Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
FRANCESCA
One week later
If I thought getting stabbed was bad, being shot is like having the winning lottery ticket and losing it right before you claim the jackpot.
It’s been the worst pain of my life and healing is so slow, but at least I’m out of the hospital from surgery and able to be at the Savannah Sharks game.
According to the police reports and hospital documents, I fell down the stairs and broke my leg resulting in an emergency surgery.
There has been no mention of the gunshot wound, loss of blood, or our involvement with the shit that happened at the Rossi estate.
The Rossi home partially burnt down last week. According to the new reporters and papers, it was a completely unrelated accident that was the result of Jax Rossi making drugs.
The police have confirmed my family isn’t tied to the Rossi house fire in any way, but we all know the police have been paid off by Dad.
It helps that drugs and drug making paraphernalia were found in the Rossi home.
I use my crutches and slowly make my way to the couch in the suite with a cast on my leg .
Alexandra grabs some snacks and a couple of bottles of water before walking over to me. “Here. That way, you don’t have to get up. You need to stay off your leg.”
I take the offered snacks and say, “Hey, the doctor said as long as I don’t overdo it, I can resume work and extracurricular activities, like coming to the games.”
She leans close and whispers, “And other extracurricular activities, I hope.”
I grin. Yeah, the doctor didn’t want to allow that, but Rhett and I promised to keep it gentle, missionary, and slow.
She returns my grin and walks over to my dad as my phone dings with a text message.
Picking it up, I see it’s from Rhett.
William, Chad, and Coach Bobby are hesitant to let me play, but since you are here, they are allowing it on a game by game basis.
I smile at my phone and reply.
Yay! Skate fast and play hard, but don’t get hurt because I have plans tonight.
“Rhett is finally cleared to play again.” I tell Alexandra since she asked me earlier today if I’ve heard from him.
“That’s great. I’m sure he’s glad to be back.”
That’s an understatement of a century .
Rhett doesn’t like being told what to do. He wants to be on the ice, and he wants to play the game.
Sure, I might have been able to distract him this past week while being cooped up in the hospital, but I could tell he was missing the ice.
As I eat my snacks, I let my gaze wander down to the ice where the team is warming up. He’s not out there yet, but he’s probably changing into his uniform and lacing up his skates.
Spencer Reed and Joey are passing the puck back and forth across our half of the ice as Gage Roberts tries to intercept it.
It must be their own version of monkey in the middle.
Dad walks over to the couch and sits in the seat next to me. “So, my sources say you and Rhett are officially back together.”
“Who are your sources? The nurses at the hospital?”
“I’ve got eyes and ears everywhere, but don’t worry, they will protect you and keep secrets.”
So, Joey opened his big mouth because I know him and Rhett love to gossip.
“Dad, what do you think of Rhett? Honest opinions only.”
Dad looks at me with concern in his eyes.
“Dad, it’s just something that’s been on my mind for a while.”
Especially since the conversation with Jax while we were in AJ’s car heading to the Rossi estate.
Would Dad prefer me to settle down with an Italian man, even if it was with a rival family ?
Dad clears his throat. “I think Rhett is a great man.”
I raise my eyebrow. “A great man, really?”
“Sure, he might do things that are morally gray and occasionally break the law.”
Like kill my ex-boyfriend because he turned out to be part of the rival family and then avoid telling me about it for almost a week.
The only reason Rhett told me he shot Jax was because I mentioned sending a condolence card to Giuseppe for the sudden death.
Dad continues, oblivious to my inner monologue. “But he’s a hard worker and a great hockey player. He’s also very loyal to the family and our businesses. And he loves you unconditionally and would die for you.”
My heart swells with love. Rhett really would die for me. He’s everything Dad has just said and then more.
He’s a great listener, a great friend and confidant, and a great lover, but I’d never say that last one out loud. At least not in front of Dad and Joey.
“Would you accept him as a son-in-law? Even though he’s not one of us? An Italian? I mean, if he were to ever propose, that is.”
Dad gently pats me on my shoulder. “Him not being Italian doesn’t matter to me. I’ve already accepted him as one of us. Years ago, actually. I was just waiting for you to be sure he’s the one you want to be with.”
I can’t stop the grin from forming on my face. “He is. I’m a hundred percent sure Rhett is the man I want to spend the rest of my life with.”
“Joey and I are happy for you and Rhett. As long as you two treat each other with love and respect and put one hundred percent effort into your marriage, you will be fine.”
“The Sharks need to win the game, so I can tell Rhett how ready I am to become Mrs. Montgomery.”
“He already knows.” Rhett says from behind me.
Spinning around in my seat, I see Rhett beside the couch on his knee in his uniform with a ring box in his hand.
My mouth falls open at the surprise visit from him.
“Francesca Louise Marino, I love you more today than I did yesterday. More than I did two years ago when I was ready to make you mine. More than I did when you woke up in the hospital whispering my name. Will you make me that happiest man alive and marry me?”
With tears streaming down my face, I nod. “Yes. A million times, yes.”
I rush as quickly as I can while being in a cast off the couch and over to him and wrap my arms around his neck.
His kiss is short and chaste as he slips the diamond ring on my finger, but I need him. Fire is burning deep in my core, begging him to take me home.
He leans his head down and whispers in my ear, “ I promise we will continue this after I win the game, and every day until the day I die.”
I kiss the corner of his mouth. “I’m counting on it, Mr. Montgomery.”
“Rest your leg. I’ll see you in a couple of hours, soon to be Mrs. Francesca Montgomery.” He jogs out of the suite without a backward glance at me.
I have to admit it does have a nice ring to it.
Speaking of ring, I glance down at the ring he slid onto my ring finger. Holy Mother, this thing is huge, but stunning.
It’s the most perfect pear-shaped diamond solitaire ring that I’ve ever seen. If I could describe my dream engagement ring, this would be it.
I sit back down and watch the players take the ice for the start of the game. My gaze immediately finds Rhett’s number. Number twenty-four.
With Rhett by my side, I know we can handle anything. Including facing my dead-not-so-dead mother.
I’m not sure if it was a hallucination from the excessive blood loss, but before I passed out, I’m pretty sure I saw my mother looking down at me.
I haven’t told anyone yet, not even Rhett. I know he will believe me and help me find the answers I really want, but deep in my heart, I know Jax was telling the truth.
My mother is alive and living in New York. She was at the Rossi estate with Giuseppe and left me for dead .
And that hurts worse than thinking she died in a car accident.
The crowd stands and cheers as the referee drops the puck, and the game begins. Tonight, the team is skating better and passing the puck like they are the better team with something to prove.
They need to prove to the community they deserve to be here and want the fans to show up to the games and cheer them on.
Three minutes and fifty-one seconds into the first period, Rhett scores. I cheer and clap for him as his teammates congratulate. He glances up at the suite, causing me to grin wider.
The Sharks lose the faceoff, giving the other team a much needed chance at getting the puck down at our end of the ice. Every player skates towards our net.
Knox Anderson does a great job keeping the puck out of the net, but Joey cross checks a fellow defenseman and gets sent to the penalty box.
The crowd boos at the late in the period penalty, and I swear under my breath. This is not the time to get senseless penalties and give the opposing team an opportunity to tie up the game.
My phone rings, and I thank God for the interruption. Looking at my caller ID, I see that it’s Angelica.
“Hey, Angelica. What’s up?”
“I have good news, bad news, and worse news. Which do you want first?”
I sigh. “Just tell me them in order, starting with the good news, I guess.”
“The good news is I was finally able to get close to the Rossi house and saw the Don get into a private car.”
Whispering so no one around can hear me, I ask, “The Don? You mean Giuseppe?”
“You’re on a first name basis with the man?”
“It’s a long story, and I’ll tell you about it, but after you finish with your news.”
“The bad news is he was joined by a woman, but I couldn’t see if it was your mom. She looked a lot like your mom, though.”
My heart plummets to my stomach.
“Yeah, I had a feeling.”
“What? When?”
“What’s the worst news?”
“I’m hearing through the channels that a local gang down there stole something very valuable from the Rossi house and then burned the house down. The Rossi’s up here are planning to storm Savannah, so keep your eyes and ears open.”
“Fuck, that’s not good.”
When I stand, Dad glances my way, but I grab my crutches and leave the suite to talk more openly.
“Now that I told you all of my news, how do you know the Don of the Rossi family?”
I glance around the hallway, making sure no one is around to overhear my conversation.
“I met Giuseppe Rossi last week. The same night that the local gang apparently robbed them and burnt their house down.”
Although Rhett said Dad brought a gas can and probably set the fire .
“What? No way! Why were you there?”
“I was returning Jax to his family and using him as leverage to try to get answers, but that plan backfired when the gang ambushed us and shot me in the leg. Right before I passed out from the blood loss, I think I saw my mom, or else it was a hell of a hallucination.”
“Oh my God, Francesca. What are you going to do about all of that?”
“There’s only one thing I can do. I need to confront her and find out why she lied. Then I’m going to plan my wedding.”
“Do you think that’s safe?” She pauses a moment before screaming. “Oh my God. You’re engaged?”
I chuckle. “Rhett just proposed before the game. You should see the ring. It’s so perfect.”
“Send me a picture. I’ll try to do more digging for you.”
“Thanks.” I say before ending the call.
I send her a picture before making my way back into the suite.
Her reply is just as expected.
OMG! You are one lucky bitch. Tell Rhett I said congrats.
I send her a thumbs up before glancing back at the empty ice.
I guess it’s already intermission.
Turning slightly in my seat, I say, “Dad, we really need a family meeting as soon as possible to talk about everything.”
Dad narrows his eyes and frowns for a moment before nodding. He pulls out his phone and types a message to the group.
My phone rings. Thinking it’s Angelica again, I quickly answer the call and say, “Isn’t it the most gorgeous ring ever?”
A woman’s voice that is definitely not Angelica’s speaks. “Hello, Francesca. I think it’s time we meet.”
My smile disappears and my heart pounds in my chest as my breathing becomes ragged. Her voice is exactly the same as it was years ago. My hands shake and my vision blurs.
There’s no mistaking who is on the other end of this call.
“Mom? Is it really you?”
My phone beeps as the call ends.