Page 5 of Amadeo (Dark Legends #4)

Amadeo

“I mean holy hell! Kindergarten to infinity?” I exclaimed. “I just cannot imagine tests and finals that go on forever. To me that is a nightmare.”

My father kept laughing.

Gia stared at me and said, “I’m technically still in school.”

I nearly gaped at her as I couldn’t help my absolute shock, so I kept going, “Still? How is that even possible? Didn’t you ever want to break away from it? For at least a year or something?”

“I really couldn't. I am only five years into my Residency. I still have two years of that left, then the Fellowship for a year.”

I actually gasped as I dramatically placed a hand over my chest. “That is cruel and unusual punishment in my world. Like did you have strict parents or what?”

She slowly shook her head. “Oh, it was never their idea. It was all mine.”

“All yours?” I asked.

Finally, my father spoke up, “Just like Giovanni. He went for eight years, I think? All his idea too.”

All I could do was keep shaking my head in total confusion. “Like don’t you want to live a little?”

Cocking her head at me, she seemed to really consider this question very seriously. “Of course I do. I have gone on trips to interesting places. Taken sabbaticals.”

“Just to let loose?” I asked her. “Or did those trips have something to do with the medical field?”

She simply shook her head.

“Oh, wow,” I said. “So they were doctor trips? School trips?”

She looked away.

I stared at her then glanced at my father.

He shook his head at me then he turned his gaze to Gia. “We have gotten off the subject. I see no reason why Deacon cannot stay here. We have you and the nurse to look after him.”

Raising her head, she glared at him. “So, if this goes on for say a year? Then what?”

He tisked. “I hardly think it will last a year, doctor.”

“Did you not just hear the stats I gave you?” she asked.

He scoffed. “I am sorry but yes...You spouted a lot of percentages.”

She looked stunned.

I chuckled and tried to smooth this over for her. “You will have to forgive my father. If you had been speaking about profit and losses percentages, then he would have remembered every word you said.”

My father looked over at me and nodded his head. “I wish I could get onto you about saying that, figlio. Like…non essere pazzo. But alas, I cannot.”

“Senor Descalia,” Gia cut in. “Are you agreeing that should Mr. Walker be in a coma for a year, you will still keep him here?”

Leaning forward, he replied, “For as long as it takes. Si, I will keep him here.”

Blinking at him in disbelief, she glanced at me then looked back at him. “I cannot stay here for a year!”

My father shrugged. “Then let us hope he wakes up sooner rather than later.”

“Senor, I am assuming that you did not listen earlier,” she tried again. “This could go on for even a few years. There are cases that—”

He stood from his desk abruptly. “If that is so, the man has earned his purgatory. He tried to kill my son and his fiancée. Along with Tito, Oscar and Rocky. Who are not servants, they are family. And I will not get into his other sins. Why? Because you do not have that kind of time, I am sure. I am sorry that you wish to leave. It is unfortunate. However, he has to stay here.”

Looking even more perplexed, she stood from her chair. “I do not understand. I assumed he was family and that was the reason you had him moved here.”

My father’s dark eyes glittered at her. “You are half right.”

Gia looked even more confused now as she asked, “Isn’t Valen his sister?”

“So we believe, yes.” He nodded his head.

“You believe?” She again glanced at me as if needing help to understand.

I simply assumed she knew the truth of all this.

Or at least some understanding of who and what Deacon was.

It had now become apparent that she did not know.

“Mr. Walker is not the man he seems, doctor. In fact, he is worse than…well. Us.” I smirked.

“He has a history that is so dark that no light can shine over it, so to speak.”

“So, you brought him here to keep an eye on him?” she asked. “Not to care for him?”

I halted. This had gone from uneasy to tricky.

This woman had taken an oath of no harm.

Yes, I knew enough about the subject after looking into it when I found out Gio had wanted to be a doctor, years ago.

Not that we were asking her to harm anyone, but we were asking her to keep him alive so we could harm him, maybe?

“Of course, to care for him,” my father replied. “I do not ask you for anything more. You are his physician. But yes, we do need to keep an eye on him.

This answer seemed to simply piss her off as she now glared at him.

Seeing this, I was thinking…uh-oh. Uneasy to tricky, to off the rails.

Standing from the chair, her eyes glittered. Leaning her hands on the desk, she asked my father in a low tone, “So, this man is your enemy?”

I butted in with my answer, “It’s sort’ve complicated.” Like that was such an understatement but true here, I suppose. He was Julianna and Valencia’s brother but at the same time, he was extremely dangerous. I had intended to tell her this in the hallway earlier and never got the chance.

“The man is dangerous to say the least,” he answered. “As I said before, to list his misdeeds would take some time. But he will harm others if given the chance.”

“So in essence, I am his babysitter?” she snapped.

Damn, this woman had a temper. I sort of liked it, but not in this instance. So, I butted in again as I raised my hand like a student in school. “Um, no. That would be me and Tito.”

“You are his doctor only,” my father reiterated.

“So this is all a mafia war thing?” she exclaimed while looking angry. “Like against him since he is FBI?”

With this accusation, I froze literally in my chair. I wasn’t sure if she just jumped off bridges when she was pissed off, or if she had courage beyond stupidity.

“Santa Madre di Maria!” My father exclaimed as he stood as well.

Both of them had their hands resting on the Italian-made antique desk.

“Dr. Ribisi,” he spoke again, softly this time.

“This man is not an enemy of the Famiglia. He is my family’s enemy.

Deacon had arranged to have my son, Giovanni and his fiancée Glory killed.

My limo was shot up and pursued by other vehicles in a bid to harm them.

This included my nephews as well. They were all forced to have a gunfight on a freeway of all things.

Then after this event, he sent another man to harm my son Dante and his wife when they were visiting the Metairie.

So Deacon set out to harm people in my personal family. ”

I noted that he did not talk about Luca bringing Deacon’s Cessna plane down to catch him, but I suppose that would be counterproductive just now. “That is what I meant earlier when I told you that my brother Gio would not be involved in his medical care.”

My father heard this and scoffed. “Glory would more than likely smother him with a pillow.” He smirked.

I shook my head. Not the time for jokes but then again, I had heard that Glory Walker was like a soldier when it came to using weapons and fighting.

Shaking her head, Gia asked my father, “Yet, you wish for me to keep him alive?”

“Of course,” he said. “I am not a monster even if I am as you say... Mafia .” He raised a brow at her.

Suddenly, her face instantly became a closed window as if she’d just drawn the blinds on all her emotions and thoughts.

I realized I now knew how to read this woman a little bit better than when I first met her.

Well, since she was a female, this probably was self delusion on my part.

Reading a woman wasn’t like reading a book.

There were blank pages or so it seemed. Then if you took the time to listen and pay attention, the words would start to show.

I had some experience with women, but not long-relationship-experience.

I knew they were complicated though. Even Zia, who was the closest thing I had to a mother.

On the surface, she seemed simple. Make a meal, make everyone happy.

Give advice and then step back. Below that… She wasn’t so easy to figure out.

However, Dr. Ribisi… She had secrets and I did see her resentment or dislike for the Famiglia. So this sure made me wonder why she worked for them? Puzzling. If you disliked or disapproved of the mafia…Why be posted at a hospital owned by the mafia?

She didn’t say anything more. Stepping back, she gave him a nod. “You answered my question. So I will be leaving now.”

I stood from my chair and asked her, “Leaving as in, leaving the estate ?” I suddenly felt anxious about not seeing her again.

“No, Deo.” She shook her head at me. “I’m just leaving the study.” Turning away, she did just that.

I glanced at my father then headed for the door.

“Amadeo,” my father called to me.

Turning around, I stared at him.

“You are interested in Dr. Ribisi?” he asked.

The question really took me off guard. I shrugged and replied, “Maybe?”

“Be careful,” he warned.

I paused in confusion. “Of what?”

Now, he shrugged. “She…well, seems complicated.”

I stared at him and then laughed. “Yes Papa. She is a woman after all.”

He paused then laughed. “Si, I have to admit that she would have been a great comare.”

“Dr. Ribisi, a mafia mistress?” I exclaimed. “Are you pazzo, father?”

He shook his head. “You need to let me know if you are going to pursue her though.”

I shook my head. “Why? Because she’s Deacon’s doctor?”

“No, although that’s a good reason as well.” He didn’t elaborate any further.

I rushed out of the study and looked down the hall. I didn’t see her, then I glanced the other way, toward the paintings.

There she stood in front of one.

I walked over, my rushing gone now as I played it as cool as I could. I stepped up beside her and stared at the painting. Milan. I instantly wondered about this. Why this one?

“My sister loved this city,” Gia spoke softly as her eyes remained on the scene in autumn colors on a canvas.

“It isn't true that I never took a real vacation. I did one summer. Well, her and I did. We went to Milan. Your father is right about that too. It is a city known for fashion. That was what my sister was into. More than just your average girl. I mean she was into fashion design. Was constantly sketching a new outfit. She dressed me all the time with her homemade creations. Then women would ask where I got such fabulous clothes. Especially in college. In medical school, no less. Oh yes, I always knew I was the wallflower and she was just a beautiful flower…period. I loved her for it though. Bright and electric like a neon rose.” She paused and looked up at me. “You ever been?”

“To Italy?” I asked. “Of course. We have family there. For my father it is almost a requirement. First to speak Italian then go and visit there each summer.” I shrugged. “At least it used to be. Since we got older, it is all about Descalia Corp.”

She stared at me. “But you have been to Milan, in particular?”

I tilted my head at her. “Yes, we’ve been all over Italy. Though our family is originally from Genoa.”

“Hmm…” She nodded then turned and walked away.

I stood there puzzled, wondering what she had been getting at with her questions about Italy. I then snapped to it and rushed to catch up to her. “Damn, doc you move fast. You sure you didn’t major in track?”

Gia shook her head and didn’t answer that. Instead, she asked, “Why are you following me, Deo?”

I kept walking with her. I didn’t have an immediate answer. Maybe I was a glutton for punishment? Maybe I liked it that she always looked like she’d rather slap me than smile at me? I sure as hell didn’t know the answer to that. But I burst out with, “Can I sit next to you at dinner?”

At this question, she did stop walking. Turning to me, she asked, “Is that like an odd way to ask for a date?”

I smiled at her conclusion. “I guess it is?”

“You guess?” she repeated.

I nodded. “I would like to sit next to you and talk to you during dinner. If that constitutes a date in your book. Then yes.”

Gia stared at me for a full minute then she nodded. “Ok, I’ll save the chair next to me.”

“Or you can sit closer to Zia and I can save you a chair?” She raised me since my mother passed when I was just a toddler.

So, by tradition at least for me, I always sat near Zia when I was at home for dinner.

I’d done that since I was a baby, I think?

Yes, Tito and Rocky were her sons, but they didn’t sit next to her every meal.

“I like Zia,” Gia said. “So that would be great.” Turning, she headed away.

This time, I didn’t follow. I wasn't sure why I asked her this. She liked Zia and that was why she agreed? I snorted a bit. Probably because I knew she did not like me. But why didn’t she like me? I was charming, cute and funny. I shook my head. Sounded like a tacky dating app description.

I suppose my father had it right though.

I was interested in her. In fact, this woman interested me to no fucking end.

Something in her eyes spoke volumes. It didn’t seem to be a happy volume either.

I knew for certain that she didn’t feel all squishy about me either.

So you’d think I would avoid her, but no I seemed to suffer from the same affliction she had.

Courage beyond stupidity. Something bothered her.

Maybe the mafia thing, but no… like I already surmised, why work for them if you hated them?

No, this woman had secrets and I felt determined to find out what they were.