Page 41 of The Holy Ghost
“Hurt likehell,” she finished, trying to laugh off the pain, butwas unsuccessful when shewinced.
“Yes, it’sgoing to hurt, but it must be done. Theyappear to be clean breaks and should heal nicely.”Robbie didn’t comment. She just gave him another small nod to geton with it, and this time she couldn’t contain her moan ofagony.
“You’redoing great,” I said lamely. I didn’tknow what else to do.
“Frankie, getthe green bottle out of my bagand get her some water,” Basco instructed. “She’s in too much painfor me to wait until after everything to give her a narcotic.” Iran to do his bidding and, once she swallowed the pills, he said,“This is to take the edge off. I will administer a strongersedative via a syringe once you’re all patched up.”
“Won’t that be toomuch?” I asked.
Bascoglanced at me and I had a feeling hewanted to roll his eyes at me. “Frankie, I’ve been doing this formore years than you’ve been alive,” he chastised. “I know what I’mdoing.”
“Sorry,” Imumbled.
“The cut aboveyour eye should have been stitched, but I think you’re too swollento poke at now. I’m going to use some surgery glue, and that shoulddo the trick. It won’t be pretty, but you’ll live.”
“Just do what youhave to,” Robbie replied. “I just…I want to go home.”
“Glad you saidthat, because your nose is broken too, child,”Basco grimaced, clearly upset by the damage doneto her. “I’m going to pop it back in place, but it’s-”
“It’sgoingto hurt like hell,” wechorused.
“Hold herhands, Francesca,” he said, and the second I grabbed her hands inmine, he shifted the cartilage back into place.
Rivers of tears werecascading down Robbie’s face, and she suddenly looked exhausted ontop of looking beaten, as Basco administered the mildsedative.
Bascowiped down her face the best he couldall the while telling her, “It’s going to get worse before it getsbetter. The next couple of days you are going to be in excruciatingpain, child. But more importantly, you’ll have to look forinfection.” Basco glanced at me. “She really shouldn’t be leftalone, Frankie.”
“I have towork,” Robbie blurted out. “I…I can’t miss work. I have bills to pay…and-”
Basco’s eyes rounded.“Young lady, you aren’t going to even be able to sit down to usethe restroom without screaming in agony,” he informed her, cuttingoff her tirade. “I don’t know what you do for a living, but youwill not be able to do it. Not to mention, you can barely see outof one eye to go about doing anything. You’ll need at least a fullweek to evenbegintorecover.”
“I need towork-”
“Robbie, he’sright,” I said, siding withBasco. “You need to concentrate on healing. I can take care ofyour bills while you recuperate.”
“I am nottaking your money, Frankie,” she snapped. “Your family isdownstairs cleaning up a mess I created. There’s no way I’m takingmoney from you when I’ve already…when you’ve been hurt…”
Basco ignored ourbickering and asked the one question that, in a perfect world,should never be asked. “Child, I know you’re in a lot of pain,but…well, I’ve only one more place to examine…”
Robbie shookher head. “No,” she said. “They…they didn’t…I’m okay.”
Basco nodded. “Okay.Well, let me administer the sedative before I leave.” He kissed heron the side of her head, and said, “If you need me-”
“I’ll befine,” Robbie blurted out, shocked by his show of affection. “Youneed to be there for Frankie.”
Bascosnorted as he turned and begangathering his stuff. “Frankie has plenty of people who are going tobe there for her,” he huffed. “She’s in good hands, thatone.”
Before I couldcomment, footsteps alerted us to our company. I stood up andwatched as Luca and Cirowalked into the living room. Behind them, Phoenix was dragging apassed-out Randy behind him.
Ciro walked upto me and wrapped me in his arms. It hurt, but I wasn’t going todeny him this. “You scared the shit out of me, Frankie,” hebit out, his armstightening.
“I know,” Iwhispered as my arms circled his angry form. “I’m sorry.”
The second he let goof me, Luca walked over, planted a kiss on my forehead, but didn’tsay a word. But that was our way. We didn’t need words betweenus.
Phoenix on the otherhand…
“The secondyou’re all better, I’m going to fucking kill you,” he threatenedfrom across the room. I guess we’ve gone from worried and concernedto pissed the helloff.
