Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Joaquin
In the past week since we arrived in Boston, I’ve aged at least fifty years. At least, that’s how many years this craziness has shaved off my life.
“Joaco, what about Salvatore? He’ll be here soon.”
“That old ass cabrón can wait until I’m ready. If he gives anyone shit about me being late because I’m taking my pregnant girlfriend to the ER after we were nearly blown up, I’ll tell the other two families. He’ll never live it down. Sylvia will finally come to her senses and kill him.”
It hurts like a bitch to twist so I can look at Tre while we talk.
But it hurts like a motherfucker to press my back against the seat.
I’d like to ride in silence, but I know I’ll pass out if I don’t force my mind to remain active.
I’m already freaked out about what could’ve happened to Tre.
I don’t need her freaked out, fearing I’m dead, because I passed out.
“Who do you think this was about?”
“Right now, it doesn’t matter. Whoever did this will suffer.”
That’s a promise I’ll take to the grave.
“Promise me something, Joaco.”
“If I can.”
“Do you trust me?”
“Of course.”
“Then promise before you hear what I want.”
“As though that doesn’t convince me I shouldn’t promise anything.”
I smile, trying to make a joke out of something that’s clearly very serious to her. Not because I don’t take her seriously but because I’m worried she’ll get even more upset.
“Joaco.”
“Fine. I promise, chiquita.”
“I’m not the one bleeding this time. You get seen before I do.”
“No.”
“Joaco—”
“No.”
“There are no signs that anything’s wrong with me. I didn’t even scrape an elbow or knee. You?—”
“No.”
I’m not snapping at her. I just won’t budge.
She crosses her arms and turns to look out the window.
I cup her chin and press lightly to get her to face me.
She resists, so I unfasten my seat belt.
She gasps as I lean across her and kiss her.
It’s a full-frontal attack. I don’t care that there are guards in the backseat and the front seats.
I don’t stop until I feel her tears on my cheeks, then my lips as I pull away.
“Chica.”
“Please, just let them treat you. I’m not refusing to be seen. I just refuse to go first. If I thought there was even a moment’s chance the baby’s at risk, I wouldn’t suggest it. I didn’t fall this time. You were incredibly careful when you put me on the ground.”
I look into her pleading eyes, and I know I can’t refuse her. It’s a reasonable request. Not only that, I don’t know how I’m going to refuse her most things when she’s begging for something for my sake. It seems callous to reject her concern for me, especially when I force mine on her.
“Okay, chiquita. You can tell the doctors they must cure me or else.”
“Or else is right.”
She catches me by surprise when she dives in for a kiss I didn’t think she’d ever want people to see. I feel like I need to adjust my dick, but I can’t stand it when I see guys do that in public. We keep it short but calling it passionate doesn’t do it justice.
We arrive at the emergency room doors, leaving us no choice but to get out here.
I’ll be having words with the driver since I’m certain he knows this was not the way I wanted to come in.
The driver is a Vizzini, but it was only Diaz men who got in the vehicle.
They didn’t muscle their way in, but the Vizzini men didn’t stand a chance.
I want men I personally know are trustworthy.
Even though my wounds are visible through my shredded suit coat and shirt, I’d wanted to be a little less conspicuous when we arrived.
So much for that plan.
I help Tre out of the SUV, and she wraps both arms around mine as though she could steer me where she wants. We both know if I don’t want to go in that direction, she can’t make me. At least not by brute strength. I know she could coerce me with her words.
I glance down at her, and her expression tells me I shouldn’t even bother arguing since she won’t relent. We make our way to the check-in desk, and I have to scramble for an excuse to explain how I got injured. I can’t exactly say my vehicle blew up.
“Name and birth date.”
“Tómas Rodriguez, with a z.”
I offer her a date that doesn’t even nearly match my real one.
Fortunately, I carry a fake ID and insurance card for that name.
It’s my default alias if need be. I shift my gaze to Tre without turning my head.
She doesn’t react to the false name. I’m fairly certain she expected it, and it’s hardly the first time she’s heard a man give a fake name in this situation.
“What brings you in today, Mr. Rodriguez?”
“I’m the owner of a construction demolition company. I was at a job site today that had a misfire, and I caught some shrapnel.”
The woman at the desk furrows her brow since the front of me looks fine. I turn toward Tre, and the woman can now see my back.
“Good golly, Miss Molly. All right, we will get you seen right away. How have you not passed out?”
That last part was muttered more to herself than an actual question I’m meant to answer.
I’m sure I’ll get the same one several times more before we’re done.
It dawns on me that this excuse won’t justify having Tre examined.
I’m kicking myself for it. I look down at her and then at the woman at the desk.
“My girlfriend wasn’t close enough to be hit by any of the debris. However, she was knocked over. She’s ten weeks pregnant.”
“Ma’am, are you having any pain or bleeding?”
“No.”
Tre answers in a definitive tone. It still doesn’t stop me.
“I’d like her to be checked out too, please.”
I can tell both of them want to disagree.
However, my expression makes it crystal clear I won’t budge.
We don’t even have a chance to find seats in the waiting room before a triage nurse calls us back.
I want to insist they examine Tre first, but her look is as unwavering as mine was only moments ago.
She helps me ease off my suit coat before the nurse takes my vitals.
“I understand you have an injury to your back, Mr. Rodriguez.”
“I do.” I stand and turn around.
“Oh my God.”
I look over my shoulder and catch the nurse’s stunned expression. I doubt it’s really from the injuries. It’s more about how unexpected it is after my stoicism. Her gaze meets mine, and it confirms my suspicions.
“Yeah, we will get you back in a couple of minutes.”
It surprises me how amenable she’s being until I realize she’s staring at Tre. I lower my eyebrows, and Tre smiles.
“Tiffany and I went to high school together. We recognized each other.”
So, that’s it. The nurse recognized Tre as a Vizzini. Even with my pseudonym and not being from Boston, I’ll still get the royal treatment. Who am I to complain? It’s better than having to wait with a hundred other people. It’ll get Tre seen sooner too.
I have a momentary sense of guilt since I don’t think I’m in the worst condition. But I’ve been fighting wooziness I didn’t want to admit because I didn’t want to scare Tre. Or rather, not scare her more than I already have. Tiffany leads us back, and it’s déjà vu from just a few days ago.
Some of the other staff even recognize us. A male nurse approaches.
“Ms. Vizzini, are you having some spotting?”
Tre shakes her head. “No, we’re here for my boyfriend this time. He got injured at a job site, and we need him checked out.”
“Patrizia was there too, so she needs checking out as well.”
I can tell she’d roll her eyes if we weren’t in public.
Her full name feels odd on my tongue. It’s not long before we’re both being seen in adjacent bays.
Once again, this is far too reminiscent of what we’ve already experienced.
I could certainly live without the flashback, but here we are, and here’s what we have to deal with.
I grin and bear it as I sit on the edge of the bed. It’s easier for the nurse to work, and it allows me to watch the ultrasound. We’ve definitely had far more baby-vision than the typical couple at this stage, but I won’t turn it down.
The very unique sound is reassuring. I once thought hearing Mamá’s voice could cure all the ills of the world. Hearing my child’s heartbeat surpasses that.
It takes the nurse half an hour to clean and butterfly stitch my wounds. Fortunately, none of them need a staple gun, but glue wouldn’t be enough. These will naturally peel off on their own. Truthfully, it might have been my insistence that I didn’t need them sewn shut that led to the steri-strips.
I need my wounds closed, but sutures would tug too much if I had to move quickly—like in a fight. The dissolvable ones that’re slowly wearing away were fine after the hit-and-run because I didn’t imagine a second attack, but I’m not making the same mistake twice.
We all avoid sutures whenever we can because of the inconvenience. If I were home though, I know I wouldn’t have swayed Tía Margherita or Madeline.
However, the nurse who came in took one look at me and appeared willing to do just about anything I said. That earned her a glower from Tre. It wasn’t my size or demeanor that swayed the nurse. From Tre’s expression, it was my appearance. I’ve been told I’m rather attractive.
Tiffany gives Tre’s hand a squeeze after she finishes examining her. I can tell a familiar face reassures Tre that I’ll be all right. It does the same for me since I’m disinterested in my own injuries and more concerned with what’s going on with her.
I can tell I need to back off a bit, or I’ll suffocate her. I don’t want her to grow resentful or feel like I’m too controlling. I am, but I don’t need to make it that obvious.
Fortunately, once they’re finished with my back, we’re able to leave. Since there’s no need to linger, we head out. We were there too long for the driver to remain near the emergency room entrance. The four Diaz men join us and escort us to the parking structure.