Making Angel (Mariani Crime Family #1)

by Amanda Washington

  Tears leaked down Markie’s face.

  “Shh. You don’t have to justify yourself to me. I’m not gonna judge you.”

  “You should. Tristan was a bad person, but I became worse. I started hanging out at clubs, meeting people. I bought a gun.” Her eyes glazed over as she stared at something only she could see. “I didn’t even know where the guy had gotten it. What it had been used for. I bought it anyway. I didn’t care. The law had failed my family and I wanted Bougher dead.” She fell silent.

  Markie, my beautiful ray of sunshine, had been driven to want to kill someone. I smoothed her hair out of her face and wiped tears from her cheeks. She smiled up at me and I realized despite what she’d been willing to do, I wasn’t looking into the face of a killer. Markie was innocent. Relieved, I let out a breath. I knew the weight of taking a life, and it wasn’t a burden I wanted Markie to bear. “But you didn’t do it,” I said.

  “No. My uncle somehow knew what I was planning. He found the gun and freaked out on me, insisting that Bougher was protected. If I would have done anything to him, people would have come for my uncle and Ari. He said I’d talked to the wrong people and he needed to make me disappear. Then he shipped me off to Africa.”

  Everything suddenly made sense. Father knew who she was. Hell, he probably had connections to whoever was protecting Bougher. Markie’s uncle, the district attorney, had to be connected somehow, too. I wondered who Father knew in Idaho, and how deep the roots ran.

  Still, something bothered me. If Markie was in danger, her uncle should have sent Ariana away as well. “What’s your sister’s role in all of this?” I asked.

  “She doesn’t know anything. My uncle said we needed to keep her in the dark to keep her safe. Please don’t tell her.”

  “I won’t. I promise.”

  “I didn’t want you to know.” She sighed. “I’ve changed so much since it all happened. Sometimes it doesn’t even seem real. In Africa… the people I met… the conditions I saw… talk about a perspective shift. I’m not angry anymore. I’ve forgiven Bougher. I’m over… everything. I’ve accepted the fact I’m dying and I want to enjoy the time I have left.”

  “And you want to make the world a better place before you go.” Now I understood her. Everything I’d heard her say and had seen her do made sense. “You’ve gone through fire, but it didn’t burn you. You came out beautiful and perfect. Like gold, refined by flames.”

  Markie watched me, her eyes leaking more tears.

  “I’m glad you told me, but your past doesn’t matter. I want to be involved in your future. No matter what that requires or how long it lasts. Late night hospital visits, I’m there. Days with orphanage brats, you already know. You don’t have to carry this alone anymore. We’re in this together now. I love you.”

  She blinked back tears while a giant smile dimpled her cheeks. She grabbed hold of my shoulders and pulled me forward until our lips connected. Markie kissed me until my breath was gone.

  “Thank you, Angel. I love you, too,” she whispered against my cheek.

  A knock on the door interrupted our moment.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  Angel

  THE DOOR CRACKED open and Bones poked his head into the hospital room. “Doc’s here,” he said.

  I waved him in. Bones opened the door and he and Ariana entered, followed by a silver-haired, bespectacled man wearing scrubs and carrying an electronic tablet. The man introduced himself to me as Doctor Johnson, studying the machines as his fingers flew over the buttons on his tablet.

  He paused long enough to glance at Markie. “How’s your pain?” he asked.

  She gave him a thumbs up. “Much better.”

  He pointed toward a pain management printout on the wall. “From one to ten?”

  “A two, maybe?”

  “Good. It looks like we got the swelling down, too. How’s the nausea?” He turned and put his stethoscope on, leaning in to listen to Markie’s heart.

  “Crackers would help. Can I have some?”

  “I don’t see why not. I’ll have the nurse bring some in.”

  “Thanks. Do you know when I’ll be able to go home?”

  He eyed her, pulled the stethoscope down to rest around his neck, and then looked at the machines again. “There’s no real reason for us to keep you here. Pain management seems to be all we can do for you at this point. Have you spoken to Hospice yet?”

  It’s a good thing I was sitting, because the word would have taken my legs out from under me. Hospice meant the end.

  “Hospice?” Ariana asked, gripping the end of the bed for support. “Are you— Is she—”

  Bones rubbed her back.

  “You think she’s already to that point?” Ariana finally spit out.

  “No,” Markie hurried to say. “I can hold off for a while longer.”

  Doctor Johnson lowered his electronic tablet and leveled a stare at her. “Calling in Hospice doesn’t hurry along the end. They can help control the pain, though.”

  “It’s usually not this bad.”

  He lowered his shoulders and looked to me, like I could help him. I couldn’t even wrap my brain around her tumor, so I didn’t know what he expected from me. I shrugged.

  “It’s going to get worse.” Doctor Johnson glanced down at his tablet, and then back to Markie. “Don’t wait too long. Okay?”

  She nodded. “I won’t.”

  “All right. I’ll have the nurse get you some crackers. They’ll be serving breakfast soon. If you can manage to keep that down for a couple of hours, I’ll release you.”

  She beamed him a smile. “Thank you.”

  He nodded and hurried out the door.

  I stared after him, feeling like an outsider, watching someone else’s life crumble. Then I remembered this was my life—my Markie—and I stood and ran after him. He was about to enter the next room, but I called out and he paused.

  I caught up and asked, “What options does she have?”

  He eyed me over his spectacles. “I’m sorry, but that falls under doctor-patient confidentiality.”

  “I’m not asking you to read me her file. I just… there has to be something we can do. Some sort of procedure or chemo? Can’t anything save her?”

  “Without breaking confidence with Ms. Davis, I can tell you there are few doctors who will operate on someone whose diagnosis is as advanced as hers. Her tumor’s location is ideal, making her a perfect candidate for a new laser procedure several surgical oncologists have had great success with. The procedures are expensive and risky, and the waiting lists are long.”

  Hope sparked inside of me. “But they do exist?”

  He nodded. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have another patient to tend to.” Without waiting for me to reply, he stepped into the room.

  I leaned against the wall and let his words sink in. Expensive. Risky. Waiting list. Will she do it? Will I be able to find her something in time?

  I couldn’t. In my own right, I was a nobody. My entire life I’d hidden in the shadows of anonymity, cloaking myself from my family’s influence. If I wanted Markie to get help, I’d have to go through someone well-known and powerful enough to pull strings and hoist her to the top of the waiting list. My father. I closed my eyes and rubbed the bridge of my nose, dreading the conversation. He’d lied about her and threatened her. Now I had to beg him to save her.

  “You okay?” Bones asked, leaning beside me.

  I closed my eyes and shook my head, unable to reply.

  “Right. Well, let me know if there’s anything I can do.”

  I nodded. “Thanks, man. I’m gonna need the old man’s help for this one, though.”

  Bones didn’t miss a beat. “When are we going?” he asked.

  “Soon as they release Markie,” I replied, thankful Bones was by my side. Thankful he’d be with me when I begged my father to save the woman I loved.

  Confirming my thoughts, Bones patted my shoulder as he followed me back into Markie’s hos
pital room. “I got your back, bro. No matter what.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  Angel

  MARKIE KEPT DOWN crackers and breakfast, so she was released from the hospital a little after nine a.m. We dropped Ariana off at their apartment so she could shower and get ready to work her scheduled lunch shift. Still dressed in the pajamas she’d gone to the hospital in, Markie slipped inside to change. She emerged minutes later, wearing jeans, a sweatshirt, and sneakers. Her coloring seemed better, but she still winced when she stepped into the sunlight.

  “How are you feeling? Really?” I asked as soon as she climbed back into the Hummer.

  She leaned back and closed her eyes. She’d dozed quite a bit while we were waiting for her release, but there were still dark circles around her eyes. “It hurts. Not sharp pains like last night, though. Just an annoying dull thud. Like my pulse is pounding against my brain.”

  I reached for her hand and intertwined our fingers. “You should have told the doctor.”

  “Why? So they could drug me up and keep me longer? I don’t want that.” A smile tugged at her lips but didn’t reach her dimples. I stopped for a light, and she opened her eyes and looked at me. “I don’t want to be stuck in some hospital.”

  A lump formed in my throat. I squeezed her hand, silently promising she would get more time. That I would get more time with her. I turned on my bluetooth and made a call to my father. He was home and surprisingly available for a quick meeting as long as I came immediately. I disconnected the call and squeezed Markie’s hand again.

  “I know you’re tired, and this didn’t exactly go well last time, but do you mind if we swing by my parents’ house for a couple of minutes?” I asked. “It won’t take long, I promise. Then I can take you back to my place and you can pass out for as long as you want.”

  “You sure it’s a good idea to take her with us?” Bones asked from the backseat.

  Hell no, it wasn’t a good idea, but I didn’t exactly have a wealth of options. The second her doctor suggested Hospice, I knew we were fighting against the clock. I couldn’t leave her alone in her state, but I needed to speak to the old man immediately.

  Markie squeezed my hand. “I know you have things you need to do, and I don’t want you rearranging your schedule for me. Of course we can swing by your parents’ house.”

  I was still trying to figure out how to approach my father when we pulled into the driveway and I helped Markie out of the Hummer. We stepped into the house and were attacked by the twins. Their loud, happy laughter bounced off the walls, crashing into us. Markie winced, but kneeled and opened her arms to them. They bounded against her, no doubt wreaking havoc on her head, but she smiled anyway.

  “Daddy said Angel was coming, but he didn’t say you’d be here,” Luciana announced.

  “Careful. Markie’s got a bad headache, so I need you to be quiet and not so rough, okay?” I plucked Luciana out of Markie’s arms and gave her a bear hug. “And what are you two doing home on a Monday? Did you get kicked out of school again, you little hooligans?”

  “We’ve never been kicked out of school,” Georgio laughed, grabbing hold of my legs. “No school today, so Mom’s taking us to the park.”

  “Hey! I was going to tell them.” Luciana elbowed Georgio, glaring at him. Then she smiled up at Markie and added, “She has to run out our energy so we don’t drive her crazy.”

  Markie’s smile lit up her eyes, returning life to her face. “I’ll bet.”

  “Would you like to come with us?” Georgio asked.

  Markie looked to me.

  “Sorry, guys, but we’re not going to be here long. I need to meet with Father for a minute. Do you know where he is?”

  “In his office,” Rachele said, coming around the corner, cell phone in hand. She looked frazzled and worn. “Angel, Markie, good to see you both. I forgot there was no school today and the nanny’s not here yet. I’m trying to get this proposal approved. Can you keep an eye on the twins for a few minutes while I make some calls?”

  Rachele was on the board of directors for one of Father’s companies. As near as I could tell, her position required her to bully, coerce, and stroke egos to get the board to do whatever Father wanted.

  “I’m actually here to meet with Father,” I replied.

  “I’d be more than happy to watch them while you two are busy,” Markie said.

  “Oh good, you can help us!” Georgio exclaimed, tugging at Markie’s shirt. “We’re making a giant Lego castle in the playroom.”

  “Then we’re going to set up our dragons and knights and have a battle,” Luciana added.

  “Markie should be resting,” I replied, giving my stepmother a pointed look and hoping she registered the seriousness in my tone.

  Markie reached up and grabbed my hand, using it to pull herself up. “It’s Legos, Angel. Not like I’m going to be running a marathon or something.” Then she turned back to the twins and added, “Sure, I’d love to help build.”

  “Great, thanks. You’re wonderful.” Rachele paused long enough to key something into her phone before heading toward the kitchen.

  Still hesitant, I squatted until I was eye level with the twins. “Okay, but you guys gotta promise me you’ll take good care of Markie, okay? Don’t let her overdo it. You promise?”

  They nodded enthusiastically, like little bobbleheads hopped up on sugar.

  “Angel, it’s fine,” Markie whispered, her hand on my arm. “Go do what you need to do. The twins and I will have a blast.”

  “You sure you’ll be okay?”

  “Are you kidding? I have the two most adorable babysitters in the world.” She gave me a peck on the lips, much to the disgust of the twins, and then let the two of them tow her up the stairs.

  My father’s office was located to the right of the entryway. As we approached, Cousin Alberto emerged from the room, leaving the door ajar. He said a quick hello and headed for the front of the house. Bones and I entered the old man’s office in silence, our footfalls echoing against the dark walnut hardwood floors. Father sat in a high-backed chair, his gaze fixed on the dual computer screens in front of him. We stopped beside his desk and waited for him to address us. Without taking his eyes off the screens, he gestured for us to sit.

  He didn’t greet us. We waited in tense silence as he pounded away on his keyboard. Then he finally graced me with a cold stare that made my hackles rise.

  “I hear that Ms. Davis spent some time in the hospital this morning,” he said.

  “She has a brain tumor, but I’m sure you knew that as well.”

  He inclined his head and spread his hands across the desk.

  “Why did you lie?” I asked.

  “I’m surprised you care so much, after your visitor last night.”

  So the old man had found out about the prostitute. Good to know. Had Markie not ended up in the hospital this morning, the plan Bones and I were working on might have actually been a success. He still hadn’t answered my question, so I stared at him, waiting.

  Finally, said, “Because I was trying to avoid this conversation. The one where you come and ask me to solve your problem.”

  My problem. That’s what Markie was to him.

  “But it’s not that easy,” Father continued. “This girl you’re messed up with… she has some big enemies. Tried to kill a made man.”

  “That’s not exactly the truth.”

  He shrugged. “They say the first casualty of war is the truth, and she’s not exactly my problem.”

  He knew it wasn’t true, but he had every intention of using it anyway. Markie was valuable to him now, because she was a card he could play against me. Her cancer just increased his power. Now he had me by the balls.

  “What do I need to do?” I asked.

  Bones shifted. He was trying to warn me, but I was fully aware of what I was getting into.

  “You know what I want, Angel.”

  I swallowed back the lump in my throat. “I have done everyth
ing you’ve ever asked me to. I contribute to this family just as much as anyone else. My inventions have opened the doors for us to—”

  “Your inventions? Angel, you are my heir apparent. You shouldn’t be hiding in some lab, building shit. You should be elevated to Capo by now, learning the business and serving at my right hand.”

  My throat was dry. I swallowed again, envisioning myself sitting behind my father’s desk, my hands dripping with blood. I didn’t want that life. Didn’t want it, but I had no choice. I’d never had a choice. But at least now I’d be exchanging my future for something that mattered. For someone who mattered.

  “And if I promise to do this?” I asked.

  Father stood. “Well, then I will—”

  His desk phone rang, interrupting. He scowled at the readout and then pressed a button. Tech’s face popped out into a 3D image at the base.

  “This better be good. I’m in a meeting.”

  Tech’s 3D image spun around the room. After seeing Bones and I were the ones in attendance, he turned back toward my father. “Yes, sorry sir, this can’t wait. Dante’s car has disappeared from radar.”

  My father’s eyes widened. “What do you mean, disappeared?”

  “There’s been an explosion, sir.”

  Father sat down hard. “And Dante?”

  My phone rang. Dante’s number. I answered and put it to my ear.

  “You bastard!” my little brother shouted. “How could you? I told you I would tell her and I did. You couldn’t give me one more day?” A sob ripped through him. “She’s dead, Angel. She’s dead and I will never forgive you for this!”

  Shocked and confused, it took me a minute to put two and two together. Tech said Dante’s car—the same car I’d threatened to blow up—had exploded.

  His girl. Oh no.

  “Dante, you’ve got to believe me. That wasn’t me.”

  “Dante? You have Dante on the line?” Father asked, his tone desperate.

  I nodded.

  “Go to hell, Angel!” my brother shouted.

  He really believed I blew up his car. Of course he believed it. I’d promised him I would, and I’d bluffed my ass off to make sure I sounded convincing.