Page 27 of Angel

Chapter Eight - Angelo

“Thank you,” I told the nurse, and returned to the private hospital room.

Paige lay with one arm behind her head, the bed inclined all the way up. She stared at the television screen, but whether she really watched it or not I couldn’t tell.

“I heard the news,” I announced.

She sat forward. “About what?”

“That they’ll release you at six tonight.”

“Yeah. It sucks. I’ll be here all day long.”

“It’s standard protocol. At least says the nurse I just talked to.”

“But I have to work tomorrow. I need to go home and make sure I’m ready.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll call Victor and get you the day off.”

“No,” she resolutely replied.

“You’re in the hospital. It’s a viable excuse.”

“I just started this job. I can’t take a day off. And it doesn’t matter that I’m here. I’m not sick anyway. Can you drive me home tonight? Please, Angelo.”

Really. How could I say no?

“I don’t want you to exert yourself.”

“I’ll be okay.”

“Okay. Fine. You should probably rest once you get back to the city. We might not get home till close to nine.”

Her lips pursed. “That’s not that late. As long as I’m home tonight.”

I had to admire her determination.

Still, the idea of taking her back to the city left a bad taste in my mouth. Once back, everything would continue on as planned.

Namely, the arranged marriage.

I held my hands steady so they wouldn’t clench into fists. Paige had already been through enough. To be married off to a man she didn’t even know on top of it all was awful.

There had to be something that could be done.

Yet I couldn’t think of anything.

The mere existence of the arranged marriage meant that it was important. It had some reason for being. Moretti hadn’t just seen the Bianchi twins one day long ago, found them to be his type, and decided he wanted one. Usually deals like this existed to help ensure peace between at least two parties.

“I’m worried about you,” I told her.

“I’ll be fine. Really. And I’ll rest once I get home, I promise.”

It wasn’t the asthma attack that had me concerned.

“There seems to be no convincing you, so fine.”

She nodded, the sadness in the gesture not lost.