Page 101 of Sins of the Son

She sent Barone a pleading look. “Barone, we’ve already gotten five opinions and two MRIs. They’ve all said the same thing. She has a nasty bump on her head and a concussion, but she got really lucky.”

Cesare’s expression was stormy. There was a tic in his upper cheek as his jaw clenched. His right hand was curled into a fist. “Don’t forget about the fifteen stitches in her neck from the cut that barely missed her jugular,” he ground out.

Amara and I exchanged a look. We knew when we were beaten.

I had gotten lucky. Really lucky.

My purse strap had gotten hooked on the newel post, saving me from a nasty, and possibly fatal, fall down the entire marble staircase. My body had swung violently forward and then was jerked backward by the strap. I banged the back of my head on one of the stairs, but that was cushioned by my bulky purse. Thank God for bulging makeup bags!

The worse injury was caused by the shattered glass of the vase. A shard had pierced my neck, close to my jugular. At first I was worried about a scar, but I was told that Cesare had raised hell making sure the best surgeon sutured me up to lessen the chances of one.

Gabriella exclaimed, “Found it!” She pulled a scarf out of her purse and waved it in the air.

We all turned and looked at her.

Only Gabriella would be concerned about accessorizing a hospital gown, and I absolutely adored her for it.

She flicked her hair over her shoulder. “Don’t you all give me those dirty looks. You are helping in your way. I’m helping in mine.” She gently placed the brightly colored scarf around my neck and tied it in a fashionable knot, hiding the ugly bandage.

I patted her hand and gave her an encouraging smile to show my appreciation. She was hiding it behind her usual bravado, but from one diva to another, I could tell my near miss had rattled her as much as the rest of them. Her eyeliner was smeared at the edges of her eyes where she had clearly been wiping away tears, and the edges of her nose were red.

Enzo cleared his throat. “Benito wants to question her about the fall. There are a few employees who claim she may have been pushed but can’t agree on what the person looked like because it all happened so fast.”

Cesare cursed under his breath. “What the fuck is the point of having all this extra security if we can’t protect our women? They are going to have to stay on Cavalieri grounds until we have this all figured out.”

Gabriella huffed. “As usual, you are overreacting! Milana hasn’t said she was pushed. Have you even bothered to ask her what happened before you go lock her and Amara up in towers like doomed maidens?”

Cesare threw his hands in the air. “Aunt Gabriella, I love you, but I’m not going to fucking risk Milana’s safety again. I gave in once and let her go to the office and she almost fucking died.”

Enzo then reasoned, “Well, if that’s the case, then maybe we shouldn’t leave her here? We can’t secure the building. There are too many variables and unknowns. Maybe we should take her back to the villa with a team of doctors and nurses?”

I cast another silent, pleading look at Amara.

She squeezed my hand in understanding, then said, “Wait! Look, I’m more concerned for Milana than any of you—”

Cesare made an objecting growl.

Amara conceded and corrected, “… than most of you, and even I think a freaking team of doctors and nurses is a bit much. I’m worried we are going to overwhelm her with all this. Can’t we just have Dr. Pontano stay at the villa? He treated me once, and he was very kind and efficient.”

Cesare crossed to the other side of the bed, brushing Gabriella to the side and facing off with Amara. “She’s not staying at the villa. She’s staying with me, at our home.”

“You can’t look after her by yourself. She should be at the villa where Gabriella and Rosa and I can take turns watching over her. She doesn’t need a man right now. We will take care of her.”

“She’s my woman and I will be the one taking care of her!”

“Well, she’s my best friend and —”

Enzo interrupted their argument before it got out of hand. “Regardless of who takes care of Milana, the villa is too big and the obvious place. If someone is truly trying to kill her, maybe we should stash her at the cottage. It’s smaller and easier to secure.”

Kill me.

Kill me?

Fuck, this was too much harsh reality for my pounding head to take in right now. I just wanted to curl up in bed and sleep.

Gabriella objected. “You are not stashing the girl anywhere. She’s not contraband! I agree with Amara. She should be at the villa where we can all watch over her.”

“Aunt Gabriella, you know I didn’t mean it that way.”

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