After seeing the young man enter the elevator, she waved one of her men over. Handing him the piece of paper, she said, “This is the car that hit Emma. Find out who owns it and inform only me immediately." I want to know the owner, and who the driver was.” The man quickly replied, “Yes, Ms. Deluca,” and strode out of the room to attend to the task.
Later that day, Vittoria was pouring herself a cup of coffee. She heard a commotion outside. Ah, she thought, my brother, has arrived. Twenty men quickly moved in position on the hospital floor, and Carmine and Frank walked into the room together. Carmine sat on the sofa in the middle of the private waiting room. Vittoria and Howard took a seat in the two chairs across from him. Carmine looking at the two said, “It appears things have gotten a bit out of control with this project of yours Howard, tell me how Emma is?”
Looking at Vittoria, he said, “Do we know who caused this accident and what are we doing about it.” Vittoria smiled, “It’s being taken care of Carmine as we speak.” Carmine nodded in agreement. Howard looking between the two of them said, “It was a hit and run, you don’t think it was intentional, do you?” Vittoria looked at Howard with sadness, replied, “Yes, I do darling, but I don’t want you to worry about that. I am taking care of it, my love. Just keep your thoughts with Emma right now.”
Howard felt a surge of anger, “Do not treat me as a child Vittoria” Looking over to Carmine, he continued, “Enough is enough, and we need to end this today. This project business has gotten beyond out of control, and it is time to clean it up.” Carmine, sitting back comfortably on the couch, said, “You understand what you are saying, Howard correct?” Howard, with a look of defiance, replied, “I am fully aware, Carmine.” Looking at Vittoria, he said, “No secrets remember? I told you I fully understand what I am walking into when our wedding takes place.” Carmine smiled, removing a cigar from the inside upper pocket of his jacket said, “Welcome to the family, Howard.”
Nurse Reynolds knocked on the door and entered, seeing Carmine about to light his cigar, she began shaking her finger at him. Looking around and seeing all the men stationed in the hallway she snarled, “I don’t care who you are, there is no smoking in my hospital, you will have to take that outside if you want to smoke that. Who are all these men?”
Turning to Howard and Vittoria, she continued, “If you could come with me, I will take you to Emma, she has regained consciousness and is asking for you.” Howard and Vittoria quickly stood, Nurse Reynolds promptly shook her head, “Only one person at a time, Mr. Graystone if you would follow me.” Giving Carmine a dirty look, she held the door open for Howard, looking back at Carmine she said, “Don’t let your men get in the way of my nurses or you will be talking to me again.” Carmine responded with a laugh. When Nurse Reynolds and Howard left the room, Carmine turned to Vittoria and said, “She has some spunk, I like that.” Frank watched the red-headed nurse leave the room, hoping he would get some time to get to know her better.
Vittoria heard her phone ring. Answering, she listened quietly. After a moment, she said, “Is it taken care of?" Nodding she continued, “You said he was one of Vito Moreno’s men? Please have our men in Vegas visit him, will you? Now, who did you say rented the vehicle? Thank you, you will receive an award for your extra work.” Hanging up the phone, she sat again next to Carmine and quietly said, “The car that hit Emma, was driven by one of Vito Moreno’s men. You know him, that little weasel that wanted you to put him on payroll last year? His man who was driving the vehicle is being taken care of, but Martin Stevenson is the one who initially rented the vehicle that hit Emma. There’s more to this story brother than I think even Howard realizes.”
Howard arrived at Emma’s room in the ICU with Nurse Reynolds. Howard was standing in the doorway. He was shocked, seeing Emma, laying in the bed, looking so small. Her face bruised and battered, her arm cast in a sling, her long blonde hair still coated with the blood from the laceration on her forehead. Howard moved slowly towards the bed in the middle of the room. Looking around at all the equipment and tubes connected to Emma, he softly took her right hand, saying, “Emma, its Dad.”
Emma slowly opened her eyes, seeing him smiled and said, “Who in the hell hit my car? Is my car Sgt Pepper all right?” Howard laughed and replied, “Your car did not survive, but you did, and that is all that matters honey, I will buy you any car you like when you come home.”
Grimacing in pain, Emma said, “I am okay, dad, a little banged up.” Looking at her left arm, she continued, “It may be a little hard to write for a while, being I am left-handed.” Howard, pulling a chair up next to the bed, smiled, and said, “There’s my girl. You are going to be just fine. I called Amelia, and she is on her way. I thought you would want to see her.” Emma, slowly trying to re-adjust herself in the bed, said, “Yes, Harris and Graystone sound's pretty safe right now.”
Howard, with a look of surprise, said, “Harris and Graystone?” Emma, with a small smile, replied, “Yes, Harris and Graystone. Amelia and I are going into business together, well as soon as she can find our first client. Till then she can find us a bigger apartment. I don’t think two of us will fit in that flat of mine.” Howard laughed, “Then you are not coming home, Emma? Well, for now, I want you to concentrate on getting better. I am not going anywhere.”
Emma smiled at her father, realizing her father was finally letting her go said, “I wouldn’t want you to go anywhere, dad. Thank you, say where is Vittoria?” Howard's face took on a level of seriousness that Emma didn’t see very often. His eye's quickly turning to ice, said “Vittoria is downstairs with Carmine. Emma, your accident was a hit and run, but I don’t want you worrying about that now, I want you to rest.” The nurse came into the room right then, and Emma asked her to help her sit up. The nurse raised the bed readjusting her pillows and asked her how that felt. Emma responded, “Thank you. Could you get me some juice, please? Apple will do.” The nurse shook her head in acknowledgment and left the room. Emma turned to look at her dad. With ice coming into her blue eyes said, “That was no accident, dad, that truck hit me intentionally, but then, that is why Carmine is here. I need to speak with him, dad, will you have him come here to visit with me please.” Howard stood, smiling, lowered himself to kiss his daughter's forehead, “You won't rest till you do, I will go now. Try to relax Emma, and you are what is important.” Emma smiled weakly, raising her right arm, pointing to the hallway that held five DeLuca security men, “Dad, I think I will be just fine. Between Carmine and you being here with me, I will be out of here in no time.”
With another kiss on the forehead, Howard walked out of the room, looking at one of the security men he coldly said, “Watch my daughter, anything happens you will answer to me.” The security man nodded in acknowledgment, watching Howard walk to the elevator to find Carmine.
Emma, watching her father leave, laid back on the bed in intense pain. Her thoughts were racing, that accident was no accident, Grayson was dead. Her eyes filled with tears at the memory, she had to think. She had to put her plan in motion, and she was going to need Carmine and Amelia to do it.
She laid back in the bed, closing her eyes. The nurse returned with her apple juice and a shot for the pain. Looking at the nurse, she said, “Thank you, can we hold off with the shot for a bit please, my uncle is coming.” Looking up, she saw Carmine enter the room. She looked back at the nurse and said, “I will take the pain shot after I have talked with my uncle. I want my head clear for our visit, thank you. If you will excuse us?” The nurse glancing between the two left the room.
Carmine sat down in the same chair Howard had used, taking Emma’s hand he said, “Ah my Bella, this shouldn’t have happened to you.” Emma grimacing as the pain was intensifying replied, “This was no accident, someone hit me intentionally, and I want you to find out who it was. I also want you to find Artie McDonald, the man who killed Grayson and I want to see him.” Carmine smiled and replied, “Now, Emma, you need to rest and let us take care of things now.” Emma
looking stubborn, said, “Oh no, you don’t, Uncle Carmine. I have a plan, and you are going to help me with it.” Carmine, shaking his head, replied, “Emma, there is more to this problem than you know my Bella. The contractor I have been searching for that killed Antonio is Artie McDonald. The man who rented the Hummer that hit you is Wesley Bentley. He rented the vehicle under Martin Stevenson’s name. I believe he was setting Martin up for a fall. Artie McDonald will not be meeting with you, Emma. Eliminating problems is a specialty of mine.”
Emma shook her head in confusion, trying to comprehend what he was saying. Feeling a stab of pain in her head as she did so. Looking at Carmine, she replied, “He was the man who killed Antonio?” Her voice, raising, said, “He killed Antonio and Grayson?” Carmine with a look of sadness shook his head in acknowledgment. Emma continued, “That son of a bitch, Martin Stevenson rented the Hummer? I will kill him myself with my bare hands.” Carmine patted her hand, smiling, said, “Now Emma, don’t get yourself upset, now tell me about this plan you have. What are you up to?” Carmine listened carefully for the next fifteen minutes taking in everything Emma was telling him. When she finished, he stood, kissing her forehead, he said, “Now you must take the pain shot Emma. I will take care of my part of your plan. I will promise you will have time to speak with Martin Stevenson, you rest. I understand Amelia will be here in the morning to see you. I want you to rest now.” Emma laid back on the bed; the tear’s, seeping through her closed eyes. She drifted off to sleep, not feeling the shot the nurse gave her for the pain.
Carmine went back to the private waiting room where he had left Vittoria and Howard. Walking in, he said, “Emma is resting, they just gave her something for the pain. It’s getting late, let us go to the Penthouse.” Waving Frank his underboss into the room, who was outside in the hallway talking with Nurse Reynolds. Carmine watched as Frank and Nurse Reynolds walked into the room.
Carmine quickly said, “We are going back to the penthouse, I want two men on twenty-four hours protection of a Mr. Jack Thomas and his family immediately. I also want six men stationed at this hospital around the clock. Nurse Reynolds with your permission, of course.” Frank shook his head in agreement and walked out of the room to give the orders needed. Nurse Reynolds watching Frank walk out of the room, said to Carmine, “That is fine, Carmine. I will make sure your men are tended to and fed. However, Ms. Graystone is my patient, and I will see to it, no harm comes to her. Now if you will excuse me.” Nurse Reynolds turned and briskly walked out of the room leaving Carmine DeLuca in a state of awe.
Carmine turned to Howard and Vittoria, saying, “Did that nurse just address me as Carmine?” Vittoria giggled and walked out in the hall, stopping as she saw Nurse Reynolds handing Frank a piece of paper, thinking, leave it to Frank to get a nurse’s phone number.
The next morning, Emma awoke to a tray of sticky oatmeal and cold toast being set down. Her stomach turned at the sight and odor of the cereal. Emma thought I detest oatmeal. With the door breezing open, she got a whiff of the lavender and apricot scent before seeing Amelia sweep into the room with a bag from a local bakery and two cups of coffee. Amelia looking at the tray started to laugh, good thing I brought you a blueberry bagel and coffee, my dog wouldn’t eat that shit.”
Emma smiling hit the button on her remote to move her bed up into a sitting position. She looked at Amelia with relief saying, “Thank you, I thought I was going to have to starve. However, you may have to smear the cream cheese on I am sure you brought; seems I have one hand that does not work at the moment.”
Amelia moved the tray to the counter on the other side of the room, came back, opening the bag pulled out a couple of bagels. Smearing a thick layer of cream cheese on the blueberry bagel, she handed it carefully to Emma.
Amelia close to tears; said, “Oh Emma, we are so lucky you survived this, I don’t know what I would have done if I lost you.” Emma smiling, taking a bite of her bagel and eyeing the hot cup of Caribou coffee, replied, “So I take it Graystone and Harris is up for discussion?” Amelia no longer knowing if she was crying from sadness or happiness, smiled and replied, “Not on your life, girlfriend.”
Sitting next to Emma, they quietly ate their bagels, deep in their thoughts. After a sip of coffee, Emma looked at Amelia and said, “How long are you planning on staying, Amelia?” Amelia replied, “I'm here with you for good; you have a plan, don’t you?” Emma moved stiffly with pain, feeling it was less painful than the night before, she said, “I do, and I need your help, but first let's talk about Harris and Graystone. Where in the world will our headquarters be? Someplace warm I hope.”
Amelia smiled brightly and said, “What do you think of Nevada? Somewhere around Las Vegas?’ Emma smiled and said, “Sounds great to me, have you found us a place yet; we are going to need a place to live and an office.” Amelia, looking thoughtful, replied, “Take a look at these places on my I-Pad, this is what my real estate agent has found for us.” Emma, taking the I-pad, looked at the three different locations discussing each with Amelia. Looking at the last one, she saw a home with a state-of-the-art surveillance and camera system. Huge one-half acre park-like backyard that offered a resort-style pool, spa, waterfall with a sweet BBQ and extensive outdoor living area. There was a guesthouse just off the pool area. The inside showed an open floor plan accented by a gorgeous custom marble floor, custom cabinets, granite slabs, with two master bedrooms with full baths, and large walk-in closets, one upstairs one downstairs. Looking at the price, it was one million five hundred thousand dollars. Emma finished looking at the pictures attached to the site, looking at Amelia with excitement, said, “This is the one Amelia! It’s perfect. Look at the garden patio overseeing the pool. What do you think?” Amelia giggled, “That was my favorite too. However, I get the upstairs master suite.”
Nurse Reynolds came into the room prepared to give Emma a shot for the pain. Shaking her head, no, Emma said to the nurse, “No more pain shots, can you have the Doctor come as soon as possible, and I want to go home today.” Nurse Reynold’s looking shocked tried arguing with Emma to no avail frustrated she left to find the Doctor.
Emma looking at Amelia, quickly said, “Make the offer, cash deal for that amount, and we want the property immediately. It’s going take a couple of weeks to complete everything here, but then we're on our way. Say, have you found our first client yet?” Amelia giggled and said, “I am working on it.”
Emma, laughing said, “There is something else I want you to do for me if you could.” Amelia said, “Well, can I secure the house first?” Emma, almost spitting her coffee out, said, “Of course, I am going to need a few weeks when this is all done and over to rest. I want to do nothing but lay by that pool and take it easy. But I do need you to set up a meeting for me with the Tribal Council for next week.” Amelia, looking concerned, said, “Emma, you may not be out of the hospital by then, someone tried to kill you.”
At that moment Doctor Harris entered the room, Emma looked up and said, “Doctor Harris, good morning, if you could get my discharge papers ready, I will be leaving today. I will be staying at the penthouse, and I would like to arrange a nurse for the next week or so, preferably Nurse Reynolds, she can keep my father in line.”
Doctor Harris stunned looked at Emma and said, “Emma I don’t recommend you go home today; I would like to keep you for a few more days just to make sure there are no further complications with your liver.” Emma looking disgusted said, “Hence why I want Nurse Reynolds, now if you could make the arrangements and whether you sign the discharge papers or not, I would like a nurse to come in and help me get cleaned up and dressed.”
Looking at the tray of the now petrified oatmeal on the counter continued, “I plan to have lunch at home.” After another five-minute conversation arguing about her care, Amelia said, “Doctor Harris, haven’t you realized yet, there is no arguing with Emma when she wants something, she gets it. I will make sure she gets home and into bed and rests for the next few days.” Emma tur
ned to Amelia to start arguing, and Amelia holding her hand up said, “Doesn’t work with me Emma, you know that, I will take you home, but over the next few days you will rest. You, want to pull off miracles? You will need to be able to stand longer than a few minutes.” Emma chagrined replied, “Fine, now let's get me out of this place. Will you call Vittoria and let her know we will be arriving shortly? We will need accommodations for Nurse Reynolds.
Emma carefully folded herself into Amelia’s rental car. When they were on their way to the Penthouse, Emma looked at Amelia and said, “Sgt Pepper is completely irrevocably demolished, we are going to have to go car shopping next week.” Amelia, laughed, handing Emma a pair of large sunglasses, said, “Fine, but this time I think you should look for something much sturdier than Sgt. Pepper.” Emma smiled, “What do you mean? I got hit yesterday and were on our way home today.” Amelia, looking at Emma with concern, “Look here Emma Graystone, you're going home against doctor’s orders, I know you're still in great pain, and this isn’t over yet by any means. So until then we are inseparable understand? You will rest for the next few days, while we set things in motion, then we close this shit down and head for what I hope is our new home.” Emma smiled weakly, replying, “Got it.”
15
After a good night’s sleep, Emma awoke Monday morning attempting to stretch her body fully from top to bottom. Feeling a sharp pain in her stomach from the stitches still in place from her surgery, she stopped. Slowly rising out of bed, Emma donned her robe to go in search of that first cup of coffee desperately needed this morning.
Shadow of Secrets Page 17