Page 11 of Riding the Edge

Chapter Three

It’s been six hours since Nico was rushed into surgery and three since they came out and asked us to donate blood. Patty’s run out of prayers and I’ve run out of patience. Enzo and Frankie look ready to drop like a sack of potatoes and Maria dozed off about an hour ago. Somewhere, between then and now, her head managed to fall onto my shoulder and I haven’t moved or woken her yet.

“You would think someone would at least come out and give us an update,” my ex-wife mutters from across the room.

Peeling my eyes away from the top of Maria’s head, I meet Patty’s gaze.

“Fucking hospital ain’t worth shit,” I mutter, holding back from telling her how I really feel about hospitals and doctors.

“It saved your life,” Enzo reminds me.

After suffering a heart attack, I learned a thing or two about the politics surrounding our health care system. Learned more when they tried to kick Linc out on his ass. After a bomb went off at our clubhouse blowing it to bits, the kid suffered a spinal injury that resulted in him losing feeling in both legs. He needed several surgeries and extensive physical therapy in order to walk again. He also didn’t have fucking medical insurance which was a deal breaker in this fine institution. Not willing to let the kid I swore to protect go out like a pauper, I took a mortgage on my house—a house I owned free and clear.

Linc got the help he needed, and I got a two-thousand-dollar monthly payment. But the kid is walking which is more than I can say for my son. Still, I gotta bite my tongue and have faith that these money hungry motherfuckers abide by the oath they took to heal and save my kids life.

“Well, let’s pray they do the same for your brother,” Patty says.

I couldn’t take this shit anymore. It was time to demand someone give us a fucking update.

Drawing in a deep breath, I glance at my shoulder and the mass of blonde hair covering it. Lady hasn’t left my side since she stumbled into this sterile room and saw my miserable mug. Woman even donated blood knowing she wasn’t a match.

Stretching my arm across the seat, I cup her shoulder.

“Lady,” I call, running my hand down the length of her arm.

“Hmm?”

“Like your scent on me but I gotta get up.”

Her eyes snap open and she lifts her head from my shoulder. Tucking her hair behind her ears, she straightens up and takes in her surroundings before brushing my hand off hers. I swear to Christ the woman hates to be touched. Makes me wonder if anyone’s ever handled her properly. If my kid wasn’t fighting for his life and I didn’t smell like a fucking gas station, I might’ve been more inclined to ask her.

“How long was I out for?” she asks, keeping her eyes pinned to her lap.

“Not long. Look, you look exhausted, Lady. Go home, get some rest. I appreciate you being here,” I say, rising to my feet. She lifts her chin and crosses her arms as she stares up at me.

“I’m not leaving until we know your son is going to be okay,” she snaps.

Reaching behind me, I cup the back of my neck.

“Suit yourself,” I say before turning around. I’m about to make my way towards the nurse’s station when I spot a detective and two blue and whites heading straight for me. “Ah for fucks sake,” I growl, taking them in. To be honest, I’m surprised they’ve waited this long to fuck with me.

“Alfonse Scotto?” the pig in the three-piece suit questions.

“Who's asking?”

“Detective Gallo with 79th Precinct,” he replies, flashing his badge. “This here is officer Grimm and his partner, officer Connors. We understand your son, Nico was shot inside your home this afternoon. We’d like to ask you and your other two sons some questions.”

“You people got some fucking nerve,” I grunt. “I’ve been sitting here for six fucking hours waiting for someone to tell me if my son is going to live or die and you come parading in here looking to interrogate me.”

“Sir, we just left your house. It’s come to our attention that your niece is also missing.”

I knew Yankovich had taken Kelly and if my son wasn’t under the knife, I would be hunting that cocksucker myself. Instead, I had to put my faith in Linc and pray he and the club found her.

“So, instead of busting my fucking balls why don’t you find who put a bullet in my kid’s chest and took my niece.”

“We also have a deceased paramedic and your whole club seems to be missing,” he says, exasperatedly.

“Seems like you got your work cut out for you,” I growl. Patty moves to my side and crosses her arms against her chest.

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