Page 20 of Orlando

“The mayor’s office? You meanmy father’sfucking office? Where is he?” Dante’s voice rises with each word that comes out of his mouth.

“He’s fine. He’s down the hall with Pops, Zio Luca, and Zio Matteo,” Alessandro says. “Your Mom is in the kitchen and Tilly is somewhere around here with Antonio.”

“You could have led with the fact he wasn’t in the damn building with the bomb,” Dante groans as he pushes his way past Alessandro.

“How long is this lockdown going to last exactly?” I ask.

“You got someplace better to be?” Alessandro fires back.

“Yes,” I tell him while tugging my phone out of my pocket. I walk upstairs and close myself into one of the guest rooms. I need to call Aleeka, or at least get her to return a fucking text message.

Chapter Thirteen

Ifeel like death warmed up. Why is this happening to me now? Dad left this morning. I insisted I was fine when he tried to cancel his trip. And Iwasfine. I felt a little off, but I thought it was nothing that a bit of DayQuil wouldn’t fix.

It’s now nine at night. I’ve gotten through the day. Slowly. Sebastian is asleep in his crib by my bed, and I’m struggling to keep my eyes open. My body feels like it’s on fire, but at the sametime, I’m so cold. I’m afraid to go to sleep. I need to be able to wake up for my son. So I reach for my phone and make the call I’ve been avoiding but don’t have a choice but to make now. For Sebastian. He needs someone to watch over him. Someone who will hear him if he cries. And right now, I’m not sure that someone is me.

I hit call on Josie’s number. She’s literally the only friend I have in New York, the only person I can think of to ask for help. Well, I could ask Orlando, but then I’d have to have the wholeoh yeah, you have a sonconversation. And I can’t do that right now.

“Hey, Aleeka. How are you feeling?” Josie’s voice comes over the other line. Soft and caring.

“I’m really sorry. I didn’t know who else to call…” I tell her.

“What’s wrong?”

“I need help. I don’t know what to do. I’ve never been this sick. My dad left. I have a fever, and I’m afraid to go to sleep, because if I go to sleep, I might not wake up and then Sebastian won’t have anyone to look after him. I can’t leave him alone.” The tears are streaming down my face as I choke out the words.

“Wait. Who’s Sebastian? What do you need me to do?” Josie asks.

“He’s my son. I need… Can you come over? Just stay the night, in case I can’t get up for him?”

“Of course. I’ll be right there,” Josie says.

“Thank you.” I hang up the phone and finally let my eyes drift shut.

She’s coming. She’ll be here.

“Aleeka… babe, wake up.”

Something cold touches my forehead. I roll over, and pain shoots all through my body.

“Aleeka, I need you to open your eyes.”

Orlando’s here. I like his voice. I just want to listen to his voice a bit longer.

Something cold presses against my forehead again, and I finally open my eyes, my blurry vision focusing on his face. “Orlando?” I must be hallucinating. No way is he here.

Then I hear the sound of familiar cries.

“Sebastian…” I try to sit up. I have to get to Sebastian. He needs me.

“Don’t move. The doc’s on his way. Have you taken anything?” Orlando asks, as he presses down on my shoulders and guides me back onto the bed.

“No, I need to… Sebastian… I need to get him.”

“He’s okay. Josie has him.” Orlando shifts to the side so I can see her holding Sebastian.

“He needs a bottle. I have to get up and make it,” I tell Orlando, not taking my eyes off our son.

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