Page 138 of Married with Mayhem

Then I set the pen down and take a seat on the nearest cushioned bench. I pull out the chain around my neck so that the cross is visible outside my shirt. The room’s complete silence rings in my ears.

“I don’t know if anyone is listening. Just in case there is, please know that I love that girl far more than my own life. She makes the world a better place. And if one of us needs to go, then let it be me, not her.”

It goes without saying that I don’t expect an answer but one comes anyway.

“I think your wife would put up a hell of an argument with you, son,” says Sal Castelli.

My father watches from the door. He starts walking to me and he opens his arms.

I stand and meet him halfway, already sobbing as I fall into his embrace. My dad, forever my hero, holds me up and lets me cry. When Nico walks in, I pull him into our family huddle.

And I don’t know how long I stand there in the middle of the hospital chapel, being held by my father and my brother.

But I do know that when they finally let go, I can breathe a little bit easier.

33

SABRINA

Everything still looks out of focus and I’m having trouble completing a clear thought but this doesn’t matter.

Monte is here. I know he is. I can feel him holding my hand as he softly sings the lyrics ofThat’s Amore. He knows this will make me happy.

I turn my head toward him and blink forcefully a couple of times, willing the haze of the drugs to fade enough so that I can really talk to him.

There’s pain, plenty of it.

I feel like a hole has been drilled right through my body, which makes sense because that’s exactly what has happened. I’ve been told I’m lucky. No organs or arteries were hit.

Monte pauses his song and smiles. “Hey, cupcake.” He presses his lips to my palm. “Are you back now?”

“Sort of.” There’s an IV line trailing from the arm that’s not confined in a sling to keep it immobile. When I take a closer look at Monte’s face, I see his eyes are red and he looks drained. Exhausted. “What did they do to you?” I ask.

“Nothing,” he says. “They removed the bullet from my arm. I’m so sorry, Brina. They wouldn’t let me see you. By the time they took the cuffs off you were in surgery.”

A tear leaks out of my eye and rolls down my cheek. “Are you okay?”

The questions nearly makes him break down but he takes a deep, steadying breath and smiles. “I’m fine now. You probably saved my life, Sabrina.”

“Then it was worth it. And nobody can tell me different.”

Those aren’t empty words. I have no regrets about risking my own life to save his.

Monte strokes my hair, gazing at me with concern. “Daisy is here. So are my dad and Nico. Since I have my dad’s car, he and Nico caught a ride up here in Big Man Bowie’s burger truck.”

Though the act hurts a little, I laugh at the idea of everyone piling in for a midnight road trip in my brother-in-law’s hamburger truck.

Monte chuckles and then leans in to gently kiss my lips. “Your mother is flying here in Vittorio’s jet. And the minute you’re ready to talk, Anni and Luca are waiting by the phone.”

“I don’t know where my phone is,” I tell him. “I lost track of my bag.”

He reaches down and picks up the sling bag covered with pastel dragons. He sets it on the edge of the bed. “Your phone and wallet are still inside. I checked. And I’ve got something else for you, although I’m not sure if you want to see it.” He reaches down again.

“Cupcake!” I try to grab for the plush pink cat too quickly and nearly yank my IV out. “How did you find her?”

He grins and lays my carnival prize carefully on my chest. “One of the bystanders picked it up and gave it to the cops, thinking it might be yours. I cleaned the dust off and by some miracle there were no blood stains.”

“Monte, can you lay down with me? I always feel better when I’m in your arms.”

---