Page 18 of The DeLuca Crime Family: Vol. 1

He moved forward to shake my hand, and Nic tugged me closer to his side. Dr. McGowan sent him a quick grin and took a step backwards, dropping his hand to his side. It was as though he completely understood why Nic didn’t want another man in my space. Some of the tension left Nic’s body. Apparently, they were united in their caveman-ness or some such ridiculousness.

“To answer your question, Anna, I’ve recommended another surgical intervention for Sophia. Her previous surgeon performed an aortorenal bypass with a vein graft, but the conduit has since undergone aneurysmal deterioration. I’d like to go in and use the internal iliac artery as a free graft. They’ve since become preferred for aortorenal bypasses.”

I gripped Nic’s hand more tightly, most of what the doctor had said going straight over my head. I glanced up at Nic, and the blank expression on his face made me think maybe he didn’t understand any better than I did. “Could you repeat that, maybe in English this time?”

“Sorry,” he replied wryly. “Sometimes I slip into doctor-speak and forget most people have no clue what I’m talking about. Basically, the method her previous surgeon used has failed, and I want to reconstruct her renal artery using one from her pelvic region. Recent studies have shown outcomes are much better this way.”

“What are our other options?” Nic gritted out.

The grave look on Dr. McGowan’s face was answer enough, but his words confirmed it. “She needs to have this surgery, Nic.”

I moved even closer to Nic and wrapped my arm around his waist, trying to lend him what little strength I had.

“Do it,” he growled.

Dr. McGowan gave us a jerky nod. “I’ll book an OR and make sure I have the best of the best in there with me. She’ll be in good hands.”

“She’d better be.”

In that moment, I had no doubt Niccolo DeLuca was a very dangerous man. If anything happened to his precious daughter, heads would roll.

Dr. McGowan moved quickly,and Sophia was prepped for surgery and wheeled away from us within less than two hours. Another ninety minutes had passed, and the three of us sat in the waiting room, Allegra and I on either side of Nic. His hand was wrapped around mine, and my head was resting on his shoulder. Head bent, his eyes were closed, but I knew he wasn’t sleeping and Allegra worried her rosary the entire time, lips moving soundlessly in prayer. The moment Dr. McGowan entered the room with another doctor at his side, we all leapt to our feet.

“How”—Nic gulped—“is she?”

“I’m not going to lie to you, Nic,” Dr. McGowan breathed. “She’s in critical condition right now.”

Nic dropped back into the chair, Allegra and I following him down.

“The surgery was tougher on her than I expected, but it was successful,” Dr. McGowan continued.

“She’s a strong little girl,” the other doctor chimed in. “There’s a reason Dr. McGowan is our Head of Pediatrics. He’s the best in his field. We were lucky to lure him away from his previous position, a fact you seemed to be well aware of when you insisted he take your daughter’s case.”

The emphasis he placed on the word ‘insisted’ made me wonder what form of persuasion Nic used to ensure Sophia received the best care possible. I might not have come to terms with his role in the criminal world, but I couldn’t help silentlycheering at the knowledge that he’d been able to leverage it to help her.

“My team will keep a close eye on her tonight in the ICU, and I’m hoping to be able to upgrade her status within the next twenty-four hours,” Dr. McGowan added, a slight blush darkening his cheeks.

Those hours passed in a blur, the minutes ticking by painfully slow. Sophia’s condition was finally upgraded to stable. She was moved to a private room on the pediatric floor, one which more accurately resembled a suite in a five-star hotel than a hospital room. Allegra came and went several times over the next few days, bringing many of Sophia’s things to decorate the room. Stuffed animals and toys were strewn about, and flowers and mylar balloons covered most of the available surfaces. Neither Nic nor I had left her side, though. A fact Allegra was quick to point out.

“Go home,” she ordered us bluntly. “I’m perfectly capable of taking care of my granddaughter, especially since I’ll have the help of the private duty nurse and aide you’ve hired for her.”

I stifled a giggle because it was a little over the top considering she hadn’t even been left alone for a second by Nic or me yet.

“I’m fine right where I am,Mamma,” Nic argued.

“No, you’re not,” she snapped, her gaze sweeping across the both of us. “And neither is Anna.”

Oooh, she was playing dirty now, bringing me into this. Nic’s head jerked my way, his eyes scanning my face for any sign his mom was correct.

“Look how tired the poor girl is,” she continued. “She hasn’t gotten a good night’s rest since we got here.”

I shook my head in denial, but she just carried on.

“Or a real shower.”

I barely resisted the urge to sniff myself to see if I stank.

“Or decent food.”

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