For Cam (Chicago Syndicate Book 4) (33 page)

“Adriano,” Marc placates. “There’s only one person who has the authority to make this decision. I’m sorry, but the next of kin decides, and that’s her father, James.”

My gaze flies to James. “You wouldn’t...!”

James sends me a hopeless look. “I don’t know...How long do we keep her like this?”

James surges up just as my anger sets off into pure fury and I jump on him over Cam’s bed, ensuring not to hurt her, and we fall backward onto the floor with a loud thud.

“Oh my god!” Fallon shrieks.

“Cam’s in there! She’s carrying
my
child. Your grandchild! You will shut it off over my dead fucking body!” I bunch James’s lapels in my fist, but Luca drags me off him. 

“Enough now,” Marc orders in a sharp tone. “You two can’t do this in here, or else no one can see Cam anymore. Adriano, sit down and let me finish because you’ll like what I have to say next. Now, I believe that my niece is indeed fighting in there, and she’s responding to Adriano every night. I’ve seen her brain activity spike whenever he’s around, James. So my advice, as her uncle, is to keep trying to lure her back.”

I swipe the back of my hand over my mouth as James straightens his ruffled clothes.

“I’m sorry,” I offer because I shouldn’t antagonize her father; the one who holds the power over any decisions about Cam. 

“I understand your upset, but it’s difficult for the rest of her family too, Adriano,” James explains, without judgment, making me feel like an absolute ass; however, my fury overrides any logical reasoning.

My chest is heaving violently as I’m transfixed with the thought of losing Cam. 

“Let’s continue later when we’ve calmed a bit.” Marc extends his arm, leading James out, and Luca follows them while Fallon stays with me.

She claims Luca’s seat. “Do you think James would make that decision without consulting you?”

“I don’t think so. But I’m not leaving it up to fate. Fate hasn’t been my friend. I’ve fought and killed to have a life with her; I won’t let this ruin it.”

“You shouldn’t,” Fallon says and bites her lip.

I know exactly what she’s inferring. “There’s only one way; if she’s my wife.” I swipe my finger over my phone screen and call Henry. 

“Adriano?” he answers after one ring.

“I have a problem regarding Cam. Her next of kin decides how long we keep her alive while she’s in this condition. And that’s James, not me. I can’t have that. I need to be her husband. Can you arrange that?”

“Hmmm, yes, I can. I’ll have to change her records, her marital status. Um, I’ll probably need a certificate that you’ll need to sign and forge her signature on and a witness for both of you. Then I can upload it into City Hall’s system.”

“How long will that take?” I ask.

“Give me two hours.”

“Okay. Hurry. And, Henry, this is the most important thing I’ve ever asked of you. Do this without anyone else in the Syndicate finding out, especially James, and I’ll promote you from associate to an official member.”

“I’m on it. I’ll bring you the marriage license as soon as I’m done changing her digital records. Are you at the hospital?”

“Yes. I’ll be waiting for you here.”

“So, is she taking your last name? And what date did you marry her? You need to pick a date before she went into a coma,” Henry explains.

“Yes, she’s taking my surname.” Then I look at Fallon. “A date?”

“Just pick a random date in September or October. It won’t be your real anniversary anyway.”

That’s true. “Wedding date is October 25.”

“Okay. I’ll text you when I’m on the way.” Henry ends the call.

Fallon looks at me expectantly. “And?”

“He’s marrying us now,” I say as an unnerving feeling slithers over my skin. This should be a happy time for me and Cam. “And he’s bringing the marriage license later.”

“You need wedding rings.” Fallon takes her purse from the floor. “I have a card...”

“I actually know a jeweler on Madison Avenue who could engrave two wedding rings for me immediately. If I call him, can you pick them up?”

“Of course.” She takes out her car keys from her purse. 

“I’ll text you the engravement. I want two silver-gold wedding bands—” I’m interrupted by Luca. 

“I knew you were cooking up a plan, so James and Marc are occupied in the waiting room.” Luca cocks his head to my co-conspirator. “Wedding bands?”

“I’m marrying her today,” I admit.

“I didn’t expect anything less,” he says around a gloomy smile. “I assume you contacted Henry to make it official?”

“Yes, he’s working on it as we speak. Make sure James is occupied for the next two hours.” 

Luca nods as he rests his hand on the small of Fallon’s back, and she goes to retrieve my wedding rings.

Hurriedly, I send Henry a text to message me a photo of Cam’s signature, and I request a pen and paper from a nurse to practice forging it.

***

E
xactly one hour and forty-three minutes later, Henry, Luca, Fallon, and I are assembled around Cam’s bed.

However, Marc interrupts us, and when he catches Fallon’s guilty expression, he demands, “What’s going on?” His attention shifts from me in my black suit, complete with jacket, to Cam.

“Marc,” I start. “You and I know that she’s responding to me. I can’t let James have control over her life.”

“Adriano.” Marc’s attitude is surprisingly compassionate. “I understand you, but I honestly don’t think he would do that.” 

“Well, I’m not going to take that chance,” I state, leaving no more room to argue.

Just when I think Marc’s about to cause trouble, he relents, “Fine. You two will marry anyway.”

“We will,” I agree, staring at my soon-to-be wife.

I dressed Cam in my white dress shirt, like I do every day, and combed her hair, tucking the strands behind her ears. The scar on her head is covered by her hair, and she looks absolutely beautiful. Peaceful. It appeases, yet saddens me at the same time.

“Adriano,” Henry begins, handing me the marriage license. “You need to sign on the dotted lines here and here. Then Fallon signs as Cam’s witness and Luca as yours. Can you forge Cam’s signature?”

I get the piece of paper from Cam’s bed and show him. “I tried. I can.”

“Yeah, it looks good.” He gives me a pen, and I take the cap off. 

Then I lean forward as Fallon places a paperback book on the bed to give us a surface to write on, and I sign my name and Cam’s name. Next, Fallon and Luca scribble down their signatures.

And Henry takes the paper. “You’re married.”

I regard Cam and stroke her stomach before I turn to Fallon.

Her hand disappears inside her purse, and she hands me two silver-gold wedding rings. “Just like you wanted.”

I hold up Cam’s ring and read the engravement. “Thanks.” Taking Cam’s hand, I slide the band on her ring finger. “Come home to me, because that’s where I’ll be all the days of my life, waiting for you. I watch you. I exist for you. I belong to you. The time has come for you to open your eyes, Camilla Montesi, and meet your husband and baby.” I nuzzle her ear so that no one can hear the last words of my wedding vow. “
Se tu muori, muoio anche io.
” If you die, I die.

I blink back the moisture in my eyes before I stand back up. When I crane my neck, all four of them are smiling morbidly at me, causing me to chuckle. “You may congratulate us...”

“Sorry,” Fallon breaks the tension first. “It’s just...I don’t know. Never mind. Congratulations!” She winds her arms around my neck and gives me a big kiss on my cheek, and then all her attention goes to Cam as she speaks to her.

“Congrats, A.” Henry shakes my hand. “I’m going to take care of this.” He holds up the paper. 

Luca grabs my arm and hugs me. “Who would’ve ever thought? Adriano’s a married man. Congratulations,
amico
.”

“Thank you.” I pause, attempting to give this peculiar sentiment a place, but it’s useless, and Luca notices my battle. “Don’t give up hope. She’s your wife now.” He squeezes my shoulder. “She’ll come back.” 

“She must...” My words trail off when the tattoo artist enters just in time with a blue bag.

“Adriano, long time no see,” Nixon greets and congratulates me.

I make the introductions, and Nixon handles the situation lightly, which I appreciate.

“Are you getting another tattoo?” Fallon asks while Nixon is setting his equipment up on the table. 

“Yes.”

“What kind of tattoo?” she wants to know.

“My wedding ring,” I reply as if it’s the most normal thing in the world.

I remove my suit jacket and roll up my sleeves to my elbows. I only wore it because Cam likes me in my three piece suit. But I rarely wear my jackets.

“I’m going to swoon!” Fallon mumbles, and I frown at her.

I take my seat next to the bed and entwine Cam’s fingers with mine while resting my other hand on the table on the other side, and Nixon goes to work, drawing two circles around my ring finger.

“Am I tattooing her too?” Nixon requests as he starts to write the letters on my skin.

I smirk at Luca, who shakes his head violently, conveying that I can’t do that.

I lift Cam’s hand to my mouth and press my lips to her knuckles. “I’m tempted to, but no. She can decide if she wants the tat when she wakes up.”

I seal our union, our bond no man on earth can come between, and get my wedding band tattooed on my finger in a black ink with a metallic shimmer border and calligraphic letters reading:
Cam. My angel
. Because I know with certainty that whatever happens in this life, I’ll never marry another. She’s my wife, my angel, the mother of my child, the only woman I’ve ever loved.

Everything takes about twenty minutes. Within twenty simple minutes, I’m married to the love of my life. Unfortunately, it only takes five minutes after that before James learns what I’ve done and barges into the room.

First, his glare is aimed on me and then on Marc. “Marc, you know those papers are fake.”

“No, James. I’m protecting both her and
you
. Adriano and I believe that she’ll come back. You’re already grieving her death, but don’t undervalue the power of the human bond.”

James holds up his hands as if he can’t believe that I actually went through with it. Then he expels a loud sigh. “I just wish you would’ve discussed it with me first.”

“Well, it’s over and done with now. Can I please be alone with my wife? I really need to have some private time with her – right now,” I state in my boss’s tone because all these discussions are wearing me out.

For a second, it’s quiet. But then Fallon and Luca practically shove everyone out. After they’ve all finally left, I crawl into bed with Cam. 

I roll her slightly to her side and slide my arm underneath her neck so that I can embrace her firmly while she lies against me. I hold up my phone with my other hand and put on our song, hoping she’ll hear it. Or at least that she’ll feel me on this day that’s actually our first day as husband and wife.

But what’s supposed to be one of the happiest times of my life is, in actuality, the bluest day of my existence. A tear drips from my eye.

“Please come back to me.” Those words are losing their power.

It’s true that I married Cam because I’ll never let anyone other than me make the decision about whether she lives or dies. However, I mainly married her because I wanted to. Though now I feel even more miserable than usual because, deep down, I’d hoped that she would miraculously wake up. See, hope is a treacherous feeling for a Mafia man. I never believed in hope before. No, I took matters into my own hands without leaving anything to chance. I killed and maimed to get my way and protect my family. But this needy emotion is depressing me when I want to enjoy this moment, even for a little while.

So I close my eyes and pretend we’re having a normal wedding night where I worship her body with mine.

Adriano

––––––––

W
hile I thought that marriage would lift this cloud of darkness that’s hanging over me, it doesn’t. On top of that, in the following days, there’s still no change in Cam’s condition. 

My first weekend as a married man, I’m working at the club on Friday afternoon because I have a pile of papers to sign. But while I’m here, I realize that I’m not used to having so many people around me anymore, and I’m confronted with the isolated life I’ve been leading with Cam for the last four months. This is what Marc warned me about; how difficult it is for the direct family members to continue on with their lives.

Nonetheless, time does continue, and the business is running well without me; delegating all that work to Luca, Logan, and Tez was a clever decision.

However, on this day, I reach a new low because this is the first time I delay returning to the hospital. These first few days as a married man have been the hardest ones of my life. Rubbing my temples, I try to convince myself that she’ll wake up once she understands that we’re married and having a baby. But reality is proving otherwise, and the thought of it plagues me. Nothing is bringing Cam back, yet her shadow haunts me continuously, and being in a marriage without her presence is horrendously lonely. Therefore, to my utmost displeasure, after four months, that last piece of optimism leaves my body. 

Upset with myself, I storm out of my office and bump into an employee when I turn the corner. I steady her with my hands on her shoulders. “Sorry.”

Lo’s big brown eyes look back at me, and it’s as if Cam is standing before me, alive and well.

She’s fazed for a second and then grumbles an apology. As I stare at her, I’m dazed by her resemblance to Cam.

All of a sudden, she leans forward and almost kisses me, but I hold her back by her shoulders and shake my head in warning. “No! Were you about to kiss me?”

Her eyes widen. “I-I’m sorry.”

I release her as if she’s burned me. “My wife is in the hospital. She’s fighting to keep
my child
and herself alive and you dare to try to kiss me? I’m fucking insulted that you even think you stand a chance. I’m a sinner, and I’m a killer. But I will never betray my wife!”