Page 48 of Tormented Diamonds
I mimic his lift. “Did I stutter?”
“Sir, I don’t know?—”
“You’ll have to excuse my husband…” Becca says, laying her hand on his arm, which I make a mental note to rip off and beat him with. Catching my eye, she cuts the peace-keeping act and pulls it back. “He’s kind of protective.”
Right, and Mount Everest is “kind of” tall.
“Well, that’s not an entirely bad thing,” Dr. Dick-for-brains says with a smile.Keep on, motherfucker. Headfirst, skullto concrete. No one remembers a stain on the sidewalk.“You’ll need someone to care for you after release.”
Wait, what?
“You’re letting her go?”
“I’m waiting for a few tests to come back, but pending no abnormalities, I see no reason for Becca not to be released first thing in the morning.”
My eyes narrow to paper-thin slits. “You ‘see no reason?’ How about she was in a major fucking car accident?”
He cocks his chin. “Gianni, is it?”
“No,it isn’t. It’s Mr. Marchesi.”
He swallows hard, my tone finally sinking into that cream cheese head of his. “Mr. Marchesi, while the accident was indeed major, your wife was very lucky. Apart from a concussion, a few stitches, and a dislocated shoulder we reset, she sustained no life-threatening injuries. I’m a man of science who doesn’t put stock in faith-based explanations, but considering her description of the impact, I’d say she had a guardian angel looking out for her.”
I’m not so sure about that, but it brightens Becca’s sullen face, so I let it go.
“Thank you,” I mutter.
He smiles, his shoulders straightening. “You’re welcome.”
“Now, get out.”
His smile fades, and he looks at Becca, which pisses me off. She nods, leading him to nod to the mute nurse. “I’ll check in a little later.”
The moment the door closes behind them, the confidence I wield like a weapon gets stuck in the chamber. I thought I’d have all the answers, but for the first time, I don’t know what to do. Then, Becca looks up with tears in her eyes, and I move without thinking. One minute, I’m standing at the door, and the next, my mouth is on her, and I’m wiping away hertears.
“I’m sorry,” she sobs. “I never meant?—”
I slide my thumb to her lips. “I don’t care. All that matters is you.”
“I tried to be safe. I kept Leo around. I let him drive, I…” She blinks, her eyes widening. “Oh my God, Leo. Have you heard anything about him?”
Fuck.She doesn’t know.
“Doc…”
Tears spill down her cheeks. “No, no, don’t say it. Please don’t say it.”
I wish I didn’t have to. Honesty has never sliced so deep.
“He didn’t make it.”
Her clenched fist slams into my chest. “I told you not to say it!”
I don’t react. Instead, I hold her close as she collapses against me and give her a safe space to cry. I’m not jealous her tears aren’t for me. They’re derived from a dark place that changes a person forever. Becca has experienced loss, but none she’s unknowingly orchestrated.
Until now…
“It’s my fault,” she rasps, her forehead against my shirt. “He was after me.”
