Page 46 of Alfie: Part Two

“Yeah, aight. I’m on my way. Send me the—yeah, okay.” He shot up from his seat, swallowed, and turned frazzled. “My mom’s in the hospital. I gotta go. Can you?—”

“Of course.” I was already standing up. “What happened?”

He gnashed his teeth and kicked back his chair with force. “She was mugged and fucking assaulted.”

Anger tore through me, not to mention worry, and I patted my pockets, then remembered my keys were downstairs.

“You go—Colby and I will watch the little ones,” Liam urged. He met Alfie at the head of the table and squeezed his shoulder. “You get all the fuckin’ details you can, ye hear? I’ll make some calls too.”

Calls to who—oh. Because he knew people in law enforcement who might have information.

I swallowed dryly and turned to Colby, but he was one step ahead.

“Justgo. I’ve watched them before,” he said. “We’ll tell ’em you had to run out quick.”

I nodded once, relieved. All I could think about was Giulia in a hospital bed, or worse, stuck in the ER waiting room, so there was no mental space left for child-friendly excuses.

I ushered Alfie toward the doors and took charge, and we strode straight through the bedroom.

“Daddy and I will be back soon, sweethearts,” I said in a hurry. “Uncle Liam and Colby will explain to you.”

We were out of the room and heading down the stairs when I heard Trip’s confusion about what was going on, though it was followed by Liam’s voice. They’d take things from here.

Alfie and I picked up the pace and were soon out of the house.

“Which hospital?” I asked.

“Jefferson.”

“West, I love you, but can you please drive like you’re actually from this city?”

Not with the streets backed up with traffic, unless he wanted me to run them over or terrify the pedestrians on the sidewalk.

I didn’t say that, though. Not when he was so tense and flip-flopping between rage and despair.

“You mean like I have tinted plates, drive an Altima, or just stole my first Kia?” I went with dry humor instead.

He huffed a chuckle through a whimper and squeezed my hand. “This is why you’re my soul mate. I’m sorry—I know you’re doing all you can.”

Thankfully, things eased up farther ahead, and I was able to break a speed limit or two the last bit.

Every now and then, I side-eyed Alfie to read his expressions. The sadness and the worry were a nonissue, but the anger was a tool to make decisions he might not stand behind once the danger had passed. We crossed lines when we were furious.

Then again, did I care? Was this truly a circumstance in which I wanted to be his moral compass? I was worried about Giulia too, and I knew both her and Phil. They didn’t seek medical help until an ambulance had to pick them up.

I cleared my throat. “When Liam told you to get all the details you could…”

“You know what he meant,” he grumbled. “You think the cops are gonna give a shit, much less solve it?”

I suppressed a sigh.

No. No, I didn’t.

Screw it. Let the Sons handle it.

Alfie bounced his knee restlessly. “Is this gonna be a problem? Because I need to know so I can?—”

“No, it won’t.” I brought his hand to my mouth and kissed his knuckles. “We’re in this together.”

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