by Emerson Rose
We ride out the storm, our bodies slapping together with an animalistic frenzy until he comes with a roar. Every muscle in his body locks up, sweat trails down his rock hard chest over the mounds of muscle and mixes with the ocean of desire between us.
There must be a bigger word than love for this, an undiscovered adjective that would adequately describe what this is. I wish I could put into words the way this man makes me feel. The all-encompassing, passionate, totally adulated way he treasures me; it’s overwhelming, devastating, and absolutely addictive.
We exist because of each other, for each other. We are two halves of a whole that has been reunited. We can conquer anything, even a deadly brain tumor, a resistant surgeon, crazy pasts and threatening demons. Together, we’ve got this.
Eighty
My handsome, satisfied husband sits relaxed in his hospital bed watching our families interact, opening gifts and eating food catered by his beloved restaurant. He is happy. For one blissful moment in time I can tell that he is enjoying himself. I’ve even seen him smile, more than once. Everything he wants is his and I yearn for us to enjoy this feeling long term instead of temporarily.
I make my way to his side, stepping over Kimie and Dante, who are playing with their new and very expensive toys, thanks to a certain over generous uncle.
“You’re too much, you know that?”
“What? I gave them Christmas presents.” He shrugs.
“You’re very extravagant, Mr. Castillo.”
“Come here.” He pulls me down next to him on the bed lacing his fingers with mine and kissing my temple. “What else am I going to spend my money on? They are my family now, too; they may as well get used to it.” He relaxes into his pillows, and I sigh. He nuzzles his face into my hair and whispers, “Where are your rings?”
“In my pocket.”
“And why aren’t they on your finger?”
“I thought we should tell them together.” He tips my face to his with his finger under my chin.
“Are you alright with this?”
“Well, I don’t have a lot of choice in the matter now, do I?” His eyebrows shoot up and his expression is wounded. Shit, that didn’t come out right.
“You don’t have a choice in the matter of telling them or the matter of being married to me?”
“Don’t be ridiculous, telling them of course. I want to be married to you. I would, however, have liked to have been aware that I was marrying you, and a wedding would have been nice, too.”
“You want a wedding? I will give you a wedding, anything you want, and I apologize for deceiving you but I had to be sure you were taken care of if …”
“Don’t say it, you’re going to be fine. Tricking me into marriage wasn’t necessary, but I’m perfectly happy being Mrs. Castillo.” He pulls me closer and squeezes me in a side hug.
“What are you two lovebirds talking about over there?” Latoya says from across the room. Marcus and I look at each other and then back at the crowded room full of family. As if on cue, everyone is giving us his or her full attention.
“I… we, actually have something to share with all of you.”
Latoya scoots to the edge of her seat excitedly, anticipating our news. The kids stop playing with their toys. My mother’s hand freezes half way to her mouth holding her fork. Her eyes dart to my tummy and back to my eyes. I don’t even think she realizes she did it.
“No, Mother, not that. You know it’s not even possible.” Marcus is lost and he scowls at me in confusion. He missed my mother's indiscretion.
“Just tell her,” I say with a sigh and pull my rings from the pocket of my jeans and slide them on my left ring finger.
“Oh! You’re engaged, and on Christmas, how romantic!” Mom says, crossing her hands over her heart. She’s welling up and ready to pounce on us but Marcus hits her with another blow before she can get out of her chair.
“No, Jade, we’re married.”
Silence blankets the room. I hold up my hand and wiggle my fingers and smile a sheepish grin. Latoya gasps and raises her hand to cover her mouth, my father’s smile is blinding and the kids are completely uninterested.
“What? Why, when?” Latoya stutters and Kyle, unfazed, congratulates us both.
“Way to go, sis, I didn’t even have to put on a monkey suit, damn, I love you.”
“Imani wants a wedding, and this gorgeous woman gets whatever she wants,” Marcus says smiling down at me lovingly. Then he lays a smoking hot kiss on me right in front of every member of my family as well as his own.
A light rap on the door draws everyone's attention in the opposite direction. I gently press my hand against Marcus’s chest to end the kiss so I can see who’s come to celebrate with us.
It’s Brian. He’s standing just inside the door dressed in regular clothes, albeit just running pants and a sweatshirt, but he looks much better than he did yesterday.
This guy is either clinically insane or is on a death mission coming in here interrupting our holiday celebration.
“Excuse me, I don’t mean to intrude…”
“Then don’t,” Marcus says, his muscles going stiff next to me. He’s nudges me off the bed and swings his legs off of the mattress. He is a frightening sight with his feet on the floor and his hands gripping the sheets on either side of him.
He’s going to launch himself across the room at any moment. I’m close enough to see his pulse pounding on the side of his neck and that vein near his temple looks like it’s going to blow. I have to do something before this escalates. I hop over the wrapping paper and opened gifts scattered on the floor until I reach Brian.
“Can we speak in the hall, please?” He all but ignores my request and steps around me, making his way into the room brazenly. What a fool. He’s like a baby animal wandering into the lion's den, except even a baby animal wouldn’t be so stupid. Marcus has already pulverized him once. What the hell is wrong with this man?
“I’d like to speak to Marcus, actually. Please, forgive me, I wouldn’t intrude on your celebration but I’m leaving the country tonight and I’d like to say goodbye,” Brian says smiling. He looks around at my family, most of which have no idea who he is.
“You’re leaving?” I say with a hint of hysteria building in my voice. “You’re not well enough to go yet. You should get back to bed.” I’m not thinking straight when I pull on his arm. Panic has taken hold, and Brian turns to me. He looks at my hand on his arm with question, and I snatch it back.
“It’s going to be OK, Imani. You can come with me if you want. We can go home to Seattle where it’s safe.”
What the hell? Is this man delusional? Suddenly Marcus is behind Brian, breathing down his neck, his nostrils flaring with every breath. He is vibrating with fury and I’m shocked he hasn’t put his hands on him yet.
The only thing saving Brian’s life right now is our family. Their presence is what’s allowing him to hold on to some of his sanity, but only just. Damn it, this demented psycho is going to kill my husband without laying a finger on him if he doesn’t leave.
“Elena, escort everyone to the waiting room at the end of the hall. Now,” he says in a chilly tone never taking his eyes off of Brian who turns to face his attacker toe to toe.
I watch as Elena ushers the children out the door first saying something about cookies down the hall. Kyle and Latoya follow and I hear Enrique trying to explain who Brian is to my parents. He encourages them to follow the rest of the group away from danger.
But, God love my parents, they aren’t budging. Mom approaches Marcus from the side carefully making sure he knows she is there like she does when she deals with one of dad’s many stray animals that he drags home.
“Marcus, dear, shall we get you back to bed? I believe this man has wandered into the wrong room.” Mom gives Brian a death glare that I’ve never seen her give before. She’s warning him off, giving him an out and effectively trying to save his life.
“Jade, this doesn’t concern you, go
with the others,” Marcus orders and, amazingly, my mother listens, but she’s not leaving without me. She takes hold of my hand and pulls me along with her out the door.
“No! I’m not leaving them together, Mom, let me go!” I scream alerting the nurses that there’s a problem brewing. I yank my arm free of my mother’s grip, and whirl around to make sure they aren’t fighting yet.
Marcus’s eyes roll back into his head, and he collapses in a heap on the floor at Brian's feet.
“Marcus!” I run and drop to my knees next to him.
“Help, we need help, he’s seizing!” I yell out the door of his room.
Nurses flock to the area. Brian takes a step back and I see the smallest hint of a smile lifting the corners of his mouth. This was intentional. He knew if Marcus saw him trying to take me away from him it would push him over the edge. He was even willing to take another beating to make it happen.
My mouth drops open, and I watch helplessly as Marcus convulses. Brian stands with a look of satisfaction on his face and casually slips his hands into his pockets.
I splay my hands on the cold tile of the ICU floor. With every bit of strength that I have left in my low reserve, I push myself up. With blurry vision and fury raging through my bloodstream I approach a surprised Brian. He wasn’t expecting me to leave my dying husband’s side during this crisis.
I hold my breath and dig down deep for the composure to speak to him instead of scream. I harness my anger and use it to deliver a message to Brian.
I plant myself in front of him and lift my top lip in disgust. “You did this on purpose. I know you did. I’m not sure why you think you need to interject yourself into my life, but you have, so let me tell you what’s going happen right here, right fucking now, Doctor Carlson. You are going to have an OR prepped, organize the people you need to do Marcus’s surgery, and save my husband's life.” His lips part in shock but only for a split second before he folds his arms over his chest and sneers at me.
“Why in the hell would I do that? He’s going to die anyway, Imani, let him go now and come home with me. He doesn’t deserve you, and you know you’re not safe with him. And I see you’ve married him. Even better, you’ll be a filthy rich widow.”
Shaking my head back and forth violently, I can barely restrain myself from strangling this crazy man to death with my bare hands. I feel them moving Marcus from the floor to a gurney behind me while I speak to Brian.
“I would rather live the rest of my life in fear than go anywhere with you. Listen close because this is why you’re going to do as I say. You’re right, I am a rich woman now. And my husband happens to have a very long reach with the Norgnhentá. You know them, don’t you?” He should know what I’m talking about, almost everyone here does, but just in case he doesn’t I’m going to spell it out very clear for him so he knows I’m not fucking around.
“They are one of the top five most powerful criminal organizations in the world.”
While Marcus has been in a coma, I’ve been doing my homework. I know much more about the Mafia he’s connected to, and Brian should be on his knees begging for mercy. The fact that he thinks he ever had a chance with me proves he’s ignorant of the serious danger he is in.
I poke my finger into his chest hard for emphasis before I lay the rest of this on him. “Mr. Black and Elijah are on their way here to celebrate Christmas with our family. When they arrive I’m going to tell them to notify the other leaders of the Norgnhentá that you’ve caused Marcus’s death. You won’t even make it out of the ICU unit alive, Doctor Carlson. They’re ruthless professional killers, and I’m calling on them if you don’t save my husband. And don’t get any ideas about killing him on the operating table either. Do your very best work; do it like your life depends on it, because it does.” I rise up on my tiptoes and spit the last words in his face.
I wait while it sinks in. The blood drains from his face and he drops his arms to his sides loosing his smug posture. He’s scared straight, exactly how I want him.
“Norgnhentá? That’s the Mob he is involved with?”
“He’s actually the leader of his Family’s branch. He doesn’t remember it, but they do. Family is everything to these people. You fuck with family and you are signing your own death certificate.”
“Alright, I’ll do it.”
“And you’ll make sure he comes out of that OR healthy and tumor free, right?” I nod my head encouraging him to do the same.
Beads of sweat form on his lip as fear takes ahold. Good. Marcus always says that fear is one of the best motivators. I usually argue this theory but right now it’s working pretty well in my favor. I was afraid he wasn’t going to be sane enough to be scared, but thankfully he’s about to piss his pants. I’ve got him by the balls and now he knows it.
“Of course, yes, he’ll be fine,” he says.
“Get on it then.”
He turns to speak quietly to a nurse who has been working with Marcus. He speaks to her in Italian but I’m sure he’s informing her of the need for extra staff and an OR.
To say that nurse looks shocked is an understatement. The staff knows what’s happened between Marcus and Brian. They also know who Marcus is, or who he used to be.
I feel like a Mob wife, and technically I guess I am but I can’t personally back up anything I just said. I have no real connection to the Mafia and I can no more put a hit on Brian then remove Marcus’s tumor from his brain.
But Mr. Black can, and so can Elijah. I’ll bet the only thing holding them back was that Brian hadn’t recovered enough to do such a rigorous procedure.
Shit, in the heat of the moment I didn’t think about that. He’s still in pretty bad shape. I don’t know why they discharged him today. He’s going to have to draw strength from deep down inside himself to endure the hours he’s about to spend on his feet.
If he hadn’t fucked with Marcus in the first place, this wouldn’t be happening. I’m actually thankful that Brian turned out to be crazy. If that’s what it takes to get Marcus his surgery, then, so be it.
Eighty-One
Elena holds my hand tight as they wheel Marcus away to surgery. “Wait, please, just a second,” I grab ahold of the rail on the gurney slowing the nurses down. I lean down to kiss him and whisper, “I love you so much, Marcus. You go, I go… don’t you forget that.”
“We need to go, Mrs. Castillo, they’re ready for him,” a very un-Italian woman says from behind me.
“I’m Doctor Carlson’s nurse, Kayla. I’ll be the circulating nurse during your husband’s surgery. I’ll come out with updates whenever I can. I’m told you’re familiar with the procedure, is that correct?” Her demeanor is formal and stiff. I wonder if that’s her personality or if she’s uncomfortable with the situation.
“Yes, Doctor Carlson went over it with both of us in depth.”
“Alright then, and he says you’re an ICU nurse as well?”
“Yes, in the States.”
“Good. I will come out as soon as time allows. If you have any questions or concerns in the meantime, please, ask the staff.” She begins to turn and leave as abruptly as she arrived, but I reach out and lightly touch her shoulder. She turns around and I pray she can see the fear in my eyes.
“Doctor Carlson will do all he can.”
“Make sure of it.” I do my best to be stern and intimidating but the tears that brim in my eyes betray me.
“He will. I have a family in Seattle that I would like to see again. Your husband will be fine.” She really does get it. Marcus better come out of surgery spewing rainbows and glitter or nobody in that OR will ever be safe again. I wring my hands and watch as the other side of me is wheeled down the stark white hall.
My vision blurs and I close my eyes tight and wrap my arms around my body. I’ve never felt so alone. Marcus occupies a large part of my heart and when I’m not with him it feels hollow.
Elijah’s strong arms circle my waist from behind. I know it’s him right away from the clean sm
ell of his soap. He turns me to face him and when I see the concern on his face I let go and sob into his chest. He shushes me and tightens his embrace.
I’ve been holding strong until now, but I need to lean on someone. After what feels like a lifetime, Elijah gently pushes me away and holds me at arm’s length.
“We need to go to the waiting room and be with your family.”
“Our family,” I say, correcting him. I consider Elijah family as well as one of my best friends.
“Okay.” He offers me a small smile and turns me to face the door that exits the pre-op area and steps to my side slinging his arm over my shoulders. “I hear you’re quite the badass, Mafia wife,” he says, chuckling.
“Shut up, Elijah. I had to do something; that fucker was trying to kill my husband and leave the country. And if he hadn’t done the job, Marcus was going to check himself out of the hospital tonight, too. Stupid men, figures I would have to straighten all this shit out myself.”
“I know, honey, I’m glad you did. That doctor better do a perfect job, I don’t feel like murdering anyone today.” He’s joking with me, I think. I wonder if my threats would be carried out if it were necessary. I look up at his chiseled jawline covered in five o'clock shadow and momentarily appreciate what a handsome man I have for a best friend.
“Don’t tease about things like that. But, would you… or Mr. Black…” I can’t finish, but Elijah’s face darkens, turning very serious.
“We already have people in place. If they hurt so much as a hair on his head, nobody will make it out of that operating room alive.”
I frown and fiddle with my wedding rings spinning the huge diamond around and around. What was I thinking? Of course they would follow through. Mafia or not, I think Elijah and Black would kill Brian if he hurt Marcus. I just don’t like that the order originated with me.
Positive energy is what we need right now. No one is going to die today, not Marcus or Brian or anyone else.