mom.” We take turns hugging her, gathering up the plates and cups when she walks off to check on Gia before turning in.
“Update me,” I say as Caleb and I wash and dry dishes side by side. We could put them in the dishwasher, but I find it therapeutic washing dishes sometimes.
“There’s no sign of him. It’s like the prick vanished into thin air.”
“It’s possible he was collected by a chopper and he’s on a private jet halfway around the world by now.”
“I don’t care how long it takes, but we’re finding that motherfucker and making him pay.”
“He hurt her, Caleb. He really hurt her.” I pass him a wet plate.
“I saw the state she was in. He’s a monster.” He dries the plate and puts it away.
“I should never have left her side, or I should have sent someone to her place to pack up her stuff. I should never have taken her back to the city. I?—”
“Stop, brother. Stop.” He takes the last plate from my hand and dries it, putting it away as I drain the sink. “There is no point looking at all the what-ifs or should-haves. You can’t turn back the clock, and torturing yourself isn’t going to do anyone any good. Focus on caring for Gia and helping us to bury these assholes who dare to take potshots at us, our cousin, and your girl. Store all that frustration to use on our enemy.” He dries his hands and pulls me into a hug. “Let’s hit the gym tomorrow at some stage.”
“I’m not leaving her side. Ever again.”
“That might be awkward when she needs to shit.”
“Jesus. Do you always have to lower the tone?”
“Just keeping it real, broski.” He flashes me a grin that quickly fades. “Let me know what I can do to help, and it’s yours.”
“I might need you to attend the weekly board meetings at the company for the next while unless I can call in.”
“I don’t see how you can’t work remotely from here for as long as you need to. And if you want me to attend an in-person meeting, I’m there.”
“I spoke with Massimo on my way home. He’s ready to take the fight to the Barone and whomever is pulling their strings. He wants us to devise a plan to draw them out, and we’ll attack. He’s sent some men to Florida to spy on D’Onofrio, and he’s proposing we accelerate adding the new board members so we have more manpower to bolster our ranks.”
“Good. I’m done talking about this. We have enough information now to go on the offensive.” He yawns and rubs at his eyes. “There’s a meeting tomorrow to draw up plans. You can pass, and I’ll fill you in later or else call in. Massimo said it was your choice.”
“I’ll let you know tomorrow.”
“Get some sleep. You look beat.”
“Thanks, Caleb. For having my back tonight and for going after him when I couldn’t.”
“You’d do the same for me.”
“In a heartbeat.”
“Look after your woman. We’ll talk in the morning.”
The nurse is coming out of my bedroom when I approach. “She’s still sleeping, but all her vitals look good, Don Accardi.”
“Thank you, Lucille, and please call me Joshua.”
“She’s a fighter. Try not to worry. Good night, Joshua.” The older woman pats my arm as she moves out to the living room.
I slip into my room and stare at my love, hating to see her so battered and bruised. Lighting is low with only one table lamp turned on, but I can see still the damage that bastard inflicted. Her face is swollen and almost unrecognizable. One eye is almost completely shut. And there is heavy bruising and grazed skin on her right temple and cheek. Her lips are cracked, and fingertip marks are evident around her throat. A large bandage covers the mess he left of her arm, and I imagine her ribs are strapped up under the blue nightdress Mom dressed her in. I just want to cocoon her in my arms and wrap her in cotton wool so no one can hurt her ever again.
I grab a quick shower and dry off in the en suite bathroom before pulling on cotton pajama pants and a white T-shirt.
I ease under the covers beside Gia very slowly and quietly so I don’t wake her. Although I want to pull her into my body and hold her close, I resist, knowing it could wake her and she’s in pain. She also has a drip in one arm, hooked up to a machine. Turning on my side, I look at her, my heart so full of love it feels like it might burst.
I almost lost her tonight, and it put so much into perspective.
I need to tell her I love her so she never doubts it.
And as soon as the time is right, I’m proposing.
We may not have been a couple for long, but when you know, you know.
Gia is the one, and some day, soon if I have my way, she will be my wife.