Page 67 of Devious Lies

I can see the resemblance. Maria’s mother must be a gorgeous woman when she’s well.

But now, she is thin and pale. Her head is covered in a colorful silk scarf, and she has on her own robe.

The man nods at me. A sign of respect. And I give him the same acknowledgement.

“We’ve been here two days, and the doctor still hasn’t seen her himself,” he rumbles.

I immediately start texting out orders to my guys. That kind of thing will not be tolerated.

Anyone important to Maria is now important to me.

Whoever sent her running, well, I’ll deal with him, too. As soon as she gives me a name.

“It’s gonna be okay, Mami,” Maria tells her mother.

“Will you have to leave now? I want you safe, Mia, but I miss you so,” she cries.

“I’m not leaving you, Mami. I promise.”

The older woman simply cries, holding her daughter’s hand, and it tugs on my heartstrings.

Damn fucking straight, she’s not leaving.

Maria is telling her mother not to worry, and she isn’t lying. I’ve already set things into motion. I want her, Celia Lopez, I note the name, to be seen by the top oncologist at the hospital.

Viper Enterprises has donated plenty of money to this place, as have I, personally.

My name has clout, and I am not afraid to use it. I hear some of my guys arrive. The team leader’s name is Otto. He sticks his head in the door and nods at me, telling me they’re in place.

Maria’s mother is getting round-the-clock security while she is here, and a personal fucking escort back to her house when she is released.

The doctor arrives a few minutes later.

He looks harried and a little afraid when he sees me, and I know why. I just had one of my guys motivate him to bump Celia Lopez up on his list of patients to see.

“Ah, um, hello, Mrs. Lopez, I’m Dr. Xavier. Let’s see what your chart says, shall we?”

Celia nods at the doctor, and Maria blinks up at me. She mouths the words thank you. And I dip my chin.

She doesn’t have to thank me. Not for this. This is just common fucking courtesy.

I get it. Hospitals are full of overworked staff. Hours are nuts. And there are not enough nurses and doctors to go around.

But their patients are real people. They deserve care and consideration.

I decide I want better for Maria’s mother. I want the top oncologist in the whole fucking state to look at this woman’s records.

As for the Medical Center, I make a note to donate a full ten years’ worth of salaries for ten more oncology nurses to be added to the staff. Maybe that will help.

“Would you mind excusing us so I can do an exam?” the doctor says, and he looks two seconds from shitting himself.

I nod and send a small wink to Maria before exiting. The neighbor follows me.

“Joe Palermo,” he says, holding out his hand as we move to the foot of the bed, backing away a few more feet while the woman gush and sob and embrace.

“Luc Batiste. You her neighbor?” I ask.

“Yeah. I lived next to the Lopez family, thirty-five years. I saw Mia, er, Maria, be born. She came too quickly for Celia to make it to the hospital. Delivered her right on the lawn. The husband was out,” he says, and I pick up on his sneer.

---