Page 13 of Days Of Valentino

I want to. I really fucking want to tell my wife that our daughter is okay. That I’m not the fucking reason we might loseher. I can’t tell her that, though. Because I refuse to lie to this woman, and I honestly don’t fucking know.

“I’m so sorry.” I squeeze Livvy tighter. Afraid that if I let her go, I’ll lose her too.

“Romeo, no. Where is she? Tell me where she is. Tellthemthey have to save her.” Livvy’s balled fists slam against my chest over and over again.

“Ma, she’s going to be okay,” Dante says, glancing from his mother back to me. I know he’s looking for guidance, trying to figure out what to do. I can’t give that to him either.

“No!” Livvy screams before her knees give out and her body goes limp.

“Fuck. It’s going to be okay,” I tell her.

“You’re lying,” she sobs out as I hold her up.

“I don’t fucking care who the fuck you are. Go back there and find out what the fuck’s happening with my fiancée.” Antonio’s voice rumbles down the hall before it lands on my ears.

“I’ll deal with him,” Theo says.

“Ma, come on. Come sit down. I’m sure the doctors are going to be out soon to tell us that she’s fine,” Dante adds.

Livvy pushes herself out of my arms and pins Dante with a glare. “Break into the hospital database. Find out what they’re doing. They record these things.”

My son looks at me. I nod my head, giving him the okay. His mother has never asked him to hack into anything. But right now, she’s desperate for information. We all fucking are.

I walk Livvy into the waiting room. “Zia Livvy, she’s going to be okay. I know she is,” Aurora says as soon as she sees us.

“How are you doing, sweetheart?” I ask my niece.

She nods her head but won’t make eye contact. I know everyone thinks the girl is tougher than nails, but she’s still fucking human and she just killed someone. That’s gotta be playing on her mind.

“You did what you had to do,” I whisper into her ear. “And I’m so fucking proud of you.”

“Thanks, Zio Romeo. My parents are on their way. Can we not tell them yet? Let them focus on Tilly,” she says.

“They’re going to find out,” I remind her, then look to my son again. “Dante, stay with your mother. I’m going to go find out what’s taking them so long.”

“Romeo?” Livvy calls out from the little metal hospital chair.

“Yeah?”

“Whoever did this… make sure they suffer,” she tells me.

I don’t have it in me to tell her this isn’t family related. It’s fucking politics and I know exactly who’s responsible. Someone who’s going to wish they were never fucking put on my radar.

“I’m going to find them and erase their whole fucking bloodline. Once I’m done with them, the devil will look like they’re savior.”

I’ve kept Livvy out of the family business as much as possible over the years. I’ve also kept a clean fucking image. I’m the goddamn mayor of New York City. This shit isn’t supposed to happen.

Walking out of the waiting room, I find Theo and Antonio down the opposite side of the hall. Both of their heads turn my way when they hear me approach.

“What have they said?” I ask my brother, choosing to ignore Antonio’s existence entirely.

“She’s okay. The doctor will be out soon,” Theo replies.

Pulling out my phone, I type the nameDoleyonto the memo pad before turning the screen towards my brother. “Have him brought in and put on ice.”

Theo nods and stalks off, leaving me alone with Antonio. I should apologize for hitting the kid, but fuck that. I want to smash the fucker’s face every time I see him.

“You know who did this.” He’s not asking. He’s telling me.

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