Page 117 of Cartel Devil

I nearly fell out of the fucking bed when Maria Mancinelli walked in with her mother-in-law, Carlotta. Maria’s a radiologist, and Carlotta’s a general surgeon. I’ve known Maria and Carlotta since I was a kid, but I wasn’t close to either of them. They were nice. I played with Maria a few times when we were really little. Carlotta is almost as good a baker as Sera, so she’d make sure I had cookies when all the other kids did too. But that was the extent of it.

When they visited, they assured me that neither gave a shit about the men in their family or the men in mine—Vizzini and Diaz. They were there for me. They told me what their rotations were for the week and made sure I had their numbers in my phone. They told me to text or call them if I had to buzz for a nurse even twice. They’d fix it. Lord only knows what that means.

They knew Margherita—Tía Margherita—I’m getting used to that with all of Joaquin’s family—is officially my midwife, so they said nothing about obstetrics. But they said if I wanted to see a gastroenterologist to check on any lasting effects from the poisons and getting my stomach pumped, they’d make sure the head of the department was there within an hour. They said if I felt any numbness or tingling in my extremities, they’d have the chief neurosurgeon there within an hour. If I just wanted to see the baby again, Maria would do the ultrasound.

Tía Margherita made the same offer, and I know I’ll go to her or Madeline first. But it was touching that Maria and Carlotta did too. It meant a lot to me. It’s not like I believe they defied their husbands or don. Matteo, Massimo, and Salvatore are wise enough to know that would’ve been foolish. But it still wasn’t expected.

The greatest shock was when Katerina Andreyev poked her nose in. I had no idea who the stunning blonde was until I heard her speak. Then I didn’t need an introduction past her name. My guard went up immediately. She sensed my suspiciousness and kept the conversation short. She let me know she was the charge nurse, and that if I needed anything and didn’t get it, I should ask for her by name—Kitty. She explained the only person allowed to call her that was Misha. If I asked for her by that name, she’d know it was urgent, no questions asked.

My mom’s cousins were just here. Wisely, only their husbands escorted them rather than any of their sons. Carmine was all Joaquin could tolerate, and that’s because Alejandro was here to run interference. Dillan, Sean, Shane, Finn, Cormac, or Seamus showing up might’ve given my boyfriend an aneurysm. My mom was relieved to see them since they were moral support for her as much as family representatives to me. My mom was virtually exiled from the family while her uncle—their father—was alive.

The women’s brother, Donovan, relaxed it a little. He allowed Mom to attend family events, but he made it clear he didn’t want his sisters communicating with Mom. I just learned it didn’t stop them because they never listened to Donovan, and they terrified him. But now that Dillan’s in charge, there’s no need to hide how close the women are. I didn’t fully appreciate it until I saw Siobhan, Saoirse, and Breda engulf my mom in a hug. Mom just melted as though she could finally lean on people who truly understood.

It’s not like my father isn’t devastated by all this. He’s compassionate in a way I never fathomed. But he’s not a woman. There’s some innate understanding among women about pregnancy. I believe it’s true even for women who’ve never been pregnant. Once you get your period, you know it’s possible to grow another life inside you.

My mom and her cousins have all had kids, so they know what pregnancy is like emotionally as well as physically. Siobhan’s daughter was murdered several years ago. It was after my brother died, but she and Mom share that unique bond too.

Even though I believe what Mom told me on the swing, it’s nice knowing the O’Rourkes are as available to me as the Mancinellis. I might even grow into having relationships with at least Siobhan, Saoirse, and Breda.

Only time will tell, but Joaquin’s promised he’ll never stand in the way of it. He’ll never trust the men and will never let me near an O’Rourke without a Diaz within reach. But his over-the-top possessiveness and protectiveness are so I can do what I want and what’ll make me happy. I believe him because I know he doesn’t want to force me into a golden cage. It’s why he’s conflicted about what should happen once I’m discharged.

While my mom talked to her cousins, a neonatologist visited. Finn’s wife and Breda’s daughter-in-law. I’d heard about her just like I had the other women who married into the O’Rourkes. I know Finn’s considered the pretty one in the family just like my brother. I know plenty of people consider my brother beyond hot, and the sentiment’s shared about Finn. This woman, Ally, makes Finn look like he married up.

She was soft-spoken and patient. She answered every question Joaquin and I had. She took time to explain everything. There were no platitudes or false hope offered. She told us what we didn’t want to hear but did it in the kindest way possible.

She told me something I didn’t know because I never thought to ask. Not only did Tía Margherita and Madeline have graduate degrees in midwifery, but they also hold master’s degrees in genomics. Apparently, Joaquin knew but didn’t realize how significant that was. He knew they were among the most highly trained but not to what extent.

Apparently, both of them often work with the neonatology department. She assured me I couldn’t find better midwives than the two in my family—everyone’s already treating me like a Diaz. Ally offered to be our baby’s doctor if need be.

“Tre, are you awake?”

Joaquin’s lips brush against my forehead before he kisses the tip of my nose. I like waking up this way far more than I do an alarm clock.

“Hmm. Yeah. Just barely.”

I was in that wakeful state where my thoughts are lucid, but I wasn’t ready to face the world.

“The shift’s changing, so I need to go out to meet everyone coming on and thank those who are leaving. Jorge and Javier are outside if you need anything. Madeline’s shift is starting too.”

“Can you pass me my phone, please?”

He hands it over and heads for the door. I’ve purposely waited to make this call because it won’t go over well when Joaquin finds out. I’m not exactly trying to keep a secret from him, but I’m definitely going with the “it’s better to ask forgiveness than to ask for permission” theory. I fully expect it to blow up in my face, but hopefully not until after I’m done.

“Ewan, it’s Tricia.”

There’s a pause before Ewan O’Malley responds.

“I heard you’re still an M&M.”

Mafia mattress or mob mattress.

A woman who sleeps with one syndicate guy after another because she has a type.

“How do you know Joaquin can’t hear this?”

“He’d never let you call me.”

The only reason why I am is because I want to know if word of my pregnancy got out in Boston. I know my dad and the others have been poking around, but I’m confident Ewan will let slip shit to me that he’d never reveal to anyone outside the Boston mob. He’s that overly confident.