Double Blind (26 page)

“Vincent is out of surgery and he’s in stable condition. Both bullets missed vital organs and I don’t expect there to be any nerve damage to his arm. He’s a very, very lucky man. There’s still a risk for infection, so he’ll need to be on antibiotics for a while.”

Jack squeezes my shoulder. “Thanks, doc.”

I can’t speak. I feel far away.

“You can visit him in a little bit. The nurse will let you know.”

He smiles at us and walks away, and I’m left reeling.

“Did you hear that? He’s going to be fine!” He shakes my shoulder.

He’s going to be fine.

I heard, but I don’t really believe it. Tension loosens from my shoulders and I slump in Jack’s arms, suddenly exhausted.

We follow the nurse into the room half an hour later, with me fighting the urge not to sprint ahead of her. I have to see that he’s all right. Will he hate me for all the shit I’ve dragged him into?

The moment I see his dark head propped on pillows, his eyes alert and awake, I burst into tears. The weight of the last few hours was unbearable, and keeping my emotions firmly stamped down was even harder. He smiles at me from the bed and I take a seat near his head, looking at all the tubes attached to him. His right hand holds a button to the morphine drip, which he periodically clicks on. A glaze covers both of his eyes. He looks exhausted, but fine.

He really is fine.

“Hey,” he croaks out.

“I was so worried.” I take his hand in mine and tears slip down my face when he smiles at me. The broad, confident smile I’m so used to is weakened somewhat, but it’s still him. He’s unbreakable.

“I told you not to worry about me,” he says in a slightly slurred voice. “Fuck, this shit is so good.”

Jack approaches the bed. “Hey, tough guy.”

Vince’s eyes fly open again. “Jack, Carmine is still out there. You can’t let her leave.”

I rub his bare arm. “I won’t. I’m staying here with you.”

“We’re on it, Vince. You just rest.”

He fights to keep his eyes open. “I won’t rest until he’s dead.”

* * *

Fingers play with my hair, smoothing the strands over my face. It tickles and I smile. Opening my eyes, I see Vincent wide-awake on the hospital bed, the glaze gone from his eyes. Brilliant sunshine streams in through the blinds.

“Kiss me.”

He speaks with that same undeniable authority that he had the moment I met him. His eyes blaze as I lean over the bed carefully and give him a quick peck on his lips. When I pull away, his eyebrows are furrowed.

“What was that?”

“Vince, you were just shot. I don’t want to hurt you.”

His arm lifts to my face and sweeps around my head, and then he pulls me closer so that his lips crush against mine. His feverish lips kiss me over and over until I feel lightheaded, and when he lets go it’s only because he needs to breathe.

“I’m glad you’re feeling better.” A smile twitches on my face.

“I just want to get out of here. I hate hospitals.”

“The doctor might discharge you tonight. I don’t know how, but you didn’t get any nerve or bone damage. It’s a miracle.”

For some reason, at the sound of my words his face falls. He looks depressed. What did I say?

He speaks slowly. “It’s a miracle you aren’t dead. He got you in my own house. In my own fucking house. I don’t think I can ever forgive myself.”

Those passionate, wide eyes that I love so much are wet. He closes his eyes as if in pain.

I take his head in my hand and I stroke his hair. “You saved me. If it weren’t for you, who knows what would’ve happened to me.”

“If I wasn’t in your life, you wouldn’t have gone through any of this shit. I feel so fucking guilty for everything that’s happened to you.”

I squeeze his hand hard. “Vince, I wasn’t happy before you. I had no one who cared about me. Now I have you, and yes, it hasn’t been a quiet ride, but at least we have each other. Because of you, I know who murdered my dad. That means so much to me.”

My voice is thick with tears. His eyes flare open and his hand suddenly clenches over mine.

“I don’t feel good about it. He’s out there biding his fucking time, and we’re sitting ducks in here.”

“Vince, he can’t get us in a hospital.”

“Are you basing that on the fact that he has a normal, healthy brain? He’s a fucking lunatic who was obsessed with your mother, and now he’s obsessed with you.”

His frustration at being confined in a bed couldn’t be more evident. He struggles to sit up and I help him press the button to lift his bed.

I can’t pretend that Vince’s warnings don’t scare the shit out of me, but I’m trying to put on a brave face for him. A soft knock at the door makes us both tense.

The door opens, admitting Jack who has a look on his face that makes my stomach drop.

“Vince, I’ve some news. Ade, do you mind waiting outside?”

“I’m not letting her out of my goddamn sight until that psycho is dead. You can say whatever you need to say in front of her.”

Vince glowers at both of us, daring us to object. If it keeps him calm, I’ll stay.

“Fine,” Jack says impatiently. He tightens his jacket around himself and sits down next to me. “They found Tony and his
capos
shot to death in his restaurant. Someone went on a fucking rampage.”

His eyes widen. “Jesus. When?”

“It happened last night. Security footage captured a guy walking in there and out several minutes later.”

“It has to be Carmine, right?”

Vince suddenly laughs. “I can’t believe he managed that by himself.” A smile spreads on his face. “Hey, this is great news.”

Jack shakes his head. “I’m not so sure, Vinny. The soldiers in Rizzo’s family are scrambling to elect leadership while other families poach their territory. I’m glad that asshole is gone, but the war in Jersey could spill on our turf if we aren’t careful.”

“Who the fuck cares? The Rizzos are finished, that’s what matters.”

“Not if Carmine decides he wants to be boss. He has a lot of loyal soldiers after what happened yesterday. They’re scared shitless of him.”

“Yeah, I’d like to see him become boss with half of New Jersey’s police force after him. He probably whacked that cop, stupid fuck.” Vince rubs his chin thoughtfully and then he grabs the railings of his bed, almost as if he wants to lift himself out. “I can’t just fucking sit here when that psycho could be anywhere.”

“There’s nothing you can do. I have everyone on the streets cracking heads to find out where the bastard is. No one has seen him.”

“Fuck.”

The blood roars in my ears as I listen to their frank conversation. Neither of them has ever talked so openly in front of me. I stand up and move to the window, looking down into the streets below us as if I might spot Carmine leaning against a wall.

“So, how are you feeling?”

“Good, good…”

The conversation dissolves into a discussion about Vince’s health and when he’ll be on his feet again. Then the door flies open and Vince sits up in his bed, wincing horribly, and I grab the windowsill.

It’s Carmine. He’s here to kill us.

An older woman dressed in a Sunday dress bursts into the room, followed by an exasperated nurse.

“I’m sorry, sir. I couldn’t stop her!”

“I’m his mother!”

It’s Mrs. Cesare. A surge of heat rises up my neck when she tears across the room and flings herself over Vince’s hospital bed. I wonder how much Vincent told her about our ‘break-up.’ He sends me an angry look.

What? I didn
’
t call her.

“Ma, what are you doin’ here?”

“What are you talking about?” she asks in an almost offended tone. “I’m your mother!
Oh my God
.”

She plucks at the tubes leading to arm, the gauze fastened over his wounds. She clasps her veined hands around her mouth and a noisy sob shakes from her mouth. “Look at what happened to you. My poor baby.”

His face burns scarlet. “I’m fine.”

“You’re not
fine.
” She fusses over him, fluffing his pillow and smoothing out his bed sheet. She wipes her eyes. “Who did this to you?” Her hands vibrate with a mother’s rage, as if she wants to call the parents of the kid who hurt her son.

“Erm—I think I’ll go. Good seeing you, Gloria.” Jack approaches her to give her a kiss and then he leaves with a relieved air.

“Bye Jack.”

I have a sudden urge to leave the room with Jack, but Vincent’s pointed glare warns me not to leave him alone. I take a step forward and Mrs. Cesare notices my presence for the first time. She jumps, uttering a little scream.

“Adriana!”

I give her a hesitant smile. Vince’s eyes bulge out and he waves his hands behind her back. “Hi, Mrs. Cesare.”

My cheeks burn as she fixes me with an intense stare.

“Are you and my boy back together, then?”

“Y—yes.”

She bursts into tears and launches herself at me, her arms almost straining my neck as she gives me a fierce hug.

“I was so upset when Vinny told me you guys were over. What happened? Did he say something—”

“MA! That’s enough!”

“Never mind, it doesn’t matter!” A pink tinge rises in her cheeks as her son glares at her. “I’m just so happy you’re back together. I didn’t have any hope for my son when you left him. He’s handsome, but he has no manners.”

Ignoring Vincent’s violent hand gestures, I look at Mrs. Cesare’s beaming face. “I didn’t leave him by choice. It’s a long story.”

Vincent grabs the sides of his head and utters a low growl. “You’re driving me up the wall and it hasn’t been five fucking minutes.
Leave her alone!
”

Mrs. Cesare turns around to the hospital bed, a very angry look on her face. “How dare you talk to me like that? I’m your mother, not some maid.”

“This wasn’t the best time for you to come and visit. It’s not safe. That’s why I didn’t call you.”

“Safe? What do you mean?”

Vince sits up in his bed and bellows at the door. “NICKY!”

I jump at the noise. “Vincent, relax. I’ll go get him.”

I cross over the room past a bewildered Mrs. Cesare and I open the door, finding Nicky posted at the entrance.

“Nicky, Vince wants you.”

He follows me inside and makes a sound of jubilation. “Hey,
there
he is! You feeling okay?”

“Fine,” he says through his teeth. “Could you take my mother outside and please do not let her out of your goddamn sight?”

“But I just got here!”

“I can’t relax when you’re in the same room, and I need rest.”

Whoa, that’s a bit harsh. “
Vince!
”

Mrs. Cesare looks like he just slapped her face. Her eyes fill with angry tears, and she walks out of the room followed by a bemused Nicky. I round on him once the door closes.

“Vince, how could you do that to her?”

“Don’t fucking start.” He settles into his pillows, looking molested.

I close my mouth as I approach his bed and his arm reaches out for me. He touches my face as I sit down next to him. Then he lets out a long sigh.

“Damn, I can’t wait until this is over and we can get back to our normal lives.”

“What’s normal?”

He smiles. “Planning our wedding.” He twists a strand of my hair between his fingers, winding it so that I’m forced to lean closer. He lifts his head to kiss me, his lips soft against mine. Fluttering butterflies soar in my stomach as he deepens the kiss. Vince lets out a low, satisfied growl when I pull away.

“When this thing with Carmine is over, I’m going to take a couple months off. I need a break.”

I suck in breath. “Can you do that?”

He shrugs painfully. “Jack will probably give me a month.”

We both need a break. I just want to have school and the wedding to worry about. I’m not sure how I feel about the Vittorios. Jack’s support was nice, but it would be even nicer if we didn’t have to deal with all this shit anymore.

Fat chance I’ll ever get him to agree to that.

“Adriana, get me my jacket.” He nods towards the jacket draped over the chair and I take it.

“Look inside the left jacket pocket.”

Glancing at him with a puzzled look, I dive my hand inside and my fingers close around a small box. I pull it out and open it. It’s my ring.

A wave of emotion suddenly floods my face and I take the shimmering ring in my fingers delicately, sliding it back on. It looks delicate on my finger. Beautiful.

“I never wanted to give it back.” I sniff hard and rotate it in the light. “Thanks for not pawning it.”

He gazes at it wistfully. “I never really gave up on you. I couldn’t.”

He’s the best thing that ever happened to me.

I lean forward and kiss him again. I’m possessed with an urge to climb into the hospital bed with him, to feel his smoldering touch all over my skin, but then there’s a knock at the door. I wipe my face.

A small nurse edges inside and walks towards the bed, checking his dressings.

“When can I get out of this goddamn bed?” he asks rudely.

“We can try getting you a wheelchair, if you like.”

“Yes, please.”

When she returns with the chair, Vince is determined to get out of bed by himself. It’s frustrating to watch him sit up painfully and then slide off the bed. He turns around and sinks into the wheelchair.

“Much better.”

He grins at me from the chair and I turn away, shaking my head. It surprises me how fast he’s bounced back. The doctor said he got incredibly lucky. Most people need physical therapy, but Vince might not even need that.

There’s a knock at the door. It opens, revealing a man in a dark blue uniform that makes my stomach do backflips. He steps into the room without waiting to be invited in.

“Adriana Baldino?”

“Yeah.”

“I have a few questions for you I’d like to ask in private.”

Vince swears and gives him a beady look. “Look, you can talk to her lawyer.”

“It’ll just take five minutes, ma’am.”

I look from him to Vince nervously. “Okay.”

Vince catches my hand. “Come right back.” His eyes burn with urgency.

The officer looks strangely tense as I smile at Vince and join his side. We leave Vince’s room and walk past the waiting room, down a series of empty hallways. My pulse starts to quicken when he stops in front of a door and opens it for me.