Page 8 of The Mobster’s Present

“Why?” Dove is the one who asks the question this time. When I look at her, I don’t know what she sees on my features, but she coaxes me gently, “You can tell us.” When I don’t say anything right away, she doesn’t look angry. Instead, she redirects, “How about you start by telling us how you know him?”

“I used to work here,” I answer automatically.

Dove gives a nod like she was expecting that answer. “If you used to work here and then left, was it because of Romeo and his specific brand of cruelty and pain?”

“Yes,” I whisper, the memories of his abuse and torture hitting me all at once.

I’ve been holding them back, which wasn’t easy considering I’m back in the place where evil didn’t have to hide in the shadows. Because the devil was in charge of the whole debaucherous hell and had no reason to hide.

“You left.” Dove doesn’t phrase it like a question and her voice is filled with pride.

“I had to.” The words land in the room, and I can feel everyone’s expectations. For some reason, I can’t bring myself to look at Salvatore. “I found out I was pregnant and I knew that if I stayed, then neither of us would live.”

“You carried Romeo’s baby?” Salvatore growls the question.

I swallow hard and nod because I don’t trust my voice. After a moment, I croak out, “I went to LA and was able to blend in. My daughter is three.”

“Why’d you come back? If Romeo hurt you and you were able to get out safely, why come back?” I can hear the censure and incredulity in Dove’s voice; I understand both.

“I only came because I didn’t have another choice.” I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. I have no reason to hide the truth and there is a family connection, even if it doesn’t mean much considering Dove killed the man. “My daughter, Oriana, is three years old and she’s sick.”

For some reason the first person I look at is Salvatore. He’s looking at me with pure horror written all over his face. I watch it morph into determination that I don’t quite understand.

“How sick? Where is she? Do you trust where she is?” His questions are delivered with a rapid-fire approach of a man who is used to being answered and listened to the first time he says something.

I’m not surprised considering the only man higher than him is Angelo Amato, a man not to be messed with or underestimated. Salvatore’s hands are far from clean.

“How,” his voice cracks as he repeats, “sick?”

“Treatable,” I start and his shoulders relax slightly. “She has leukemia and is in the first phase of her treatment right now, which means she’s currently admitted to a children’s hospital in LA.”

“LA,” Salvatore repeats thoughtfully and it’s like I can see his mind start churning over the problem at hand. But why? “Dario Moretti’s territory.”

“The first phase is intensive, but then she’ll be discharged and,” I shrug helplessly, “I was doing contract work, trying not to make a big splash any one place and keeping a low profile. The moment I needed some leave to be with her in the hospital, my contact was terminated.” The words start rushing out of me and I can’t stop them. “I don’t know how I’m going to pay the medical bills, and that’s not even mentioning rent. I’ve been picking up some online gigs, but it’s not much and it’s slow, even though it’s all I can do while living in the hospital.”

“When did her treatment start?” When I glance at Dove, she got a pad of paper and a pen in her hands. She looks at me with pure determination and focus, as if she’s going to conquer this illness herself and with her bare hands.

“Almost two weeks now.” I swallow hard and close my eyes while reaching for the courage that brought me this far.

For her. Always for her.

My heartbeat slows and I know that since I’ve come this far, I can’t turn back. There’s still a chance here to get what I need. Maybe even more considering I’m sitting in the same room with my daughter’s aunt.

I open my eyes and look Dove straight in the eye. “Listen, Romeo was scum. I’m glad he’s dead. The last thing I wanted to do was come here, but I knew that if I didn’t act then I was going to eventually be in a situation that would endanger Oriana. She’s fighting her own battles right now and it’s my job to make sure she can do it safely and as easily as possible. I didn’t think he would give it, but I came here to ask Romeo for help. I just need her treatments paid for,” I choke out the words, hating them while filling them with hope.

Salvatore’s body goes taunt next to me, but I don’t look away from Dove. She studies me for a long moment before a smile slowly starts to bloom on her face. This one is genuine, almost sweet.

“So, what you’re saying is that my niece is in the hospital fighting for her life?” I swallow hard and nod, a little surprised that she simply believes me. She starts to reach for her phone, a promise in her voice, “Oh, we’ll take care of this.”

“I can take care of my woman and our daughter,” Salvatore rumbles next to me.

The room goes still for a second before everyone, including me, turns to look at him. He’s not looking at them; he’s looking at me. His dark eyes are pleading with me for something I don’t understand.

Oaklynn crows, “Holy shit, I’ve never seen it happen live. This is amazing.”

Dove starts a slow building clap, and I think she does a little dance, but I only catch it out of the corner of my eye. I can’t look away from Salvatore.

“What are you talking about?” I gasp out the question, replaying his words in my head and not understanding them any better, no matter how many times I do it. With a shake of my head, I hold up a hand when he opens his mouth, cutting him off, “I don’t understand, but I do know I need to be back in LA tomorrow. I have a flight booked and need to relieve the nurse who was kind enough to use her time off to sit with her.”