Page 40 of Tesoro: Mayhem Makers

Snapping my attention to the door, I find a bruised and bloodied Johnny standing in the doorway.

“Oh, my god.” Tossing my plate to the side, I rush to where Johnny stands. “Come, let me have a look at you.” Cupping his face, my heart aches as he winces in pain.

“I’m fine, Doc.”

“It wasn’t a request,” I point to the vacant table as I head down the hall to Angelo’s abandoned room. Focused on gathering supplies, I fail to hear Valentina enter the room.

“Listen, I know how charming Dante can be.”

Not bothering to look up as I search for the suture kit I know is here somewhere.

“You’re not the first to fall for it, not by a long shot.” She laughs, as if it's the funniest thing she’s ever said. Like everything else about her, it’s fake as hell.

“Is there a point to your rambling? If there is, can you get to it already? I have a man who needs several stitches waiting for me.”

Valentina sways her hips and she moves further into the room.

“Know what your problem is, honey?” Her voice changes octaves, as her emotions get the best of her.

“Oh, thank god, someone is finally going to tell me what’s wrong with me.” Tossing my free hand in the air in an over exaggerated display.

“You fell for the oldest con in the book.” Sucking on her teeth, the sound of it making me cringe. “Handsome man pretending to fall for the geeky girl, saying what she wants to hear in order to get what he needs.”

Valentina picked up a package of gauze, twisting it around several times before tossing it to the empty bed.

“Dante got what he needed from you and now he’s gone back to his world, a place someone like you doesn't belong.”

Valentina runs her finger down her face to mimic a fake tear. “Now, you have two choices; you can take your bag, the car parked in the driveway and cry all the way home. Or , you can continue to play the hero, hoping Johnny will sing your praises to Dante and he in turn will rush back to Texas and rescue you right back.”

Rubbing my thumb and forefinger along my chin, I pretend to think about her scenarios. Snapping my fingers, my eyes widen in fake surprise.

“Or, and hear me out.” Holding up an open palm toward her, “I could choose option three. I recommend you call your acting coach and demand a refund for the shit job he’s done for you.” Waving my hand in her direction.

“While I didn’t see your last film, I did see the trailer. Ironically, it has the same plot line you just described. I also caught several of the reviews and, I’m paraphrasing here,Valentina’s character was unrelatable, not her best performance. Should I go on?”

I watched with far too much amusement as the smile melted from Valentina’s overfilled lips.

“You know, you may look exactly like my sister, but you will never win Dante’s heart the way she did.”

Chapter

Twenty-Eight

DANTE

Rubbing the beads of my rosary between my fingers, I half listen as yet another specialist explains why Angelo will never walk again.

“There is simply too much?—”

“That will be all,” I interrupt, jumping to my feet. “Frankie has your payment and will see you out.”

Crossing the room to the large window overlooking the backyard, my mind drifts back to the farmhouse in Texas, and more importantly Kate. It had been more than a month since our abrupt departure and not a single word from her.

“Maybe they’re right, Dante. He’s the third doctor we’ve consulted and the answer is the same.”

Closing my eyes, I lower my head in defeat. Italy was on our asses for a definitive answer whether Angelo could fulfill the role, while Marcus was threatening to petition for the position.

“Maybe you should have listened to me when I said to wait until you were more recovered before jumping on a plane so soon after surgery.”

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