The Doctor’s Promise

by Love, Michelle

  He grabbed his brother’s shirt and got in his face. “And if Noemi or my children die… God help you, Zani. God help you.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Noemi opened her eyes and realized that she felt… okay. Even good. How the hell was that possible? She wasn’t even sore, but she put that down to the morphine they must have given her. Rafa was sitting by her bed. “Hey, buddy.”

  His smile was relieved. “Hey, kiddo.” He kissed her. “Thanks for the scare.”

  “Sorry. The twins?”

  “They’re fine, growing and healthy. The stab wound wasn’t even that deep, thank God. Maybe a centimeter or two deep. Docs and the police think it was a warning rather than a murder attempt—not that it makes it any more acceptable.”

  Noemi pulled herself into a sitting position and drew in a deep breath. “But putting together this and the bombing…”

  Rafa nodded, his face grim. “Zani.”

  “He’s admitted something?”

  “Singing like a bird to the FBI. Interpol is getting involved. Seems my delightful brother owes money to some psycho drug lords in Italy. They killed his ex-girlfriend.”

  Noemi felt cold. “God.”

  Rafa took her hand. “Noe… the FBI thinks we may have to go into protective custody. The people Zani is mixed up with… their reach is wide and deadly.”

  “What do they want?”

  “Zani.” Rafa sighed. “And it’s an impossible situation. If he goes to them, he’s a dead man. If not, then we have to go into protective custody in order to survive. You and I and Bepi. My parents. Your parents. Leo. Possible even more.”

  Noemi looked at him, appalled. Solomon’s choice. “Oh, God, Rafa.”

  “I know.”

  Noemi put a hand over her belly protectively. “What did he do to them?”

  “He took their drugs, enough to stop an army, and never paid for them. You don’t fuck around with organized crime in Italy. And Zani knew that. Knows that.” He pinched the bridge of his nose, wincing at the thought of using past tense about his only brother.

  Noemi took his hand in hers. “Do they want money?”

  Rafa shook his head. “We simply don’t know. The FBI have told me to trust them, but they don’t know these people. I’ve used contacts, reached out. If they want money, they can have it—every penny if they leave us in peace, but I don’t know if they’ll be satisfied with it.”

  There was a knock at the door and Zani’s security guard came in, his face grim. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but you have to come now, Mr. Genova.”

  Rafa stood, alarmed. “What is it?”

  “It’s Zani, sir. He’s on the roof.”

  Rafa was led out onto the roof and immediately saw his brother standing on the very edge of it. “Zani…”

  Zani turned, his expression one of desolation and shame. “I’m so sorry, Rafa. I never wanted any of this. I was arrogant and complacent, and it cost Sophia her life. They’ll keep coming for you, Rafa, and Noe and Bepi, and I can’t…I have to take myself out of the equation. They’ll stop if I’m dead.”

  Rafa shook his head. “No, they won’t, Zani. Not this way. They’ll feel cheated, and the price they’ll force us to pay will be too high. This is not the way.”

  Zani swayed and the various people who had gathered to save him caught their breath. “They hurt your girl, Rafa. They tried to kill you. They will never stop.”

  “They will. They will.” Rafa was struggling to keep his voice calm, but he was terrified. Zani looked beyond hope. “Everyone has a price, Zani. I’ll give them every penny I have to leave us alone. But it won’t come to that. The FBI, Interpol… the authorities in Italy. They want to take them down too. We’re working together. Your death will only hinder that. We need your testimony, Zani. Just think, with your help, we can bring them down, make them pay for Sophia’s murder.”

  Zani squeezed his eyes shut. “When you told me they’d stabbed Noemi…”

  “Noemi is fine. The twins are fine. They won’t be if you jump.”

  “He’s right, Zani.”

  Rafa turned to see Noemi, being pushed in a wheelchair by Lazlo Merchant out onto the roof —clearly the only way Lazlo would let her leave her hospital bed. She took Rafa’s hand, but kept her gaze on Zani, whose face softened when he saw her.

  “Noe… I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s not your fault. And Rafa’s right, I’m fine; it was barely a scratch. Just looked worse than it was. But you will hurt me, hurt Rafa, hurt your wonderful parents if you jump. Please, Zani. No one wants this. No one. It will be such a waste, and for no reason. Don’t let those scumbags win.”

  “I’m the scumbag, Noemi.”

  “No. You fucked up, yes, but God, Zani, who hasn’t? I know I have, over and over and over, and you know what? I’ll fuck up again. That’s life. We can get through this—together. We are a family now. And now I’m going to use the best excuse for you to stay alive, and yes, it’s totally manipulative. Don’t let Bepi or the twins grow up without their uncle. They need you.”

  A faint smile crossed his face. “You’re right, that is manipulative.”

  Noemi fixed him with a stare. “I don’t care. Please, Zani… for them. Come away from the edge, and we’ll face whatever we have to together.”

  It seemed like an age had passed, but finally, Zani stepped away from the edge. Rafa felt weak with relief and eternally grateful to the woman he loved. Noemi held her free hand out to Zani and he took it. Noemi struggled to her feet and hugged Zani. Zani buried his face in her hair, and Rafa heard him sob, saw his shoulders shaking. Noemi held his brother tightly, whispering comforting words into his ear until Zani was able to calm himself.

  Downstairs, they sat in Zani’s room. “Call Mom and Dad, please, Rafa,” he said, looking exhausted. “It’s time I faced up to what I’ve done.”

  “Fine. The FBI want to talk to you again, and I think we ought to crank up all of our security.” Rafa stroked Noemi’s hair. “Do you mind if I step out for a few minutes?”

  “Not at all, babe.”

  Left alone with Zani, Noemi suddenly felt shy. “Zani, we don’t know each other that well, but can we start again? I’d like to help you.”

  “I don’t deserve that, Noe, but thank you. I’ll take all the help I can get.” He nodded at her. “How are you feeling? Really?”

  “Honestly, it’s nothing. The worse thing was not knowing what was happening.”

  “How did it happen?”

  Noemi told him about the locked lab door and the dark hallway. “Huh.” Zane looked confused.

  “What?”

  “No, it’s just… if it was my enemies, they wouldn’t have hidden in the shadows. They would want you to know who it was who was attacking you. And I hate to say it, but I doubt you would have gotten away so lightly.”

  Noemi paled. “God.”

  “I’m sorry, Noe. It could have been a drug addict.”

  Noemi remembered the break-in at her apartment. Whore. Could it be that her enemy was separate from the Genova’s? Jesus. Somehow, she hoped not because she had no idea who would want to harm her otherwise.

  She rubbed her face, sighing. “I’m at a loss, Zani. These past few months… Hell, these past two years have been crazy. Both ends of the spectrum, crazy good and crazy bad.”

  Zani smiled at her. “I know the feeling.”

  Noemi refused to stay overnight in hospital. “No, it’s just a small wound and I’m fine.”

  Lazlo and Dr Hallsback weren’t happy, but they couldn’t insist she stay.

  Rafa took her home. Rafa’s parents had taken Bepi for the night, and Rafa made Noemi take a long bath while he made her some food.

  She padded out into the kitchen, wrapped in a robe and he put his arms around her. “Feel better?”

  “Much.” She kissed him. “You could have joined me.”

  Rafa grinned. “If I had, we’d still be in that bath, and my cock would be buried inside your sweet cun
t. And that wouldn’t be the best thing for those stitches.”

  Noemi pulled a face. “Two stitches, Two. Everyone made a big deal about an inch-deep wound. And I want your cock buried inside me. That sounded weird, but you started it.”

  He laughed and drew her close. “God, I love you.”

  His lips found hers, then he sighed and leaned his forehead against hers. “You know what’s weird?”

  “What?”

  “Now that we know who’s targeting us, I just feel relief. We can do something about it; we know what they want. We have control back.”

  Noemi felt her heart sink. She stepped away from him, her hands trembling. Rafa noticed. “What is it?”

  She told him about Zani’s theory. “The more I think about it, the more it makes sense. Someone else is trying to mess with me.”

  Rafa frowned. “So, someone broke into your house and left you a message, a guy at the park stalked you, someone left a photo of you on your car. And now someone stabbed you.”

  “Barely, but yes.”

  Rafa was silent for a long time. “So, who?”

  Noemi shook her head. “That’s just it… I don’t know."

  “Let’s look at this logically.” Rafa took her hand, and they sat down on the couch. “Any lost patients with relatives that blame you?”

  Noemi looked at him, and he realized what he’d said. “Well, you can rule out me…” He stopped. “Drew.”

  “No. No way. He’s a man of God, for Chrissakes, and I swear, he’s been nothing but kind.” Noemi felt her face flame. “He spoke very highly of you… eventually.”

  “Misdirection? I’m not saying it is him but the timing’s right.” Rafa looked at her. “Are you crying?”

  “Hormones.” But she was lying, and Rafa knew it. “Look, I just don’t want it to be him, okay? I thought I was a good judge of character.”

  “Alright, leave him aside—but I’m not ruling him out. Who else? The guy in the park?”

  Noemi grabbed her phone and flick through to the photo. They’d already shown it to the police. “Look at him again. Do you recognize him?”

  “No. You said he had an American accent?”

  “Yup. He was a delight, but he had no real reason to attack me.”

  Rafa ran his hand through his hair, frustrated. “What I don’t understand is how the attacker managed to duck every camera in the hospital. And how the hell they knew that the lab door would be locked. None of this makes sense.”

  “Tell me about it.” Noemi curled her body into his. “I don’t want to think about it anymore tonight.”

  Rafa out his arms around her. “You’re safe here.”

  Noemi looked up at him. “I love you, Rafael Genova.”

  He smiled and kissed her gently. “And I love you. When all this is over, we can start planning our future and I swear, Noe, it will be the happiest future that I’m able to give you.”

  Noemi wrapped her arms around his neck. “Rafa?”

  “Yes, babe?”

  “Take me to bed.”

  Rafa grinned. “Stitches,” he reminded her, and she grumbled.

  “Screw the stitches… I want you. I’ll go on top.”

  Rafa gave a dramatic sigh. “Such a wanton woman.”

  “You made me this way,” she chuckled. Her smile faded as she gazed at him. “Tell me everything will be okay.”

  “I promise, my darling. It will be.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Even with his promise, Rafa didn’t expect any progress on Zani’s case soon, but he was surprised when the FBI turned up the next morning. Agent Dean shook his hand. “We have news.”

  Agent Dean and his partner asked Rafa and Noemi to join them at the hospital. Zani was waiting for them. “You know what this is about?” He asked Rafa in a low voice. His brother shook his head.

  “Nope, they just asked us to come here.”

  “Mr. Genova, both of you, sirs, and Ms.… sorry, Dr. Castor, I think we have good news for you. Mr. Genova… Zani, the syndicate you were involved with—”

  “—nice way to put it. Mob would be more suitable,” Zani said with a wry smile.

  “Fair enough,” Agent Dean said. “Interpol has had them under surveillance for a long time. They were running an undercover operation long before you got involved with the Syn—mob. An informant, someone close to the head of the family, had been working with them to bring the family down. That informant was tasked by the top to find you and intimidate you. He admitted planting the bomb in your office, sir,” he looked at Rafa, “but also admitted to not using as much explosive as he was told too. He says he did the bare minimum, so it would please his bosses without committing murder. He denies anything to do with the attack on Dr. Castor, although he admits leaving a photograph on your car to intimidate you and sending a text message.”

  Rafa and Noemi looked at each other. Oh God damn it, Noemi thought. We were right. It’s someone else.

  Agent Dean didn’t see their reaction and continued. “Long story short… unless he wants his cover blown, he’s going to have to bring a result for the head of the family. Which means money or blood.”

  Zani stared at him. “So… we can pay off the debt, and that would be that?”

  “Yes, and it’s what Interpol wants. They don’t want their entire operation blown by drug money.”

  Zani looked at Rafa. Rafa nodded. “Then it’s a no brainer. I’ll arrange for the money to be wired to whatever account they want. I just want my family safe.”

  “We’ll get it done. We’ll be in touch.”

  When the Genovas and Noemi were alone, Rafa looked at his brother. “It’s over.”

  Zani shook his head. “I don’t believe it. I don’t.”

  “Did you think it would end in gun fights? Not the way the world works. Everybody has their price.”

  Zani rubbed his face. “I can’t thank you enough.”

  “Yes, you can. You’re getting clean. Stay that way forever. One slip and I’m out, Zani. You put my family, my son, and Noemi in danger. Let this be an end to it.”

  “I swear on my life, brother.”

  Rafa nodded stiffly. “I’ll look forward to seeing it.”

  Zani looked at Noemi. “I promise you, too, Noe. Did you tell Rafa?”

  She nodded. “We’re trying to figure out who would have a grudge.”

  “Have you called Drew?”

  Noemi looked at Rafa. “Not yet but I will.” She looked at Zani. “Rafa thinks maybe Drew Ballentine.”

  “That would make sense.”

  “Have you met him?”

  Zani shook his head. “No, actually. But he’s the most likely suspect.”

  “He’s a minister.”

  Zani gave a crooked grin. “Well, we’ve all heard stories about them.”

  As they left the hospital, Noemi turned to Rafa. “Listen, I’m going to go over to Leo’s house to bang on her door until she lets me in. If today has shown me anything, it’s that her love is worth fighting for.”

  Rafa kissed her. “Want me to come with?”

  She shook her head. “We need sister time.”

  Noemi took a cab to Leo’s house. She knocked on the door and tried to open it, but there was no answer. Leo’s car was in the driveway. Noemi sighed heavily. Leo was in and ignoring her. Well, tough, lady. I’m coming in whether you want me to or not.

  Noemi walked around to the garden gate and let herself in. As she walked around the side of the house, she noticed the small sapling that had been donated in Jack’s name was gone, ripped out of the ground and thrown aside. Her heart sunk. Maybe Leo had lost it completely in her grief.

  Suddenly the need to get into the house was imperative. Noemi banged on the back door. “Leo! It’s me. I’m coming in.”

  The door was locked, but she found a brick and smashed the window, reaching in gingerly to unlock the door. “Leo, sorry about the glass but if you won’t answer the door…”

  She walked in. The air in t
he house was musty and stale, and Noemi’s heart began to beat a little faster. “Leo?”

  She moved through the utility room into the kitchen and stopped. The counter tops were full of bowls of cereal, uneaten. God. Noemi didn’t need to count them to know there was one for every breakfast time since Jack died. Oh Jesus… Noemi’s heart ached for her sister.

  “Leo…”

  She walked into the living room which was in disarray but couldn’t find her sister. She went up to the second floor, checking the bedrooms. In Jack’s room, she gave a cry of distress as she saw her sister lying face down on the bed. “Leo!”

  She darted to her sister and turned her over. To her relief Leonora was breathing, but to her horror, her face was a bloody mess of cuts and welts.

  “Leo, my God, what happened?”

  Leonora opened her eyes and terror crept into them. “No, no, Noemi, please, run... he’s crazy, he’s crazy…”

  Noemi’s adrenaline spiked. “Who? Who’s crazy? Who did this to you?”

  Leo’s eyes were whirling in her head, such was her distress. “Paul… Paul’s crazy… Noemi, please... he’s in the house. He’s in the house.”

  Noemi’s adrenaline was pumping hard. “Then we have to get you out of here.”

  She slid her arm under Leo and managed to get her to sit up. As she moved to pick her up, Leo’s eyes widened, and she whimpered in fear, staring over Noemi’s shoulder.

  Before she could turn around, she felt the muzzle of a gun being pressed into the small of her back.

  “Don’t move, Noemi,” Paul said in a soft voice, “or I’ll blow those kids right out of your belly.”

  Noemi went ice cold as she heard the safety being flicked off and realized, finally, who had tried to kill her.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Rafa nodded at Drew Ballentine as he walked into the diner and sat down opposite him. “Drew.”

  “Rafa, it’s good to see you.”

  “Is it?”

  Drew put down the coffee he was about to sip. “Ah. This isn’t a friendly visit. What’s on your mind, Rafa?”