Page 113

"I'm not trying to buy you," he assures her. "I do want you to be high functioning, though."

I don’t have time for their little lovers’ spat, but before I can say anything, one of the machines Marcello is hooked up to begins to beep, causing the nurse to move over to his bedside. She turns something off and fiddles with his head bandages, but that's not what gets me distracted. It's the way she looks at him, with a slight smile that makes her look stunning.

The way she looks at Marcello doesn't escape me. I've been in hospitals before. I know what it looks like when a nurse is interested in me—when she wants to be bent over the nearest surface. This look isn’t that. This is something deeper and personal. Interesting. The motherfucker is still attractive to women even when he's out of it and all banged up.

"Keep me updated if you hear anything," I tell Luciano.

"I'd appreciate the same courtesy. I have a feeling I'll hear from you before I hear from Mister Orsi."

I send a stiff nod at him before I leave the room and make my way back down into the lobby. I step out of the way of a woman holding a newborn in her arms, who is being wheeled to the exit. Her image changes to Scarlet's in my mind, and a warm, fuzzy feeling spreads through me. I pull out my phone to call Doc Brown; he's had more than enough time to play with her blood. He should know by now if I'm going to be a dad or not. It pisses me off that he'll know before I do… as if he'd sensed my impatience, my phone vibrates in my hand, flashing his name across the screen.

"Doc, tell me what I want to hear." I hardly recognize my exuberant voice and just know that an idiotic grin is spread across my face. At the same time, I nearly crush the phone in my death grip of anticipation.

"She’s pregnant. Congrats. You’re reproducing. God help us all.” His gruffy voice hits me. “Your next little criminal mastermind is on the way. Hope you’re ready to be outsmarted by someone under ten pounds.”

My fist strikes air as I punch it over my head, "Yes!"

"You sound pleased," Doc deadpans.

"Of course I am," I shake my head as adrenaline spikes through my body. But this adrenaline is of a different kind. It's warm and pleasant.I'm going to be a dad, my mind keeps echoing.

"Well, I'm happy for you, son," Doc remarks in a softer tone.

"Careful, Doc, I might start thinking you like me," I warn.

He laughs, but before he can hang up, I pepper him with more questions. "So, what's next? Ultrasound? What meds do we need? Vitamins? I want to see my baby every day." An ideastrikes me. “Get me the best ultrasound there is and have it installed in the house."

His sigh is loud and hurts my ear. "Toni, slow down. You might want to run all that through the missus first."

He's right. Of course I should. But fuck! I'm going to be a dad.

After a few minutes of discussing ultrasounds, appointments, prenatal vitamins, and other related topics, Vito interrupts our call. I cut the doctor short and listen to my friend tell me I need to get back to the office.

I quell the little fires Vito thought I needed to personally put out, then decide to take a minute to call Scarlet. For the second time today, the moment I pull my phone out, the person I'm about to call is on the other line.

"Hey, I was just—" I don’t have the chance to finish the sentence.

"We're in trouble," she cries out, turning my heart and blood ice cold.

"Where are you?" I push out, grabbing my jacket and motioning for Vito to pull out his phone and follow me to the elevator. Thank fuck I had already ordered the chopper ready. I was ready to go home and tell Scarlet the good news. Tell her that she was about to become a mom.

"Warwick." Scarlet lets out a hiss. I hear the sound of something fastening. I don't have time to ask her why the fuck she’s in Warwick, or what she was thinking. There will be time for that later.

"Fuck! Stay on the phone. Vito," I yell at him. "Call Al!" I say more quietly.

"Toni, they have some kind of bazooka or something," Gigi's voice rings out, freezing my blood. "I'm trying to lose them and get back to the house."

"They're going to anticipate that." Fuck, I can't think about the two women who mean more to me than anything in this world. Or my as-of-yet unborn son. I need to keep it together if I want to see them again. If I want to ever meet my son. Or daughter. "Vito, have Al send cars out. Now! All of them."

I'm glad I beefed up security yesterday. After what happened to Enrico, there was no way in hell that I would leave my wife andbabyhome alone, protected by less than an army.

I watch Vito talk rapidly on his phone while we're running toward the elevator.

"Shit," Gigi yells, stopping my heart.

"We're on our way, but we're in the city," I tell the girls.

The sound of brakes stops my breath. I hit the damn elevator button over and over. Where the fuck is it?