Page 98 of Out of the Shadow

I rub my head. “That took me by surprise, too, since he already had the money. I guess he’s the type to hold a grudge.”

“Yeah.” He cracks his knuckles. “And I’d like just five minutes alone with that scumbag for what he did to my sister, and to you.”

I fist my hands. “You’ll have to stand in line.”

He nods, but I can tell he has something else on his mind by the way he’s fidgeting with the sleeve of his shirt. “All that stuff he said to you in there…I didn’t know about your childhood. That sucks.”

My eyes stray to Jeter. “I’ve gotten over it,” I lie. But for the first time in my life, I’m hopeful that I really can heal and move on. Except…shit. Didn’t Trevor say something about my mojo with women? The last thing I want is for Leo to think I’m still some man whore. “What he said about me and women—”

“Is in the past.” His gaze locks with mine. “Right?”

I nod.

Acknowledging my response, Leo stands and points to Jeter. “Where’d this come from?”

Grateful he’s not interested in going into further detail about my past, I show off the stuffed animal, holding up the bat. “Your sister.” Leo’s cheek twitches like he’s trying to stifle a laugh.

“Go ahead,” I say. “I laughed too.”

He bursts into peals of laughter. “She’s messed up.”

Only allowing myself one quick chuckle—I’ve learned the hard way that laughter isn’t kind to my concussed brain—I reply, “That’s what I told her.”

“Wait. Angie was here? Willingly?”

I tilt my head. “Yes. She was admitted.” Which he knows.

“No.” He waves his hand. “You mean, she came back to visit you after she was released?”

Why is this so hard for him to understand? Surely he’s aware that Angie and I mean something to each other, even if we haven’t defined what that something means. “Yeah. Every day.”

He whistles. “After Dante died, she’s avoided going to the hospital like a perp runs from the cops. When I had to stay overnight for something that happened on the job, she didn’t visit me. Or even Mama after she had her surgery.”

I don’t ask about Lucia’s surgery. I don’t even speculate on what might have landed Leo in the hospital. No. Instead, I focus on the fact Angie has willingly faced her fear, not once, but several times to see me. Warmth spreads through my body, but I keep my thoughts to myself. Our conversation veers to how the Yankees are faring this season.

“Oh look, Leo’s here.” Angie’s parents, Alfredo and Lucia, come into the room, carrying balloons and a big tray of something.

“I made you a lasagna,” Lucia explains. “I know how awful the food is around here.”

My mouth waters—my first real meal since I was brought in. Alfredo shakes my hand, then ties the balloons around my father’s flowers, making me resent Dad’s empty gesture a little less. Lucia hugs me, then squeezes my arms. “We need to fatten you up!”

They make themselves right at home, laughing and serving lasagna on paper plates they also brought. It’s the best damn lasagna I’ve ever eaten. Soon, Juliana and her husband and son wander in, along with Francesco and his wife and kids. We all eat the lasagna, and it feels like family night has been brought to my room.

Family. It finally feels like I’ve found mine.

All that’s missing is my heart. I wipe the sauce off my face with a tissue. “Has anyone seen Angie?”

Juliana replies, “She had to take care of some things at home. She told me she should be here within the hour.”

My gaze meets Leo’s—so like his sister’s—and then bounces back to Juliana. “Thanks for letting me know.”

She nods and holds up a pastry box. “Cannoli?”

I reach out and grab the first one before the box is passed around the room. This feels so…right. It’s what I’ve been missing my entire life.

My doctor appears in the doorway. “What do we have going on here?”

Everyone stops talking at once and gives the doctor their attention. That is, everyone but Leo, who jumps up and rushes the doc, pulling her into a big bear hug. He turns and says, “Everybody, this is Toni. I know her from the gym.”

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