Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 56680 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56680 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
It’s probably too desperate, but now that he’s “here,” I don’t want to be alone. He doesn’t text back. I put my phone facedown on the bed, pick it up, and scan the messages. If this was Dad, did I say anything that would… would what? I’m not a kid anymore. He can’t hurt me.
Dante still hasn’t texted back.
CHAPTER 7
Dante
“A rupture with an extreme fever,” Carter Hawkins says, the Family doctor. His white jacket looks weird on his heavily muscled body. He stands like a soldier, his hair silver, his eyes serious as he looks across his desk at me. “She needs rest, and it might be time…”
“Doc,” I cut in.
He sighs. “I know, Dante, but you have to hear it.”
“Doc.” I walk over to the window, looking out at the parking lot. My head still feels more than a little dizzy. “When my dad passed away, he made me promise to take care of her.”
“We’re taking care of her for the time being,” Carter says as I turn back and see him run a hand through his hair. I think he’s around ten years older than me. “Just think about it, Dante. Where was her nurse?”
“Ma complained about her. Said she was stealing.”
Carter grits his teeth. “That’s the second one. How many thieves can there be?”
“Sometimes, I think…” My head aches sharply. I sit down and rest my forehead on my hand. “I think she wants to die, Carter.”
He sighs heavily. He’s been with us since the start. He’s a Family doctor to whom only high-ranking members have access. He was a medic in the military. I’m not sure what wing. “If she were in a home, she wouldn’t have to feel like a burden.”
“She’s not a burden,” I snap.
“Then she wouldn’t have to feel like one.”
I massage my forehead, and my vision goes blurry again. Then, a moment later, Carter is at my side, his hand on my arm. “Hey, look at me.”
I blink, his face blurring. “My goddamn head…”
I focus hard, the migraine splitting right down the middle. I don’t pass out, but sitting upright and pretending to be somewhat okay takes so much concentration.
“Has that happened before?” Carter asks.
I grit my teeth and turn away. Sometimes, the Family connection makes it difficult. As a Marino doctor, Carter can ask me as many questions as he wants, whereas a civilian doctor might be intimidated. Carter’s the best, so I have to come to him for Mom.
“We’re here for Ma,” I tell him.
“If you don’t take care of yourself, how will you care for her?”
“Why do you do this, Carter?” I snap.
He leans back, emphasizing his size and height. “Do what?”
“Take care of the Family.”
“Dante, come on.”
Obviously, I understand. He needs the money. I’m not sure what for. I never get into his personal life, but he’s just like me.
“Has it happened before?” he asks again.
I swallow. “Tell me about doctor-patient confidentiality.”
“I can’t tell anybody.”
“Not even the Family, Carter?” I lean forward. “Let’s say Elio and Luca Marino walk in here, maybe with Colt Walker, and they’re tooled up. They tell you to discuss what we’ve talked about. What do you do?”
Carter looks at me steadily. “No man on this earth could walk in here and force me to do anything.”
“You’d take three armed men? Those three?”
“I’m not saying that,” Carter snaps, “but it’d be a fight.”
I grin, sit back, and nod. “Fine, all right. Fuck it. Yeah, it’s happened before. I had a blackout today.”
“What?”
“I’ve had them before, but you can’t say a word about it.”
Since I’m in the hospital anyway, Carter runs me through a bunch of tests. Then, I go down to the parking lot and look at the convenience store across the street. I take out my phone.
What do you think about smoking?
What, cigarettes?
Yeah, I reply.
It’s pretty gross, but I get why people do it.
Do you?
Yeah, the world can be grim and depressing. Sometimes, people need a release.
That’s very non-judgmental of you, I text.
Why do you ask?
I used to smoke when I was much younger. I’m not even sure why I’m telling her all this. I debated getting one now, but I don’t think I will.
If you are Dante, how did you get my number?
I smirk, imagining her in front of me, that gorgeous hourglass figure with curves in all the right places. I’d sink my hands into her hips, then smooth outward over her thick thighs and ass, squeezing her voluptuous body, owning her, making her shiver and wet and press her juicy legs together as her pleasure bursts out of her.
It’s a simple enough thing for a man like me.
And you expect me just to believe you?
Who else would it be? I ask, but I think I know the answer—her dad. There’s something wrong and twisted about her father. I saw it at the party, how he looked, the ownership there, and she left her home as soon as possible. She fled to the East Coast.