Page 42 of Degrees of Control
“Sheldon, what’s going on?” I ask, instantly filled with a bone-chilling dread.
“I’m sorry, Kate. Things went sideways and your father was hurt. Chase and your mom are with him, but my orders were clear. Get you to Chicago and not alert you until we landed.”
I start to respond, but he doesn’t wait. “Chase didn’t want you to worry for hours,” he says, trying to soften the message.
I take out my phone to text my mom, but Sheldon stops me. “Kate, no cell phones, yet. We’ll be at the hospital shortly,” he says.
The limo pulls up to the front entrance of the chrome and glass state-of-the-art hospital. I feel like I’m on autopilot as the security guard opens the door for me. The receptionist at the desk is looking down when I reach her.
“Excuse me; I’m looking for Carlos Larussio. He is a patient,” I say.
The receptionist is still typing something into her computer, engrossed in whatever it is she is doing. It feels like seconds are hours in those moments.
“Please, where is the waiting room?” I ask, trying to hide my impatience.
“Can I have your name and your relationship to the patient?” she asks, finally looking up.
“Katarina Meilers,” I say.
“She’s the daughter of the injured party, miss,” Sheldon says to the lady.
“In that case, take the elevators to the second floor, and the waiting room will be visible on your right. The surgeon will come out and speak to family members when the surgery is complete,” she says.
I am escorted into the elevator, surrounded by security guards. Sheldon selects the second floor from the elevator panel and a few moments later we are exiting into a sprawling waiting area. My mom is in the corner; her slight frame appears so small, only her spiky auburn hair is visible, peeking over the top of the hospital blanket wrapped around her shoulders. Matt and a few other security men are seated around the room and acknowledge me with somber nods. She looks up and her eyes are red, swollen, and appear anxious as they meet my own. The tears begin to cascade down her face as I sit next to her hugging her close to me.
“The surgeon said they did everything possible, but it’s in God’s hands now. They’ll let me know once he’s in his room and awake,” she says, gently sobbing.
“What happened, Mom? Sheldon hasn’t told me anything,” I say, gently rocking her frail trembling body.
“Your uncle and his men came after your dad. If Chase hadn’t arrived when he did, your father would already be dead,” she says.
“Mom, slow down, what happened?” I ask.
“Joey found out that the cartel learned he was responsible for turning in Alfreita’s shipment last year. He and his men came after your dad and shot him. They stabilized him and flew him here for the surgery because of the complexity. The bullet was lodged in a precarious position and they wanted a specialized heart team available when it came out.”
“What about Chase, where is he?” I ask.
“He’s fine, Katie. One of Joey’s men took a shot, but Jay put himself between the bullet and Chase.”
“Oh, my God! Is he going to make it?” I ask, trying to absorb everything that has transpired.
“He was critical and Dr. Madeira had to have him flown to Brazil. Last I heard he was still in surgery, but that was quite some time ago,” she says.
“Where’s Chase?” I ask, looking to Matt.
“He’s in the conference room down the hall. He was on an overseas call when I left him,” he says.
“Why didn’t he call or message me?” I ask my mom.
“Sweetie, he didn’t say a word all the way home except to order people around. I’m pretty sure he’s torn up over the situation with your dad and Jay,” she says.
Sheldon guides me down the hall and towards the conference room but Chase is nowhere to be seen. I turn towards the nursing station. “I’m looking for Chase Prestian or the room they are taking my father, Carlos Larussio to after surgery,” I say.
The young nurse in blue surgical scrubs and a long brunette ponytail comes from behind the station. “Follow me, it’s a little bit of a maze on this floor,” she says kindly, leading us down one hall and then to the right onto another more private wing. A code is called, overhead, Stat nurse to room 611, stat nurse to 611.
“I have to respond to that, but he’s right around the corner, number 302,” she says, before rushing down the hall. I reach the room and am just about to enter when I hear Chase talking quietly. “We had to get her off my yacht for fear they would blow it up, thinking I was still onboard. The teams transferred her to the Temptress and then got her back in the air before they overtook the yacht and confiscated the product. Jay was smart to have the backup helicopter and ammunitions ready,” he says.
I can’t make out what my father is saying from outside the door. “No, Carlos. Once I had confirmation the product was in Joey’s hands, it was simply an honest phone conversation with Vicenti. He’s aware that Joey tipped the police off to the Alfreita shipment last year, a clear attempt to gain a foothold in the cartel territory, and that Joey and Alfreita are working together, but not to what extent.”
