Page 56 of The Doctor's Promise
“You are going to tell me right now what the fuck went on in Europe, and why the mother of my twins is currently being operated on for a stab wound to her belly. You’re going to tell me everything, Zani, or God help me, I’ll kill you myself.”
He grabbed his brother’s shirt and got in his face. “And if Noemi or my children die… God help you, Zani. God help you.”
25
Chapter Twenty-Five
Noemi opened her eyes and realized that she felt… okay. Even good. How the hell was that possible? She wasn’t even sore, but she put that down to the morphine they must have given her. Rafa was sitting by her bed. “Hey, buddy.”
His smile was relieved. “Hey, kiddo.” He kissed her. “Thanks for the scare.”
“Sorry. The twins?”
“They’re fine, growing and healthy. The stab wound wasn’t even that deep, thank God. Maybe a centimeter or two deep. Docs and the police think it was a warning rather than a murder attempt—not that it makes it any more acceptable.”
Noemi pulled herself into a sitting position and drew in a deep breath. “But putting together this and the bombing…”
Rafa nodded, his face grim. “Zani.”
“He’s admitted something?”
“Singing like a bird to the FBI. Interpol is getting involved. Seems my delightful brother owes money to some psycho drug lords in Italy. They killed his ex-girlfriend.”
Noemi felt cold. “God.”
Rafa took her hand. “Noe… the FBI thinks we may have to go into protective custody. The people Zani is mixed up with… their reach is wide and deadly.”
“What do they want?”
“Zani.” Rafa sighed. “And it’s an impossible situation. If he goes to them, he’s a dead man. If not, then we have to go into protective custody in order to survive. You and I and Bepi. My parents. Your parents. Leo. Possible even more.”
Noemi looked at him, appalled. Solomon’s choice. “Oh, God, Rafa.”
“I know.”
Noemi put a hand over her belly protectively. “What did he do to them?”
“He took their drugs, enough to stop an army, and never paid for them. You don’t fuck around with organized crime in Italy. And Zani knew that. Knows that.” He pinched the bridge of his nose, wincing at the thought of using past tense about his only brother.
Noemi took his hand in hers. “Do they want money?”
Rafa shook his head. “We simply don’t know. The FBI have told me to trust them, but they don’t know these people. I’ve used contacts, reached out. If they want money, they can have it—every penny if they leave us in peace, but I don’t know if they’ll be satisfied with it.”
There was a knock at the door and Zani’s security guard came in, his face grim. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but you have to come now, Mr. Genova.”
Rafa stood, alarmed. “What is it?”
“It’s Zani, sir. He’s on the roof.”
Rafa was ledout onto the roof and immediately saw his brother standing on the very edge of it. “Zani…”
Zani turned, his expression one of desolation and shame. “I’m so sorry, Rafa. I never wanted any of this. I was arrogant and complacent, and it cost Sophia her life. They’ll keep coming for you, Rafa, and Noe and Bepi, and I can’t…I have to take myself out of the equation. They’ll stop if I’m dead.”
Rafa shook his head. “No, they won’t, Zani. Not this way. They’ll feel cheated, and the price they’ll force us to pay will be too high. This is not the way.”
Zani swayed and the various people who had gathered to save him caught their breath. “They hurt your girl, Rafa. They tried to kill you. They will never stop.”
“They will. They will.” Rafa was struggling to keep his voice calm, but he was terrified. Zani looked beyond hope. “Everyone has a price, Zani. I’ll give them every penny I have to leave us alone. But it won’t come to that. The FBI, Interpol… the authorities in Italy. They want to take them down too. We’re working together. Your death will only hinder that. We need your testimony, Zani. Just think, with your help, we can bring them down, make them pay for Sophia’s murder.”
