Page 111 of Gin & Trouble

“Maybe.”

“I was really hoping you’d say no. This shit gets any deeper, I’m going to need scuba gear.” Marco groaned. “Either way, they areguestsof the Lazios until this is settled. Hang on a sec.”

The line went quiet.

Frankie slipped into the room and sat beside me.

I held her hand and did my best to offer her a reassuring smile.

Marco came back on the line. “Dante, listen. I need you to stay dead. I’ll have Leo get you out of there tonight, but you are going to the safe house.”

At first, I thought he was joking, but I knew my brother. He wasn’t that cruel. “No fucking way are we going to stay on this island another day.”

“I wouldn’t ask unless it was necessary.”

“Come on, man. You have to get us home for Christmas. I need to see Pops.” I’d played a little dirty mentioning our dying father, but I didn’t give a damn.

“It’ll take some creativity, but I’ll try.” He sighed. “Do you need anything?”

“Besides finding the assholes responsible for this? Frankie could have been killed. As it is, Sophia and Valentina are being held against their will. We have to do something to stop Tommaso.”

She tensed and tightened her grip on my hand.

“I know and I’m working on it. But youbothcould have been killed. Getting you two to someplace safe is my top priority.” Marco blew out a breath. “I need to know how to find you.”

“Hold on. I’ll give the cell to the doctor. I’ll see you tonight.” I didn’t give a shit about myself. I hadn’t been the target, and neither had Giancarlo. Tommaso had attempted to murder his own sister. Rather than argue, I went to the hall and asked the vet to give Marco the family’s surname and address.

Frankie wrapped her arms around me. “Marco wants us to stay hidden?”

“Yes, but I don’t like it.” I held her close, or as close as I could without causing either of us pain.

“I’m sure he has his reasons. He’s probably up to his eyeballs in mafia politics.”

The vet knocked before opening the door. He motioned from the phone to me. “Do you need to make another call?”

I held up my hands. “Grazie, no.”

“Will you let him examine you now?” Frankie might have smiled, but the steel in her eyes told me I didn’t have a choice.

The last thing I wanted was to agree to a vet-check. He’d probably shoot my ass full of horse tranquilizers. “Did he look at your leg?”

“Yes, he took the stitches out and replaced them with steri-strips. At least let him do the same for you.” She guided me back to the bed and motioned for the doctor to come closer.

I turned to give the man access to the back of my head. “How does it look?”

He poked me a couple times. “I will remove the sutures. No need for strips.”

I stared at Frankie from the awkward position while the vet dug the sutures out of my scalp with what felt like a dull blade.

When he finished torturing me, he pulled a bottle from his bag. “You both need these. Two times a day until they are gone.”

“Thank you. Please, leave your name and number. I’d like to pay you for your time.” I stared until I knew I had his full attention. “And discretion.”

“Of course.”

Although he’d had dug thread or wire or who-the-hell knew-what out of my skin, he avoided touching my hand when I took his card. Evidently, I’d gone from patient to mafioso.

As soon as the doctor left, Maria hurried in with a plate of fish and vegetables. She set the food on the bureau, patted my cheek, and kissed Frankie’s. “Enjoy your meal.”

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