Page 6 of The Sicilian Heir
I giggled then gasped when my chest lit on fire.
Vito came out of the bathroom looking chastised. "Sorry, I was too excited to call Beth Anne. She's been throwing up," he told on me like a five-year-old.
Beth Anne pressed a hand on her distended belly. She looked like she was ready to pop that kid out at any time. I was worried about that happening, but at least she was already at the hospital if her water broke.
"You have nothing in your stomach so I'm not surprised you couldn't keep the water down. I'm going to order you something light to eat. We can monitor you and see if you're keeping it down okay." She grabbed my chart and read it before nodding her head.
I think she was making a mental note on everything I had been given. Smart woman. She was nice for a nurse. I hated hospitals and never really had a nice nurse to look over me.
"Your doctor will be in soon. Then you can eat." She smiled at me and gave a little wave to Vito before waddling out of the room.
Not even a minute later, a young man stepped into the room. If he hadn't been wearing a lab coat, I would've assumed he was lost. That's how young he looked.
"Welcome back. I'm your doctor, Doctor Samson." He was one of those cheery people then. Joy.
It hit me that no one had asked me what had happened. The police weren't here interviewing me, and Vito didn't look concerned. Just another way the mafia showed their power.
"I'm sure you are ready to go home, but unfortunately, you can't," Doctor Samson prattled on. "Your levels are low, and we need to keep giving you blood infusions." He came over to me and put my chart down. He pulled my gown up and checked the wound site. He shook his head with dismay and clucked his tongue.
"What's wrong?" My voice was breathy, in my panic. I looked at Vito and he grabbed my hand to comfort me.
"It could be nothing, but these wounds aren't healing the way they should. We need to keep you longer than normal. I still need to check the facial wound as well." Doctor Samson was all clinical, but my heart was thundering in my chest.
I was disfigured. It was bad enough that my back was completely scarred. Now my face was going to match. Doctor Samson slowly unveiled my face and Vito sucked in a harsh breath. I glanced over to him and saw his jaw was clenched. It must be unbelievably bad then.
"May I have a mirror?" I asked the doctor politely, avoiding eye contact with Vito.
"Sure," he murmured and grabbed one from a drawer across the room.
He brought the mirror to my face and I gasped in horror. The guy carved me up good. On my cheek was a bloody, oozing wound that looked likeBOP. What kind of cruel joke was this? What did that even mean?
"Mirror, mirror on the wall…" I mumbled, and then I did another unexpected thing.
I laughed. I laughed until I couldn't laugh anymore. Until my chest was aching and I was gasping for breath. Until the doctor had to put an oxygen mask over my face so I could breathe. All through my laughter and tears, I didn't realize Vito had left the room. He stalked out. I guess when the going gets tough and all that. Or maybe it was because I was so disfigured, he couldn't imagine chasing me any longer. Good riddance. I never wanted his attentions and I never would want them.
He was destined to marry some meek Italian woman who followed all his rules. I would be thrown out and cast aside as soon as he found that woman. There was nothing there for me. I was just angry I couldn't get out before they had marred my face. I'm not overly vain, but it's a good face. Not the stuff of movie stars, but I was proud of it. Now I had some fucked up symbol carved into my skin.
I sat back in my bed and just breathed. The mask had helped me calm down. Doctor Samson was taking my vitals and nodding his head in confirmation to whatever he had decided.
"I was worried I was going to have to sedate you." He gave a little broken laugh.
"No, I'm fine. All good as usual." I tucked these feelings deep within myself.
This was not the time to have a breakdown. I was all alone. I hadn't seen Nick or Rose at the reception. I hadn't even thought of them. What if they were dead? Just like Maddox. Then I would truly be alone. Vito came sweeping back into the room. I ignored him. Doctor Samson had bandaged me back up so at least he didn't have to see my disfigurement.
"Rosalina is in this hospital as well. She was stabbed, but it wasn't anything fatal. If Doctor Samson agrees, I would like to take you to her room. She's asking for you." Vito glared at the doctor until he agreed.
His only caveat was that I had to stay in a wheelchair. He made me promise not to try to walk.
Vito wheeled me down the hall. Rose wasn't far at all. We entered her room and Nick was sitting by her bedside, much like Vito had done for me before he saw my disfigurement.
"Eunji!" Rose exclaimed.
She was sitting up in the bed and looked a lot healthier than I did. She wasn't as pale as I was, and I couldn't see where she was injured.
"Don't move around so much, my little thorn," Nick growled.
He clasped her hand to his lips and kissed her. I swooned on the inside but stayed stoic on the outside.
