32. July 2024
32
July 2024
V aughn’s car was parked illegally at the hospital entrance, the engine idling. The hospital security guard must have recognised the car and knew better than to ask him to move it. Vaughn paced the concrete path like a caged tiger. The receptionist had refused to let him see Willow because he wasn’t family. He suspected Lili had also requested he not be let in, and he could hardly blame her. At least she would take good care of Willow. That was the only reason he didn’t make a scene.
Pulling his cigarette case from his pocket, Vaughn paused to light up, then resumed pacing. Finn watched him from the other side of the car, saying nothing.
Antonio’s Bentley pulled into the drop-off area at well over the speed limit. Vaughn watched his brother through the windscreen as he continued to smoke, surprised by the sharp rise of anger inside him. The driver’s door opened, and Antonio stepped out.
‘I got your message,’ Antonio called to him. ‘Is she all right?’
Vaughn shook his head, not ready to speak.
‘What the hell happened?’
Vaughn took a long pull on his cigarette before answering him. ‘What happened is the piece-of-shit stage you built went down mid-performance like it was made from fucking sand.’ His voice was hoarse from the stress and nicotine.
Antonio appeared genuinely shocked by the news. ‘What?’
‘We said never again.’ Vaughn waved his cigarette in his brother’s direction. ‘After those kids… you fucking swore it. And I trusted you. We all agreed there would be no more cutting?—’
‘I didn’t cut shit.’
Vaughn stepped up to him—fast. ‘Who were the contractors? Huh? Did you actually think I wouldn’t find out?’ His vision blurred as rage pulsated through him. ‘You think a fucking stage collapsing wouldn’t clue me in? She could have been killed .’ The urge to put his cigarette out on his brother’s face had him taking a step back.
‘Listen to me,’ Antonio said, his voice deepening firmly. Then he raised his hands in front of him. ‘We used the same contractors we used for The Black Swan project.’
Vaughn exhaled smoke and shook his head. ‘Brilliant. When should I expect that bar to collapse, then?’
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Antonio replied, ‘You think I want to put the family back on the AFP’s radar? To save a few bucks ?’
‘I don’t know. Maybe.’ Smoke swirled in his vision. ‘You gambling again?’
‘No.’
‘And I’m supposed to trust that?’
That made Antonio visibly angry.
‘Then explain to me how this happened,’ Vaughn pushed.
‘The structure was sound. We didn’t touch it.’ He said the words with absolute sincerity.
Vaughn stared hard at him while his mind explored other possibilities. If what Antonio was saying was true, then what the hell had happened? ‘Is it possible that the structure was less sound after the work was carried out?’
Antonio rubbed his forehead. ‘I don’t know. I suppose it’s possible. Sometimes things just go wrong. Not everything’s within our control all the time—despite what you like to think.’
Vaughn took a deep drag and exhaled slowly, watching the smoke. While Antonio was right, that did little to quell the storm raging within him.
The glass doors at the hospital’s entrance opened, and Lili walked out. She frowned at the brothers as she headed towards them. Despite the poor lighting, Vaughn could see her eyes were shadowed by exhaustion.
‘You can’t smoke here.’ Those were the first words from her mouth. ‘It’s a hospital, for God’s sake.’
Vaughn dropped his cigarette onto the ground and crushed it underfoot. ‘How is she?’
‘Sore.’ Lili stopped a few feet away and crossed her arms. ‘She has a fractured rib, ten stitches in her head, and fourteen in her leg.’
Antonio dropped his gaze to the ground.
‘I want to see her,’ Vaughn said, looking past her.
Lili exhaled. ‘Well, you can’t. You need to go home.’
He couldn’t leave without at least laying eyes on her. ‘I just want to make sure she’s okay.’
Lili’s gaze was unwavering. ‘She doesn’t want to see you.’
A few beats of silence played out between them as he considered whether there was any truth to that.
‘It’s only now sinking in what’s happened,’ she continued, ‘but she’s putting the pieces together.’ She gave Antonio an accusing glance. ‘The last thing she needs is you two loitering out here. She has enough to deal with.’
A storm of emotions churned inside Vaughn, but the guilt was the worst. He understood that Lili was being the friend Willow needed in the moment, so as much as he wanted to argue and muscle his way inside, he didn’t do that.
‘Okay,’ he said, looking past her again to the doors. ‘I’ll call you in the morning and see how she’s doing.’
Lili sighed. ‘Vaughn?—’
‘Just take care of her. Okay?’ It came out sounding like a plea.
‘Of course.’ She paused. ‘I don’t want her mixed up in what’s coming.’
He knew exactly what she was referring to. The fallout.
The glass doors opened again, and this time Harrison walked through them. Every muscle in Vaughn’s body went rigid. He hadn’t realised Harrison had been inside the hospital the whole time, but it made sense given the number of injured dancers in there and his position within the company.
‘You two have a lot of nerve showing up here,’ Harrison said, glaring at the brothers as he came to a stop beside Lili.
Antonio shifted his weight, prompting Vaughn to raise his hand in a calming gesture. His brother was aware of their history and wouldn’t hesitate to knock the guy out—with or without a contract. Antonio crossed his arms, a signal that he would behave.
The sight of Harrison standing beside Lili, like her protector, did nothing to improve Vaughn’s mood. He stretched out his fingers and tried not to imagine how good it would feel to punch the smug director in the face.
‘Make sure he’s supervised around Willow,’ Vaughn said to Lili. ‘We all know how he likes to take advantage of vulnerable females.’
Lili pressed her eyes closed. ‘That’s not going to help.’
Harrison continued to glare at him. ‘The only people my dancers need protecting from are the two of you. You’re the reason they’re in this place.’
‘Let’s not do this now,’ Lili said.
Harrison’s gaze was locked with Vaughn’s. ‘Your shoddy construction company is the reason Piper’s currently having surgery on her leg. She’s lucky to still have it.’
The weight of Harrison’s words hit Vaughn hard, but he didn’t let it show on the outside. ‘If you’re viewing this as some sort of opportunity, it’s not.’
Harrison frowned. ‘You have a very sick and twisted mind, Mr Gallo. Time for you to leave.’
Vaughn felt like he was swimming in red. Before it could seep out of him, Antonio gestured to the car and said, ‘Let’s go.’
Vaughn looked at Lili, who gave the smallest nod.
‘If I were you,’ Harrison said, ‘I’d go enjoy my freedom while I still have it.’
Antonio brushed a finger down his nose. ‘I’d watch your mouth,’ he warned. ‘I’m still standing here.’
Lili looked heavenwards. ‘Well, as fun as this has been, I’m going back inside to Willow.’ She looked at Harrison. ‘You coming?’
Vaughn could have sworn Harrison’s lips turned up slightly. He was clearly enjoying the moral high ground.
‘Yes,’ Harrison said. ‘I’m coming.’ He held Vaughn’s gaze as he turned away, then strode off in his small jeans and ridiculous sports coat.
Without saying another word, Lili followed after him.
Vaughn watched them disappear inside. It took all his remaining strength not to follow them. He looked down at the blood and stage make-up smeared across his shoulder and sleeve. It had taken twenty-four stitches to close her wounds. He was immune to the sight of blood and injuries of all kinds, but not when it came to Willow.
Finn had come around to open the car door for him, so he turned and went to climb in.
‘Vaughn,’ Antonio called to him. ‘Where are you going? We need to talk about this.’
‘Not here we don’t,’ Vaughn replied before ducking his head and slipping into the back seat. ‘I’ll see you at the house.’ The door shut behind him.
A moment later, they pulled away from the hospital entrance. Antonio remained on the footpath, watching the car drive away. Vaughn couldn’t bear to stand there listening to his excuses. He wanted a long shower to wash off Willow’s blood—and his guilt. There was every chance that the police would soon be paying them a visit. Since he was still listed as a director of the company, he would have to be a part of that conversation.
Vaughn leaned his head back on the headrest. The car smelled of blood, a brutal reminder that Willow was lying broken and injured in a hospital—and it was his fault. He was the one who had gotten DeLuca that contract. In fact, he’d insisted on it. If he hadn’t, Willow and the other dancers would have been out celebrating their last performance of the season.
‘Straight to the house?’ Finn asked.
Vaughn allowed his eyes to close. ‘Yeah.’ He swallowed. ‘Straight to the house.’