Page 51 of Mafia Handbook

Chapter Twenty-Three

Milena rubbed the back of her neck as she stared out the window overlooking the city. She couldn't recall a time she’d been so exhausted and yet unable to fall asleep.

“Milena?”

Glancing over her shoulder, Milena offered her father a smile before turning toward her spot at the edge of his bed.

“Morning, Frank,” she offered, still unable to bring herself to call him dad. “You slept most of the night, glad to see the new pain meds are working.”

“And you haven't slept a wink.”

Shrugging, Milena moved to argue someone needed to stay awake in order to take care of him, when a soft knock sounded at the door followed by one of the night nurses walking through with a food tray in hand silenced her.

“Morning you two, I hope you’re hungry.” Sarah, the nurse Milena preferred over the others, spoke softly. “The kitchen is making up for sending too little food this week.”

Milena didn't have the heart to tell Sarah her appetite, much like her ability to sleep, had vanished since she’d walked through the door over a week ago.

“Now, I can’t say much for what they call toast, but the bacon is to die for.”

Frank appreciated Sarah’s enthusiasm, she’d made the time he’d spent here alone much more bearable. He hoped Milena had friends like the sweet nurse, someone to help her make decisions when his time to leave this earth finally arrived.

“Smells wonderful, Sarah,” Frank lied. His appetite, as well as his ability to ignore the pain in his stomach, waning by the second.

“You have a visitor, Mr. Rossi.” Setting the tray on the wheeled cart, Sarah lifted the covers and moved the tray closer to Frank. She’d heard all the rumors of how dangerous this man was and argued with fellow nurses who’d threatened to walk off the floor if they were forced to take care of him. Sarah didn’t care about the rumors, her concern rested with giving this father and daughter as much peace as she could give them until he drew his last breath. Which, judging by the latest ultrasound, wouldn’t be much longer.

“Two bites,” Milena gently reminded her father. “Or your friend will have to wait until Sarah brings you a snack in a few hours.”

“Would you listen to this, Sarah? An outsider would think my daughter is the parent here.” Frank chuckled as he attempted to push himself up in the bed. Snatching a strip of bacon, Frank ignored the wave of nausea as he obliged Milena, shoving the entire piece into his mouth and chewing. “I’d say that was four bites, wouldn’t you?”

Sarah could sense the struggle Frank was going through, reaching into her pocket, she covertly pulled out a syringe full of anti-nausea meds, injecting it into the port closest to her.

“Fine,” Milena faux rolled her eyes. “You can let his playdate in now.”

Frank laid his head back as he felt the nausea fade away. Sending Sarah a wink, he waved his hand in the direction of the door.

Standing to her full height, “I’m going to take a walk, give you some privacy.” Milena admitted as he stretched her arms over head.

“Wait,” Frank demanded. “I asked Al to come today for you.”

Snapping her attention toward her father, “Why would I need your attorney?”

Taking a measured breath, Frank patted the bed beside him. “I’ve treated you in the most heinous ways imaginable. I tossed my own flesh and blood into the streets for speaking her mind.” Dropping his eyes to the sheets over his lap, the sting of unshed tears formed behind his eyes. “Your mother would have turned in her grave if she’d known what I did.”

Taking her father’s hand, Milena sat on the edge of the bed. “Tell me about the moment you met my mother. Not the story I heard from Nona, but your memory of how it happened.”

Frank squeezed the tiny hand of his daughter’s, the memory she’d requested as fresh in his mind as the day it happened.

“I was a bastard then,” he began, a smile filling his face as he locked eyes with Milena. “Even more so than I am now. Anyway, my father had grown tired of my antics. I’m sure your Nona shared a few of the stories she knew about, but trust me, the truth was so much worse. One day, my father came into my room, not long after I’d managed to drag myself home, and informed me there was to be a family dinner held that evening and my presence was nonnegotiable. While I was a cocky bastard, I was smart enough to know when to push back and when to concede.”

Milena watched as her father’s eyes became unfocused as if the memory was playing in the room.

“I came down the stairs to the sound of laughter, rounding the corner into the living room where I laid eyes on the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. When she looked my way, I felt for the first time, my body come to life. I cannot tell you what your Nona served for dinner, or if the weather was warm or cold. But I can tell you the cut of her dress, the pitch of her laughter, and how her smile molded me into a new man.”

Squeezing Milena’s hand, Frank blinked several times before focusing on his daughter’s face. “The happiest day of my life was when your mother greeted me at the door of our home and told me she was pregnant with you. I tarnished her memory by considering Cavanagh’s offer to marry you, and by blaming you for your mother’s death. Allow me to make amends, or at least a heartfelt apology, by giving you what was rightfully yours from the start.”

Milena’s handshook as she signed her name on the line her father’s attorney indicated.

“One more here.”

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