Page 44 of Bastard Prince
Of course, I couldn’ttellthem that there was actually a pretty decent list of people, both here and in New York, who seemed to want to hurt her. Never mind the fact that my own associations in the criminal underworld had made me more than a few enemies myself; add it all up and I could think of far too many people who would try their luck, thinking it would get them ahead.
Top of my list would have been Jerry, if that fucker wasn’t already dead.
Of course, that meant that Anton was now seated firmly in first place. After all, he’d practically threatened her to my face the night they met. Trick had been following him, but just because Anton wasn’t making the moves himself didn’t mean he wasn’t the one calling the shots.
There were just too many things I didn’t fuckin’ know.
I was still mulling it all over as Rocco and I strode down the brightly lit hospital corridor, stomping our way past nurses and patients alike as they all scrambled to get out of our path. I was normally pretty good at keeping my anger in check around civilians, but I was just fuckin’ done with today, and I didn’t have the energy to rein it in and play nice with the locals.
Coming to the door I wanted, I paused, glancing inside and seeing Francesca, hunched over Vinnie as he lay on the hospital bed. The kid looked wrecked, his eyes shadowed and his face somber as he listened to Francesca talk, unable to make eye contact with her as she fussed at his bedside.
“I will find out who did this, Vin,” she stated vehemently, holding one of his hands tightly. “You know I will. Until then, you just stay here and rest up. I want you to really take care of yourself, please. Don’t make me kick your ass.”
I couldn’t stop the snort that escaped and both Frankie and Vinnie looked up at the sound, Francesca looking relieved, Vinnie looking embarrassed.
I really felt bad for the kid; I knew he took his job protecting Francesca very seriously, and combined with the incident atWrathlast week, I could imagine he saw this as just another way he’d failed her.
I disagreed, but that didn't change the way he felt.
Stepping into the room, I made my way over to my wife, sliding an arm around her shoulders, needing her close. When she leaned against me, her head tilting to rest against my ribs, I felt something in my chest unclench and I realized I hadn’t breathed fully since the doors to the ambulance had closed, taking her away from me and out of my sight.
I didn’t like not having her near.
“Hey, big man,” Rock said, holding his fist out for Vinnie to bump. “How’s your new job as a stunt man working out?”
Vinnie chuckled, which led to him coughing, which then led to Francesca rushing back to his side and holding up a styrofoam cup and straw for him to sip from.
“Sorry, man,” Rock said apologetically. “For real, though. Howdidyou manage to avoid becoming barbecue?”
Vinnie rolled his eyes. “Just pure dumb luck.”
“He used the remote starter,” Francesca chimed in, her face solemn. “He was close, but not inside, when he used the remote to start the truck.”
“Saved my damn life,” Vinnie added.
We were all silent for a moment, realizing exactly how true that statement was, when the door opened and Francesca’s girl, Mia, came in, looking professional in her scrubs and white coat.
“Hey,” she said, a smile on her face as she looked at Vinnie. “You’re looking better already.” She leaned over the bed, resting her palm on Vinnie’s head in a move that seemed more mother and less doctor, but what the shit did I know about it?
“You gonna check me out too, Doc?” Rock asked. Leave it to Rocco to flirt at the worst possible time.
Mia whipped her head to the side, narrowing her eyes at Rocco. “What the hell are you doing back here?” she asked.
Back here?
I frowned at Rock, and he at least had the decency to look guilty.
Not elaborating on the subject, Mia turned back to Vinnie, checking more vitals and shining that small flashlight in each one of his eyes.
“Things are looking good, Vin. Considering what happened, you’ve been really lucky. I’ll just change the bandage on your forehead and then you should be ready to go home pretty soon.”
“You’ll come with us to the house, Vinnie,” Francesca jumped in, offering up our guest room. I didn’t mind; Vinnie had proven himself more than once, and I knew he was important to Frankie. I gave him a chin lift as Mia went about her business.
Finishing redressing the wound, Mia smiled. “I’ll go see about your discharge papers.” She turned and headed for the door, stopping just long enough to point an angry finger at Rock. “You better stay right here. You pull any more shit, and I’ll have you thrown out,” she paused, narrowing her eyes. “Again.” Her warning might as well have been a red flag for Rock, considering the grin that spread across his face at her words. She stomped her way out of the room, and he made to follow, but Francesca stopped him.
“Rocco,” she said, her voice revealing her exhaustion, “as much as you getting shot down again would be entertaining, I need you to stay. If Vinnie is getting out, we’re gonna need your car; Enzo’s Audi only has two seats.”
“Sure thing, boss lady,” Rock replied. “I’ll be your chariot any time.”
