“Then how come you get the handsome billionaire, the ready-made family, the beautiful baby? I got squat. My child was taken from me, and there’s no one to comfort me.”
“You have us, your family, your—”
The line went dead, and Noemi sighed. Leo was hurting, she knew. Her sister wasn’t a spiteful person and didn’t normally feel sorry for herself, but maybe this time she was entitled to feel aggrieved.
“Not that we did anything wrong,” Noemi whispered, her hand splayed out over her belly. “But maybe Leo’s entitled to be angry for a while. That’s okay, we can take it, can’t we?”
She looked down at Bepi’s little head, resting against her thigh, his thumb stuck in his mouth as he slept. He might not be my son, she thought as she stroked his curls, but I would die for this little tyke. She glanced at the clock. Almost eight p.m. The house was silent, peaceful. Noemi knew she should really put Bepi to bed, but it was so comfortable here on the couch, and Bepi and her dog were sleeping so soundly…
Noemi closed her eyes and let sleep come. She woke, confused a couple of hours later when Rafa’s head of security came to find her, pale-faced and shaken, to tell her there had been an explosion at Rafa’s office.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Hysteria was near as she ran through the hospital, Bepi in her arms. It was only when she saw Kit, obviously sent to find her, that she relaxed. Kit was holding his hands up, calming her, a smile on his face. “He’s okay; he’s fine. We’re just checking him out.”
Noemi didn’t know what to say as she followed Kit to the ER. When she saw Rafa, she gave a cry of distress, and shielded Bepi. Rafa shook his head, smiling ruefully. Blood streaked down his face from a cut on his forehead. “Looks worse than it is, babe. They’re just going to clean it up.”
Noemi nodded and took Bepi from the room until they told her Rafa was ready. She walked back in, and Rafa kissed her.
“I’m really okay,” he said in a low voice, leaning the unhurt part of his forehead against hers. “Thankfully, I was the only one left in the office.”
“What happened?”
Rafa shook his head. “I couldn’t tell you. One minute I’m walking to the copy machine, the next I’m flying through the air. They think it was a device in my office.”
Noemi’s body went ice cold. “A bomb?”
“We don’t know, but it looks like something like that, yeah.”
“Oh, God, Rafa… Rafa…” She sank down on the gurney next to him. Rafa took Bepi from her arms.
“Noe, breathe.”
“Why are you so calm? Someone tried to k—” Noemi clamped her mouth shut, mindful of Bepi’s presence, but she couldn’t help the tears rolling down her face. “Why?”
Rafa cut his eyes to his son, and she nodded. Later. She found she couldn’t stop trembling. His face—his beautiful face—was covered in cuts and bruises, his left hand bandaged now.
They heard voices from the hallway, and his parents came into the room, both pale and scared. Rafa reassured them that he was fine. “Look, let’s get out of here and we’ll talk about it at home.”
Back at the mansion, they put Bepi to bed and settled in the living room. Rafa looked exhausted, but Noemi knew he wanted to reassure them. “Look, any business has enemies.”
Stefano made a noise. “Enemies, yes, but this is a little more than that, son.”
“Look, if whoever it was really wanted me dead, I’d be dead. I think this was just a warning.”
“Yes, but from whom?” His mother looked on the edge of tears.
“I don’t know, Mom. Look, the police, the FBI, they’re all looking into it. I suspect over the next few days I’ll be talking a lot to them. The office is uninhabitable, so I’ll work from home and you know there’s plenty of security here.”
“Keep Bepi home from school for a few days.”
“I will.”
After his parents had finally been persuaded that he was safe and well, Rafa and Noemi shared a soak in his tub. Noemi washed his cuts, kissing each one as he smiled at her. His hands cupped her breasts, thumbs stroking over her nipples. Even this early on in her pregnancy, her breasts were fuller, riper, and with her dark hair hanging in damp strands down her back, she looked almost ethereal.
“You’re so beautiful,” he said, and she smiled shyly.
“As long as you think so.”
She smoothed his curls back from his face, her brown eyes full of love and concern. “If anything had happened to you…”
“I’m fine; I’m good.” He felt like a parrot, repeating the same thing.
“Rafa?”
“Yes, babe?”
Noemi sighed, hesitating. “There’s something I didn’t tell you. I didn’t think it was worth… no, that’s not true, I just…”
Rafa grinned. “Just tell me, boo.”
She took a deep breath in. “A few weeks ago, the day I told you we were having twins, I had an argument with a guy at Alki Beach. He was being a creeper, and I told him where to get off. No biggie, it happens to us women all the time. Later, though, after I came to your office, I went back to the car, and there was a Polaroid picture left on my windshield.”
“Of?”
“Of me. In the baby store earlier that day.”
Rafa felt the shock of her revelation. “What? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because, truthfully, nothing came of it.”
“But someone was watching you?”
“Must have been. Nothing has happened since but with the bombing… maybe we should be more vigilant.”
Rafa sat in silence for a long time, thinking. He would give all the money in the world that this was something to do with Zani’s dealings in Europe. Had Zani gotten involved with some psycho drug dealers? He wouldn’t put it past his brother. The thought of Noemi being stalked made him feel sick. “Tomorrow, first thing, I’m going to get the FBI involved. Do you still have the photograph?”
She nodded. “Yes, and I have a picture of the guy who harassed me in the park.”
Rafa smiled. “Good girl. God, Noe, why didn’t you tell me?”
“We had other things to talk about.” She pressed her lips to his. “You must be exhausted.”
Rafa smiled, his lips curving up against hers. “I could be more tired…”
Noemi chuckled. “Are you sure? I mean, you’ve been through a traumatic experience and…” She grinned mischievously, “…you’re not a young man anymore and… oww, oww, stop!”
She giggled as he tickled her in retribution for her teasing then he lifted her onto his lap, his cock responding to her touch as she reached between his legs. “Baby, if nothing else, you know how to make me feel better.”
Noemi chuckled. “Nothing like a good screw after a bombing.” She winced. “No, nope. Not ready to make jokes about it yet.”
“Hey, hey, I’m here. Nothing’s going to take me away from you and our children. Nothing.” He cupped her cheek, but Noemi shook her head.
“No jokes. This is serious, baby.”
Rafa sighed, lifting her off of his lap, his erection fading. “I admit, I’m weary. What a day.”
“I can make you relax, baby. Let’s go to bed, and you can sleep.”
They went to bed and held each other, talking quietly until they fell asleep.
Noemi opened her eyes. The moon shone through the open drapes, casting a blue light in the room. Rafa was asleep, his face turned towards her, his arm around her waist. Noemi watched him sleep for a while, stroking his cheek gently then slipped from the bed.
She checked in on Bepi, seeing he was fast asleep, then walked to the farthest corner of the house. Only then did she let herself break down. The attempt on Rafa’s life had been the last straw, and now she buried her face in her hands and sobbed quietly, releasing all the pent-up emotion from the last few months.
Mouse padded quietly to her owner, nudging her hand with her muzzle, and Noemi hugged the dog to her, burying her face in her fur as she
cried. Mouse seemed to sense Noemi needed comfort in the way all dogs seem to know by instinct and licked her face. Noemi half-laughed, half-cried. “Oh, Mousie… I can’t lose him.”
Noemi cried herself out and then got up and walked to the kitchen, splashing water on her face. She let Mouse out to pee and stood in the doorway, breathing in the cool night air. Rafa is okay. He’s not hurt… much. She guessed he would ache in the morning from being hurled across the room by the blast but that was a small price to pay for survival. Who the hell would want to kill Rafa?
Noemi tried to figure out why anyone would want to hurt Rafael Genova, the sweetest man she had ever met. A suspicion had started in her mind about Zani’s mysterious time in Europe, but she hadn’t wanted to ask Rafa what he thought. They had enough trouble with Zani as it was.
There was the creep in the park, but she was sure he was just a douche bag who thought he could intimidate a lone woman. The photos disturbed her, but Seattle wasn’t that big a city… maybe he had followed her, taken the photos…
“Don’t be absurd.” She rubbed her face and sighed.
“Can’t you sleep?”
Rafa’s voice was low as he padded quietly to her. She shook her head, gazing up at him, stroking his cheek.
He smiled down at her then bent his head to press his lips against hers. Noemi slid her hands over his bare chest, and when he broke away, his eyes were questioning.
She nodded, and he picked her up, setting her down on the counter and pushing her robe apart. He sucked on her nipple while his hand slid between her legs, his thumb fingering her clit as he slid two fingers deep inside her. Noemi ground against his hand, curving her legs around his waist, her own hands stroking his cock into a state of such hardness it was no effort to thrust into her.
Rafa gently pushed her down and tugged her hips closer, slamming into her as she writhed with pleasure. He stroked her belly, caressing her breasts as he fucked her, and Noemi repaid his love by tightening her thighs and her cunt, contracting around his cock as it plowed deep into her.
He drove her to a shattering climax, and Noemi had to muffle her cry of ecstasy. Rafa, coming hard, triumphantly, slid her to her feet and turned her around, bending her over the counter.
Noemi gasped as he eased into her ass, panting hard as he made love to her, curving her body up against his, her legs spread wide. Rafa’s lips were on her neck, biting, sucking, kissing, tasting her skin. He made her come again, then they lay together on the cold tile floor, as the breeze from the window blew in.
Noemi turned her head to gaze at him, but they had no need for words now. Rafa stroked her face lightly with the tip of his finger, and she nodded—a silent assent. They would make it through this.
Whatever it took.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Zani Genova shifted impatiently in his chair. Group sessions were the worst. He hated sitting here in this room with these other addicts telling stories of their habits. He couldn’t tell the truth about his.
He looked around the room as another attendee was speaking. They were good people who got lost. He, on the other hand, knew he was the scum of the earth, someone whose cowardice knew no bounds.
When they’d told him an attempt on Rafa’s life had been made, that had been the moment to come clean. Tell his security team, tell the police, the FBI. Tell Rafa. It was because of him, Zani, that he had nearly lost his life.
And yet he had stayed silent, still looking after number one—again. It had already cost Sophie her life… Zani was disgusted with himself. What if Bepi had been at the office? He was sure the little boy would not have survived a blast. What if someone delivered a package to the house? Bepi, Rafa, Noemi…
He was still remonstrating with himself when he got back to his room, still arguing about it in his head when the door opened, and Noemi greeted him with a sweet smile. She really was a cutie.
“Hey, Zani, how’re you feeling? Docs tell me you’re doing well?”
No. No, I’m not, and you could die because of me, lovely lady… “I’m good. Getting clean was the only way left, really. How’s Rafa?”
Her smile faded a little. “He’s okay. A little muscle soreness from being thrown around but apart from that, he’s good.” She sighed. Zani thought her eyes looked a little puffy, and there was a deep line between her eyes.
“Hey,” he said, forcing a smile. “Never seen you in your doctor gear before.”
She was wearing her white coat with Dr. Noemi Castor embroidered on the pocket. Noemi nodded. “Time to get back to work. Stops me obsessing about who the hell would want to hurt Rafa.” She looked down at her hands, then shot a glance at Zani. “You don’t have any ideas, do you?”
Zani felt dismay flood through him. Tell her. Tell her and maybe you’ll save everyone’s lives. “Noemi…” Images of Sophie’s dead body floated through his mind. “No,” he said, looking away from her. “I don’t.”
He couldn’t bear to look at his brother’s lover. “Noe, I’m pretty bushed.”
Noemi got up, her lovely face sad. “Of course. I’ll come by later… if you want to talk.”
Noemi performed two simple surgeries on her first day back and was glad she got through them without complications. Her head wasn’t entirely in the game yet. She updated her charts then went downstairs to take some blood samples to the lab.
The lab was in the oldest part of the hospital, and the doctors and nurses had long nicknamed it ‘The Crypt’. The long hallway that led down to the lab had lighting which was temperamental to say the least, and Noemi cussed softly now as the florescent tubes flickered and went out. It was pitch black, but luckily it was a straight walk to the lab. She ran her hand along the wall until she reached the lab door and pushed against it.
Locked. She frowned. Odd. She banged on the door. “Geoff?” She called out to the lab technician she knew was on duty this evening. “Geoff, it’s Noe. Can you let me in?”
No answer. At the far end of the hall, the door opened and closed before she could see who had entered through it. “Hey, can you see if the light switch will work? No one’s in the lab.”
No answer. Her heart began to beat a little faster. “Hey?”
She could hear footsteps but no one answered her. Noemi backed up against the lab door. “Geoff? If you’re in there, now would be a great time to open the door.” She kept her tone light, but her voice shook.
He or she was close now; she could hear them breathing. “Come on, man, talk to me. This isn’t funny.”
She wasn’t ready for the punch to her stomach, and it knocked the breath out of her lungs. She doubled up, her arms folding protective over her abdomen. “Please,” she gasped, “I’m pregnant.”
Her attacker grabbed her hair and threw her to the ground. Noemi curled up in a ball. To her great relief, her attacker took off, and she heard the door at the end of the hallway slam open as he or she made their escape. Noemi staggered to her feet and made her way back to the main hospital. Her stomach was screeching with pain, but she only cared about her babies. She ignored the startled look of her colleagues as she ran passed them, towards the gynecological department.
“Someone just attacked me, punched me in the belly, and I’m pregnant,” she said in a rush to the first nurse she saw. “I need someone to do a scan, to check me out. Please.”
The nurse, her expression shocked, steered Noemi into a chair. “Okay, Doctor. Just breathe for me, and I’ll go find Dr. Hallsback. Just, please sit for me and take some deep breaths. We’ll look after you.”
Noemi did as she was told, wrapped her arms around her stomach. Please be okay. It had all happened so quickly that she was still processing it. What the hell? She felt a wave of lightheadedness sweep over her, and she swayed. God, don’t faint, don’t faint…
She felt a dampness seeping down her legs. Oh, no, please don’t be blood… that could only mean one thing.
“Noe?” James Hallsback, one of the Gynecology Attendings came to see her, but as
she tried to speak, dark spots gathered in her vision, and she passed out into his arms.
James Hallsback yelled for help and picked up Noemi’s slight body, carrying her into one of the rooms. “What the hell happened?”
“She said she was attacked, that she was punched. Doctor…” The nurse indicated the sheet—blood. “She’s pregnant.”
“Right.” He went into emergency mode, ordering blood, saline, and tests. “And bring me a scanner, stat.”
He leaned over Noemi. “Noe? Noe? Can you hear me? Open your eyes, sweetheart, we’ve got you.”
Noemi stirred. “Pain,” she whispered.
“I know, sweetheart, but we’re going to help you. How far along are you?”
“Eight weeks.”
“Alright, darling, hold on.” The nurse pushed the scanner into the room.
“I’m bleeding,” Noemi said, her voice barely a whisper, “I can smell the blood.”
Hallsback pushed up her black T-shirt and stopped. In a voice that shook, he turned to the nurse. “Get an OR ready right now.”
“What is it? Is it my babies?”
Hallsback leaned over her again, his expression one of shock and disbelief. “No, sweetheart. You’re not miscarrying… at least, that’s not why you’re bleeding.”
Noemi looked confused. “Then why?”
Hallsback steeled himself. He couldn’t believe he was about to say. “Noemi, I’m sorry but you’ve been stabbed, and you’re bleeding badly. We have to get you into surgery right now.”
Rafael Genova walked calmly although his rage was white hot and murderous. He kicked open his brother’s hospital door, seeing Zani jump out of his skin. Rafa was grimly satisfied. Zani gaped at him. “What is it?”
“You are going to tell me right now what the fuck went on in Europe, and why the mother of my twins is currently being operated on for a stab wound to her belly. You’re going to tell me everything, Zani, or God help me, I’ll kill you myself.”
The Doctor’s Promise Page 13