Page 105 of The Veil

“Of course!” he quickly agreed, escorting Marco and I down the long hallway to her room.

I turned to him when we reached the open door. “Thank you.”

“Anything for an old mate,” he smiled before he returned to the waiting room.

I made eye contact with Giacomo and he sighed, glaring at us but did not speak. He knew better as I was his boss. A man in scrubs was wrapping medical supplies in a towel and exiting the room.

I stuck my head in the doorway, “Sir--.”

He looked up from the bed with defeat in his eyes, pleading for answers, “Joseph, what the fuck happened tonight?”

22 Forgiveness

Joseph sighed, entering the room, followed closely by Marco. My eyes narrowed as I saw no sign of William or Tanya. The appearance on Joseph's face gave me an entire story itself.

Marco kept his eyes lowered to the floor and did not dare speak. He stood motionless as he wrapped his arms around his stomach in a cautious posture, slowly blinking as if something were burning on his mind. I had never seen my brother this way. He was normally obnoxiously boisterous. Silence was not his strength.

“Can I see you in the hall please?” Joseph finally mumbled.

I nodded, turning to my brother, “Marco, you cannot be in here while I’m not.”

He rolled his eyes before focusing on mine, “I won't hu--.”

“No,” I shook my head, “if she wakes up and sees you, she will go insane.”

Marco rolled his eyes once again but quickly nodded, realizing that I was right. I noticed him wincing as he scuffed slowly out of the room, holding his side. Joseph and I followed closely behind him.

I leaned on the wall in the corridor listening as Joseph told me what happened when they found Tanya. My eyes widened as I took a deep breath, running my fingers through my hair. The sadness and frustration built up inside me, rippling through my body like an angry river. I felt myself starting to shake as I was witnessing my entire life coming to a head.

I reached my arm out toward the middle of the hall, stopping a passing nurse. She gave me a friendly smile. I wanted to punch a hole in the wall, but I remained as nice and one could in this situation.

“Would you please get my girlfriend's doctor?”

I am sure she sensed my anger because she immediately spun around, walking speedily back down the hallway in the direction that she came from.

I peeked into the room, seeing Isabelle was still sleeping. She looked so beautiful and peaceful even though she was in pain. She was stronger than I originally gave her credit for; a woman who had been through so much as a child and still turned out to be so incredible.

The effect she had on me at first and the hold she has on me now meant I would do anything for her. Lost in my thoughts, I had not realized the doctor had approached us. She was speaking to Joseph and it forced me to become alert once again.

“We should take a look at your injuries,” she was lecturing Joseph.

I turned to examine him closer, as I had not bothered to take notice until she said something. Dried blood encrusted the side of his face that smeared into his hair, a large gash on his eyebrow that still bled and a bloody lip. What the hell happened?

“I'm fine but thank you,” Joseph confirmed, before turning his attention back to me and nodded as he patted my arm. He stepped into Isabelle's room and spun back to the hallway, “I will watch her for a bit.”

I slid my hands into my pockets, facing the nurse. “I need to check on my friends.”

She glanced at her tablet, reading for a moment before meeting my concerned gaze. “I’m guessing the male and female who were brought in?”

I nodded, “William and Tanya.”

She scrolled through her screen. “William is in surgery and Tanya is in room 107.”

“Thank you,” I tried my best to smile as she gave me a single nod before sauntering away.

Marco groaned behind me and I spun to face him.

“Did you get hurt?” I hissed, lifting my fingers to my chin, and stroking my scruff as I studied him.

---